How do I repair a leak in my 14 aluminum rivet construction fishing boat?
You have a very common problem. When they’re built, riveted aluminum boats have strips of sealant placed between the plates. As the rivets are hammered tight, this sealant works its way around the fasteners and forms a watertight seal. Occasionally, even a new boat has a void in the sealant strips that allows a small amount of water to enter. Over time however, a number of things happen to destroy the quality of the seal between the plates and around the rivets. The boat twists and changes shape as the forces of waves and banging against docks work on the aluminum. Sitting on a trailer, especially if a good deal of weight (such as rainwater) is placed in the boat, can bend the plates and stress the riveted joints. This opens cracks between the sealant and the plates. In addition, the sealant itself can dry out and shrink with age. And the work of corrosion on both the plates and the rivets can open small cracks that will allow water into the boatthis is especially true if the boat is u
