Aluminum canoe, leaks .... what now - besides wear water shoes..... or bail ???
2007-05-17 02:19:44 · 7 answers · asked by Slim Jim 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
all of the home repair stores sell aluminum repair kits either with aluminum tape or aluminum adhesive.
2007-05-19 02:41:50 · answer #1 · answered by Mon-chu' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its probably leaking at a seam. 3M makes some products like 5200, but I'd go with life calk or 3M 101 since you're not bonding anything to it. If you really like this canoe, find a welder to fix the seam with a torch. You need specialized welding equipment for aluminum. Anything other than welding will just be a patch that will probably fail shortly.
There are also leak detecting products for the deck of boats that are intended to fix small leaks in gelcoat, but these are intended for use above the waterline and not submersion.
Another option is to cover the outside of the canoe with fiberglass cloth coat it with epoxy and paint the canoe. Welding would be a lot faster and cheaper.
2007-05-17 09:49:34 · answer #2 · answered by Mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it a puncture that you can have welded?
If it is a cheap fix that you are looking for, the Bondo company makes a product called a Marine Epoxy Stick. You can get them at Wal Mart in the automotive section. Usually near the body filler and auto paint. They work, I have used them on a few small aluminum boats and have also used one to repair a damaged radiator on a truck one time. It worked and held for as long as my buddy had the truck maybe longer.
2007-05-17 09:29:39 · answer #3 · answered by Clint M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small leaks can be fixed with silicone, which would probably be the cheapest and quickest way.
Large leaks due to puncture, cut a piece of aluminum of same guage, then seal with silicone and pop rivet to hull.
Depending on what you want to spend, this is the most efficient way that I have found.
2007-05-17 09:52:27 · answer #4 · answered by james 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Patch any leaky seams with 3M brand 5200 polyurethane sealant and allow to cure. If you have a split or tear in tha aluminum, you can have a piece of aluminum cut of the same gage as your hull and large enough to cover the breach. Bond it to the damaged area with 5200 and allow to cure. The 5200 is a very flexible and durable sealant and bonds very well to aluminum after the surface has been prepped with scotchbrite and cleaned.
2007-05-17 09:29:01 · answer #5 · answered by harbourbug 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Home Depot and get some 'Bondo Hair' - clean the spots where it is leaking really well - and apply some of that stuff.
Works like a charm.
2007-05-17 09:28:09 · answer #6 · answered by Joe M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to "ol paws" website and there is a forum on repairing aluminum boats.
2007-05-17 12:12:46 · answer #7 · answered by renpen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋