I’m about ready to give up on fixing the leaks on our $1 Jon boat. Put 3 inches of water in the boat with it on sawhorses. Noted the dozen places it was still leaking and patched those. Took it out yesterday and had a few inches of water in it after fishing for 4 hours. I think holes open up when we’re in the boat. Anyways, I thought about hooking something like this up to the 12v and just pump water out as it comes in. What do y’all think? Better pump option out there? On the bright side, Hayden caught his biggest crappie to date (and got a haircut after church).

12v Pump

Thats what i did. If it doesnt have a floor in it, you could put some 1/2inch plywood in the bottom and the water would stay under it. Screw the plywood to the ribs. Also you can buy a 12v battery online that is very small but would run that bilge pump. Its not like youd have to use a full size battery. Bilge pump and battery would just about fit in a pop tart box. I know size and weight is pretty important on a small boat.

I bucked the rivets on mine and then sanded it and applied some stuff called steel flex. Solved the issue.

https://fascoepoxies.com/FASCO-9XN-...TojxokpXo0JVYlnTZbgbQK2uckBoCHjsQAvD_BwE

Those little pumps work great but they are loud and you won't need to run it constantly so you could get either a float switch or just a plain ole pull/toggle switch while you're on amazon. I went with a pull switch so I can determine for myself when it runs and when it doesn't. You may not want it coming on while you're sitting on a great Crappie hole.

Flex seal, kept a screen door from leaking

I had one several years ago that leaked pretty bad around the rivets. I turned it upside down on some saw horses and squirted a dab of silicone on each one then took a rag and rubbed it down into the gaps. Then removed as much as I could and let it cure for a day. There was one or two that still leaked just a wee bit but after a day on the water you could have soaked all the water up with a paper towel or two.

Marine tex is your friend.

The boat is 25% flex seal by weight. Not pleased with it.

If we go the where that crappie was caught. I’d say several would glad to help keep the water out of the boat between catches. Nice catch good luck with the leaks.

Do you have any access to fiberglass and resin? I did fiberglass work during the summer in college. 30 years later, my patching is still holding up.

I used the two part epoxy that comes in a stick,you knead it together.We always called it pig putty,I think J B weld and others make the same thing.

It ain’t cheap but get you some belzona. The boat will rot before it will

Forget about riveted alum boats. Not worth it at any price.

Braze it with a torch and aluminum rod. Clean area good with stainless steel brush

Lexel

3M 5200 will seal any rivet.

Go with the pump unless you are going to cover the whole bottom and up a few inches on the sides with fiberglass or something. My 60 years experience with riveted light duty aluminum boats is you fix the ones leaking and in a trip or 2 different ones are leaking.

Throw boat in trash, not worth fixing! Call me when your ready to head to that crappie hole and I'll pick you up with my dry boat, full of gas! Lol

Mark all leaks after filling boat half full of water off ground. With one person holding flat side of ax on one side of rivet, another person can tap rounded side slightly with hammer or mallet. If still leaks use aluminum melting rods, jb weld, or epoxy. Mark any other leaks with a red marker on next outing on water. If rivets are in bad shape find someone to aluminum weld all leaking rivets or replace all leaking now before repairing. Next, add removeable carpet covered plywood after repairs. Always step on braces on entry/ exit until slats or plywood is added to prevent further leaks. Some boats are made of thin aluminum making leaks occur more often. A good all welded boat is worth its money if a boat launch is nearby.

Lexel is good stuff.