Thread: Leaking rivets??

Originally Posted by gabowman

Sounds like youre on the right road now FA. Thjat sounds like the ONLY way to fix it if you want it right. Good luck with getting 'er finished.

I guess if it's worth doing it's worth doing right. Buy the way I got the rivets at grainger for $10 a hundred. Cheaper than the epoxy lol!

Here are some before photos, to let ya'll see the progress

Had a friend come over today and helped me install all the rivets on the bottom of the boat. It went really well, and fast. Took the boat down to the creek to test it out and had a couple that were seeping a little. Pulled the boat out tightend them up a little and we went fishing. The boat did really well and after the minor tightning no leaks. We could have filled it with water at the house but what fun would that be. We ended up fishing for a couple of hours and caught about 20 shellcracker. Decent size no giants but all good fish. Feels good not to have any leaks. I will be putting the steel flex on also just because I have it and it is a good protective measure.


Anybody who has a leaky riveted boat, replacing rivets is not hard and actually is cheaper than a temporary patch.

Some tips to rember.

Make sure the hole is good and round not wallerd out. if it is drill out and use a bigger rivet.

Make sure the two pieces that you are riveting together are tight against each other.

VERY IMPORTANT. Hit the rivet square. If not it will bend slightly and not seal.

Have a friend with you to hold the steel to back up the rivet.

Use only SOLID aluminum rivets

Glad to hear you got the boat fixed up!! And also got to fish some,:D

That trip just sounds "fitting" for the newly riveted boat. You got a good mess of fish ALONG WITH a now-non leaking jon boat.:D Congrats on BOTH!