How to seal a leaky aluminum?

[fourbizz]

My buddies boat is a twelve foot aluminum, flat bottom, but v shaped prow. The thing leaks all over the place, you can't really pinpoint leaky seams or rivets. does anyone know how I could go about just sealing the entire interior of the boat? I was going to redo all the seats and decks, so I would have an empty hull to start with. Any ideas? Thanks guys.

FB

[fishbear]

I would use the Black rubberized bed liner paint that is out there.  It will seal it completely from the inside.

[fourbizz]

I would use the Black rubberized bed liner paint that is out there.  It will seal it completely from the inside.

LOL! That was the first thing that I had thought of as well. I am just concerned that it will peel to easy and not stick all that well. I am sure that the spray on bed liner ( rhino liner, tuff liner) would work but that would cost more than the boat is worth. I am not sure if the roll on stuff will stick well enough. But that is another vote in the direction that I am leaning in. Thanks. Does anyone have any other suggestions, or back up the roll on bed liner idea?

[fishbear]

I would definately prep the inside of the boat, before painting it on... a grit blaster is not expensive to rent, then ask the local paint shop about application techniques.  They may know a trick or two that may help.  

[fourbizz]

I actually HAVE a perlite sand blaster. I will take your advice and talk to an auto body shop and see what they think. Do you think that the inherent flexing of an old aluminum will crack the bed liner, or will it flex enough as well?

[xjbmx]

you would not believe how well herculiner sticks to stuff. It wont even come off your hands. Just scuff the paint and roll it on, then your set for life.  but make sure you get herculiner, other brands dont seem to be as good.

[fourbizz]

Do you guys think that there would be any benefit to multiple coats?

[NEBassMan]

I believe LBH used Herculiner on his boat, although he used it on the outside.  He said it peeled and chipped all over the place.  Of course, using it on the inside may be a totally different story, as it will not get drug around like the outside does.  JMO.

[fourbizz]

crap! i was just starting to get convinced > that is precisely what I was afraid of. I doubt it was chipped because of physical abuse. it has been my experience that at least on trucks, that stuff almost always peels. there has to be something that will work. I am also thinking about using bichethane (sp?) and covering it with marine carpet, though that opens up a whole other can of worms

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Just fix it right the first time, not that hard.  I had a 16 ft mod-v and it had over 50 leaks.

*Get a crayon (yellow is good)

*Put boat on saw horses and start to fill it with water.

*Get underneath and circle every leaking rivet.

*Drill those rivets out.

--------------------------------------

*From the bottom, insert a stainless 1/2 in tapered head bolt.  A dab of 5200 on the threads on the inside, then add washer and nut.  

Floors are required now because of the bolts sticking up but every jon should have them anyway.

[fourbizz]

Thanks LBH, but i think i need to clarify. this thing is ABUSED, not just a few leaky rivets. We're talkin some cracks, really bent up seams, gigantic gashes in the "runners"(or whatever) on the bottom. Over a ten hour day it takes on about 5" of water. I can weld aluminum, and I don't think that I would be able to seal it up by welding and riveting. I was hoping that there was something that I could  paint/roll/spray/ lay down on the inside of the boat because I'm tearing everything else out anyway. I realize that aluminums will always leak to an extent, but I just need a finger to stick in the hole in the dam!