Slow leaks . . .ugh!

chefpoet1972 · Jul 14, 2009

So does anyone have any tips for locating and repairing slow leaks? I've got a 12' mod V that's a whole ton of fun, except for the leak. It'll only take in about 4-5 cups of water or so, but it's really annoying. I've tried loc-tite, but I probably didn't do as good a job as I could have. Anything anybody's got would be greatly appreciated.

Quackrstackr · Jul 14, 2009

Put the boat up on saw horses and fill with water to the normal waterline. You will find your leaks.

If it is leaking at the rivets, you can either retighten (my suggestion) or use some commercial sealant.

ober51 · Jul 14, 2009

Rebuck the rivets, then steel flex is my suggestion.

crazymanme2 · Jul 14, 2009

Be careful how much water you put in your boat & how you support it.I wouldn't put it up to the water line,just cover the bottom which is most likely where its leaking & go from there.Rebucking the rivets is no big deal.If you have to check the sides I'd roll the boat so the water is at the sides.Water is 8.8 lbs per gallon & filling to the water line is about 130 gals.Do the math.When I checked mine I leave it on the trailer.

Quackrstackr · Jul 14, 2009

You're off about a half pound on the weight of water, but I digress... :lol:

I probably should have classified that waterline statement. My flat bottom drafts maybe an inch of water unloaded.. your mod V may be different. Put just enough water in the bottom to cover the rivets.

Captain Ahab · Jul 15, 2009

I have the same problem - just enough seepage to be annoying. Tried the fill the bottom of the boat trick without any leaks - ARRRGH

I bought a small bilge pump and i run it a few minutes every couple of hours - No more water headaches

cubanredneck · Jul 15, 2009

just cover the rivets and seems with 5200 wont hurt it and unless you have a crack it will seal it up. That 5200 is some sticky stuff.

Captain Ahab · Jul 15, 2009

cubanredneck said:
just cover the rivets and seems with 5200 wont hurt it and unless you have a crack it will seal it up. That 5200 is some sticky stuff.

I thought about that already - good advice

MikeA57 · Jul 16, 2009

Be sure to check good around the plug hole too. I've got 2 jon boats and that's where both of them leak from.

chefpoet1972 · Jul 18, 2009

The drain plug is fine, I'm certain about that--it's definitely the rivets. Maybe a bilge is the way to go? What is that 5200 stuff? I just used Loc-Tite, and it did nothing. And could someone explain to me how involved a process it is to rebuck the rivets? It's an older boat (1968 Sears/Montgomery Ward), so I don't really want to go too nuts with it. But I would like it to last me another season.

chefpoet1972 · Jul 18, 2009

The drain plug is fine, I'm certain about that--it's definitely the rivets. Maybe a bilge is the way to go? What is that 5200 stuff? I just used Loc-Tite, and it did nothing. And could someone explain to me how involved a process it is to rebuck the rivets? It's an older boat (1968 Sears/Montgomery Ward), so I don't really want to go too nuts with it. But I would like it to last me another season.

ben2go · Jul 18, 2009

3M 5200 Marine sealant is great.It's almost like a semi permanent glue for boats.Bucking rivets isn't hard.Use a hammer or flat dolly pressed against the head of the rivet and use another small hammer to tap the rivet.You want the head to stay in place and the inside to swell out a little.

taxidermist · Jul 18, 2009

Is it a leak or condensation?

My river boat and even the lake boat will have condensation from cold water river or lake.

Rebuck the rivets, PC-11 all rivets below the water line and then Steel Flex the bottom below the water line!!

I did put a 500gph bildge pump in and its great.

John

Doughboyracing · Jul 19, 2009

cubanredneck said:
just cover the rivets and seems with 5200 wont hurt it and unless you have a crack it will seal it up. That 5200 is some sticky stuff.

5200? What is this?

A friend of mine suggested JB Weld. Any thoughs on this?

I have the same leaky problems, previously located with above mentioned method. Works great!

pbw · Jul 19, 2009

I've read of some rivets leaking under pressure ie force of boat under outboard going in water.

ober51 · Jul 19, 2009

Doughboyracing said:
cubanredneck said:

just cover the rivets and seems with 5200 wont hurt it and unless you have a crack it will seal it up. That 5200 is some sticky stuff.

Click to expand...

5200? What is this?

Made by 3M. I used it to seal my transom and holes for drilling, once cured, which takes a bit, it's rock solid.

A friend of mine suggested JB Weld. Any thoughs on this?

I have the same leaky problems, previously located with above mentioned method. Works great!

Doughboyracing · Jul 20, 2009

Can you get it anywhere, such as a hardware store? Might like to try.

ober51 · Jul 20, 2009

Doughboyracing said:
Can you get it anywhere, such as a hardware store? Might like to try.

Home depot has it by me for 10 bucks for the big tube, while it's 20 at west marine.

chefpoet1972 · Jul 21, 2009

It definitely isn't condensation! I'll get maybe an inch or so of water in the very back of the boat for the duration of my trip, about 2-4 hours, and that's it. It doesn't necessarily make me nervous (I'm not about to take my boat onto bigger waters, over 1000 acres), but I don't like it at all. I just want to fish without worrying about my boat, that's it. So any advice would be great.

crazymanme2 · Jul 21, 2009

A friend I talked too had the same problem.It took a bit but what he did was mix up some dish soap water mix sprayed it on each rivet & than blew air from the other side & if there was a leak it would show by little bubbles,he would than buck that rivet & continue.Welded seams would work the same way.

Slow leaks . . .ugh!

Help Support TinBoats.net:

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Moderator

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Member

Moderator

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!