fixing a leaky aluminium row boat.

Brandon Yuchasz

Brandon Yuchasz

Well-known member
Guys I have a 14' sea ark row boat here at the resort and its leaking at the seam between the hull and transom. I was wondering if anyone knows of a product I could use to repair it. Im thinking of something that will bond to aluminium and could be done like a fillet joint when building a boat.

Thoughts?
 
Why is it leaking? Is this a riveted boat that maybe the rivets are loose? If so it's not that big a deal to tighten them up or even replace them if necessary. If it's cracked you might be better off having someone weld it back together.
 
Pete its a rivited boat but this back seam is not rivited Im assuming its welded but the weld cracked. I think the dammage was done when the boat was draged backwards across some rocks and gravel.

I am sure that welding it would work but Im looking more for the 20$ tube of something solution.
 
Well, you could try cleaning it up good and putting a bead of 5200 down and see if it works. The thing I'm thinking about is that a hull/transom joint is probably going to be flexing some and I'm not sure how long something like a 5200 would work until it fails. Maybe try some epoxy and see if that works. Whatever you use short of welding will only be a stop gap measure I'm afraid and you will need to weld it eventually anyway.
 
Brandon, There is a product called Aluma fill. This can be found in most hardware stores. Comes in a tube used for patching boats, motors, any thing out of Aluminum. Comes in a round stick. you cut off what you need. Mix with your hands. Wear rubber or some type of glove. It hardens in about ten or fifteen minutes. Clean aluminum get any grease or oil off the aluminum. Scuff or scatch the aluminum and apply. Do small parts at a time. To have a smooth surface after applying wet a finger and rub.

I have used this on a lower unit on a motor where a hole was rubbed and on a irrigation pipe which has 60 psi no leaks.

This product may have other names but it will say for the repair of aluminum. I also have found it in the boating section of Fleet Farm.
 
Brandon I have used the Aluma fill on the motor bracket of my Grady White. Where the previous owner had painted the bottom half with bottom paint and had not used a zinc chromate primer over the aluminum it had developed acne. I sanded out all the corrosion and cleaned it with acetone and later a tack cloth. Then I used the molded Aluma weld and after it cured I sanded it flush. Then primed it with Zinc Chromate and used some regular aluminum paint over that. It still looks good after two years. I had a twelve foot jon that developed a bad case of drag over gravelittis and began to leak. I bought a small box of black marine tex and sort of slathered it over the abrassions. It held up well until I gave it away and I guess it is still holding, at least the guy that I gave it to has never said anything about it leaking. I understand where you are coming from on buying a tube of somethig rather than pay someone to weld it. If the tube fix doesn't work then you might have it welded or patched. From what you descibe, the boat probably isn't worth spending a lot of money or time on it.
JMO,
Harry
 
Brandon,
Just paint it camo and take it over here. I will show you how to hunt out of a leaky boat, Duck Boats are supposed to leak… Aren’t they? I don’t think I have ever had one that didn’t leak at least a little.
Robby
 
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