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I was getting a slow leak in my Alumacraft 1448 MV Jon. I filled the boat up with a hose and found one of the rivets was missing a head. I would prefer to replace the rivet, but it is under the middle bench seat and I am not going to take out the bench to repair. I have patched it with JB Water weld putty after doing some research. Have any of you had any experience with this product? Or any other sage advice on sealing the leak?
Thanks
If that JB weld doesn't last use a combination of it with a blind rivet.
This stuff will seal it but it is best if it is applied on the inside to avoid scrapping it off. http://www.eternabond.com/?click=4813
I used it to seal my boat where a depth finder had been mounted and also on my Motor Home. You can buy a small size to fit your needs, I keep some in my boat just in case, It can be applied under water also.
Just be sure you have it where you want it, because once it is on, it is not coming back off.
Drb that would anger me being its a brand new boat, call alumacraft!
Not understanding why you would need to remove the bench to replace the rivet? If you can't then water weld or 3m 5200 will be fine.
Yea annoyed me too. I guess that is how Ed's get their low prices. This was a 2011 holdover sold as a new boat to me last sept during their yard sale. I'm guessing all the moving around the yard or something must've knocked the head off that one rivet. Not a big deal...should be an easy fix, but I hear you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Percidae_Papermouth
The top part of the rivet, the part on the inside of the boat, is right under the bench seat. No way to get to it without moving the seat.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrNip
JB weld should do fine. I use the type with the two tubes that need to be mixed. Just sand the area first for adhesion. My loose rivets are fine so far. I thought about spraying flex seal over the JB weld afterwards.
Good luck.
Pop rivets come in the blind form (no hole in the center). I have used them to replace bad rivets. Just knock out the remaining rivet on the inside, if it is still there, and insert the pop rivet, making sure that you use a pop rivet that matches the hole diameter as close as possible, or if necessary, enlarge the hole a little to fit a larger pop rivet. I have used this procedure on an old Grumman boat with several leaking rivets, that I had many years ago. I gave that boat to a friend and all the replaced rivets have never leaked since, and that is 12 years ago. The other fixes posted here are fine too, but I consider the pop rivet method a pretty sure fire fix. (Just my 2 cents) B-
You should just be able to take something and push the remainder of the rivet into where the bench seat is, purchase a rivet gun from Northern Tools for $9.99 and rivets for $5.00 or less and put a new pop rivet in place. Here is a pic of the rivet being spoke of.
Attachment 152802
If you don't feel like messing with replacing the rivet. Cabelas John boat repair sticks work wonders. $10 or so.
As always, I really appreciate all the help guys.
I have used Marine Tex in the past. Sand the outside to bare metal, push it right up in to the hole with a putty knife, sand smooth. You can also put a small patch of fiberglass cloth and resin over the marine tex. Then snd and paint with Alumacraft paint (available from Ed's).
Eds marines alumacraft olive green is like 17 or 18$ a can, been there done that most any flat olive drab camo rattle can will work..