82 Starcraft MR 180 floor, slight refit and leaks

[redneck joe]

WTF.

Been scattered rain last couple days and we have company so just let her sit. I go out a few minutes ago to drill some of the rivets out and is has 3 plus inches of standing water. Same downward bow position as when it was leaking out. What the actual.... how will I know if I've fixed the leak(s)????

 

[jbcurt00]

Without the pressure of a bow wave hitting the hull, there might not be enough force to drive the water where you think it's leaking.

W enough rain, miniscule debris flowing the other way leaking out of the hull, could have dam'd the leakers....

 

[redneck joe]

Yep, couple three hours with the pressure washer. Got the muddy crap gone now working on the sand/grit. The front (first at the bow) rib has no drain channel but just enough space to let in all the 43 years of s.... crap. I shot the water in to the open end of that rib (and all of the rest of them) to flush. Prob a solid hour on that front one alone.

Back dripping more than ever.... now that I'm paying attention that front rib is missing 10 rivet backs and the keel overall maybe another 15 plus.

How does a solid rivet lose the backside only?

 

[redneck joe]

Forgive the truck rum in the background. About 4 to 5 drips per second.

 

[redneck joe]

Started drilling out the rivets. Not gonna lie, feels weird to be purposely putting holes in my boat.

 

[redneck joe]

Found my tube of 5200 in the freezer. Still good after couple three years.

 

[redneck joe]

Manit gets hot down in that thing dri.ling rivets. 33 of them.

 

[redneck joe]

Ok got busy this morning before the heat sets in, got some more to do but there are a few that will need the boat moved to get to.

Any issue with having my neighbor bringing his deere over and hook a rope to the bow eye and have him lift up a foot or two?

 

[redneck joe]

Never mind, forgot how easy it is to move a small, empty, aluminum boat on a roller trailer. I think I've only got four left...

 

[redneck joe]

And before anyone asks, those rivets were just placeholders from inside. Popped them up when I get to them and all work being done from underneath. Solid mandrel and 5200.

 

[redneck joe]

38 rivets was final number. Tomorrow morning start in on the gluvit.

 

[redneck joe]

Overnight, small drip. Heading to a customers and errands for a couple hours so draining then check again for rivets that have lost the inside portion. Waaaay better than the gallon or so an hour but...

 

[redneck joe]

Well I found four for sure I missed, prob about there I turned my knee board around to work opposite direction. Four more questionable.

 

[redneck joe]

Have I mentioned I'm getting too old for this s....


Nine more replaced and sealed.

Trying a more methodical approach for testing. Bow off the jack and to the ground, filling up from the front but stopping every couple three ribs and waiting to see what happens. If nothing add more water to the next set of ribs, wait, repeat until I'm at the transom.


Supposed to get a couple three inches of rain overnight so that will be the final test. I also have a floor jack under the tongue already so will be able to lift up a boat full of water.

 

[jbcurt00]

It's a process..... and better now than after the 1st outing w a bilge full of water

 

[redneck joe]

Well, it is way less dripping but was hoping for first round success.

Got the next section filled up and a smaller drip but what I just discovered is that I was only looking at the rivets on the ribs for the keel under the boat but there are also rivets in the hull 'field' attached to the keel so need to relook at all those.

 

[redneck joe]

Note to self, when mixing up a gallon of OTF in a gallon bucket start the drill on slow. Side note, my tshirt is now waterproof.

 

[briangcc]

Sweatproof too I wager