Keel Damage Repair

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Jetdrive

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I have a leak in my boat and upon inspection saw these damaged rivets in the keel. What would be the easiest, best way to fix this?

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfhg42gukwI[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfhg42gukwI
 
well, since you are familiar with the good ole YouTube,
do the search - aluminum boat rivets - and see what you can find.
In my world, I would try to clean everything up, remove some rivets,
pry the seam open, apply 3M-5200 and replace the rivets.
a two man job.

applying a bandaid from the outside will only buy you some time
until the "open the wound and remove the cancer" has to be done.

oh, and stay far FAR away from that Flex Seal and Bed Liner crap !!!
regardless of what you see on TV and what you have heard,
it will come back to bite you in your backside !!!!
 
Thanks Johnny, I looked at you tube and there is not a lot of specifics on Keel repair on aluminum. I wish it were so easy as just fixing a hole. I know all about the "simple" fix stuff. Been there. Thanks again.
 
I had an afterthought today while doing basically the
same thing on the side splash rail of my '59 Crestliner.

in your issue, think about this - - - -
drill out the rivets back to the good material.
clean mating surfaces the best you can.
get some nuts and bolts the same size as the rivets
you will be using.
apply the 3M-5200 (or adhesive/sealant of your choice).
put in the bolts, with washers both sides and tighten down
tight but not to the point of squeezing all the sealant out.
in a couple of days, remove a bolt and replace the rivets one at time.
In theory, sounds like a done deal, if it were mine, that is what I would do.

Everyone that knows me knows that I strongly advocate priming bare metal
prior to the application of any sealant - in your case, you may not have that option.

Sooner or later, you are going to have to excise that wound before
gangrene sets in !!

Brother Dale-H uses something like a foam tape and some other stuff
like the original process with good results vs the 5200 sealants.

good luck !!
 

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