Easy fix. Either tighten the rivets or seal with a good quality silicone sealant.

 

It's a fairly common problem in older aluminum boats. Like Magis said it a pretty simple fix too.
Depending on the severity or type of boat and location of the leak is how I would go about fixing it.

I have a 19 year old Tracker and I had some leaks. At one time I thought about replacing the boat but I really do like the way the boat fishes and it fits me well so I decided to at least look at repairing it. One problem I had was missing a missing rivet and several other rivets that were loose. hey were easy to find the leaking/missing rivets. My boat is too big to flip over so I just laid on on the ground under the boat and looked around one day. The missing rivet was obvious and the leaking rivets had a little algae around them, all the other rivets were clean. Rather than silicone (which I used and worked well on an old jon boat) I used a product called Marine Tex. I don't remember all that much about it but I know I used the "Gray". Here's a link below and I found the stuff at a local Marina here in Cincy, actually the 1st place I looked had it.
Good luck with it.

http://www.marinetex.com/

 

I do not live far from you and I can fix this loose rivet free for you. what size is boat and can I get to the rivet from inside. If so I do real good on this type problem. I had my share boats with same problem. There is a catch to the free fix and that is to test it by going fishing. If you or any one has a boat need fixing or motor I can fix that to. I got motor to use on it if non comes with boat. I love fix boats and motors so any need work on there boat or motor get hold me and you will have a free fixer for life and that is not a lie.

 

lve had luck with JB Weld.

 

if you can get to both sides of the rivet it shouldnt be hard to fix. you might even be able to rent a rivet gun at a rental place. if not have someone hold a metal bar against the back of the rivet, now hit the head of the rivet. but a rivet gun works best. you just have someone hold a metal bar against the rivet and put the head of the rivet gun over the head of the rivet and pull the trigger for a couple of seconds. this swells the rivet and tightens it back down fixing the leak.

when i was in the marine corps i was a metalsmith on jet aircraft. i have repaired and replaced thousands of rivets in f-4 and a-4 and av-8a aircraft and worked on ch-46 helos when i was overseas. they all had loose and popped rivets that had to be repaired or replaced. but we had the tools to work with.
sherman

 

lve had luck with JB Weld.

X2 on that.

 

I like to drill the old rivet out and to replace with a blind pop rivet in 1/4".


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If they are solid rivets that have been peened, they are called "bucking rivets". The tool used to hit them, and keep the round shape is called a "bucking tool". Check out McMaster-Carr. They'll have what I'm talking about. If you can't get to both sides of the rivet, you could use pop rivets that are called "sealing blind rivets". McMaster-Carr don't allow you to link to their products, so you'll have to do a search.

I wouldn't use silicone. Use a product like 3M 5200.

Also, check out the Iboats forums. Lots of people/threads pertaining to this, with plenty pictures. Good luck!

 

I would also recommend the 3M 5200 Marine Sealant, it's intended for this type of application.
At the shop we put water in the boat and look for the leakers circling them with a grease pencil. Drill out the loose rivet and replace with a solid blind rivet backed with 5200


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