Leaky Alluminum Boat advice...

Long story short I bought a leaky tracker Deep V 17 boat to take the family fishing. I get a few gallons of water in the hull while on the water, have to constantly run the bilge pump.

I have already set a weekend aside to fill the hull up with water to just about the waterline marked all obvious leaks and did a bandaid fix with west marine epoxy kit with a heat gun to drive he expoxy in between the rivets...  Well had it on the water today and it still leaks WTF?!?!

Before I set the summer aside to take the boat apart and dolly n hammer the rivets n seams. And use that gluvit stuff on he inside. You guys got any advice to remedy the problem?

Thanks

Bad news,from what I've heard is all the old tracker boats especially the riveted ones leak.i knew someone that had the same problem and he took it to a shop that ended welding the seams and it still leaked

If you sealed the leaks from the rivets I'd check the thru hull fittings. A lot of Older boats will have cracked fittings or hoses on the fittings. You can fill up on water fast that way and even sink! So I'd check all thru hull fittings before taking the boat out again.

Yeah, it's kinda the nature of riveted alum boats. 

I've seen a commercial on TV where they cut the bottom out of an aluminum boat, attach a screen door, then spray it with a leak seal.  No leak.  Rustoleum makes one and sells it at Home Depot.

https://www.rustoleum.com/pages/about-rust-oleum/rustoleum-press-room/rust-oleum-news/rust-oleum-leakSeal-flexible-rubber-coating-stops-leaks-instantly/

For under $10 a can, it might be worth a shot.

Also, there are several versions of Aluminum soldering.  Here's a video showing one product I use.



There's another one available from Harbor freight.  I use that too because it doesn't require flux.  It's a little harder to use, but once you got the technique, it's fast and cheaper than the first stuff.

One more suggestion is maybe try one of those spray liners used for pick up trucks? 

Have it tig welded at a fab shop , that should seal the deal .

sell it

Yea after finding out the symptoms I googled it , funny how one of my friends owns the same boat a little older n his doesn't even leak at all. And it's more dilapidated then mines.

I was it thinking about  a spray on urethane liner...

also thought about brazing the seams n rivets but I don't want to warp the hull.

Guess I will take the whole boat apart  n start smashing on the seams n rivets n prep it for gluvit.... Maybe an extra urethane liner for insurance .

Probably the last time I will buy a riveted Alluminum boat or the brand Tracker.

If it's aluminum, recyclers will pay you something for it.  Use the money to buy a kayak.

read the sig

You could always get each family member a kayak and be done with the boat.

Was out on San Pablo bay watching a lady zip through on an AI, looked ridiculously fun. I already tried. Only my niece has gone with me on a borrowed kayak,  she's wants her own...

It's possible your boat may have pinhole cracks that AREN'T at the rivets or seams. Tracker uses some pretty thin aluminum, if I'm not mistaken.

If the previous owner ever took the boat out in the salt, there's a possibility it's got pitting and pinhole cracks in the aluminum where it rests on your trailer bunks (think saltwater saturated carpet marinating against your aluminum hull).

Does it have zincs? And have they been replaced recently?

I hate to say it, but I think you're in for a frustrating uphill battle. I second the suggestion to sell it and cut your losses.


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