Aluminum Boat question???

[boatingLEO]

First, I am new to this site and I want to thank everyone for all of the good information on this site. Second, I just bought a 1994 grumman with a 115 Johnson on it. The boat seems to take on some water, not to the point that I think the plug is out but enough that the bilge comes on every five minutes or so with the new automatic switch installed. Anyway, I was wondering if there was anything that I could put on the bottom to seal it up better. I was talking with someone and they suggested maybe rhino lining or something similar. Has anyone done this or does anyone have suggestions or concerns by doing this. Any feedback would be great because most forums I have found are about fiberglass boats which dont do me a lot of good. Thanks in advance.

 

[QC]

Re: Aluminum Boat question???

Do a search in the Boat Restoration section vvvvvvv for a product called Gluvit. I used it on my Aluminum and it is as dry as a bone now. The rivets them selves and seams can be the issue. Takes a little prep, but it works. Welcome to iboats!!

 

[Boatist]

Re: Aluminum Boat question???

I agree with QC that stuff works pretty good.
You say with the new automatic switch installed. There is one bilge pump that turns on as part of it sensing for water. Does it actually pump out water every 5 minutes? If it does you have a very bad leak and it should be easy to fine by putting water in the boat while on the trailer. Since it leaks I assume it is a riveted boat. Your either have some missing rivets or a hole from some accessory that was removed. If it is just rivets leaking then you have a lot of them for it to leak that much water.

First step is to put some water in the boat and find the leak, Or on the water find the leak from the inside. That much water should be easy to find the problem. Then you can think and about a repair solution.