I've been freshwater fishing out of an aluminum 14" semi V boat for 40 years. Went this weekend in fact. a fine vessel. Mine does not leak.

However an earlier aluminum boat I had did develop a leak. It was repaired using a product called Gluvit. This is made to flow into small spaces like around loose rivets. It has a very thin viscosity and will fill small gaps.

It's a boat. To determine if you're ready for a boat, I suggest the following:

1) go to your bank and get 10 - $20 bills
2) return to marina and stand at the end of the dock.
3) one-by-one, throw each of the $20 bills in the water and let them float away.

If you can comfortably do this, you may be ready for a boat. If not, find another hobby.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
It's prob 35 years old or more, original owners. I don't know if it comes with a trailer or not.

So, what is an aluminum boat sealer ? Is it a spray on or brush on product ? I'd assume it's a high tech polymer of some sort. And is it different than paint, or a primer of sorts under the paint, or a sealer under the primer ?

Various options are out there from simple as a waterproof butyl tape or an epoxy.

Expoxy

Butyl Tape

Are small boats of this type made of steel? Aluminum, when cut by abrasion, neither makes that sound nor throws sparks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

^^ Haha the old Flex Tape! Don't under estimate that stuff it works surprisingly well. I have used it on the roof of our RV and as well as some hose leaks and it does the job!

Here's a bucking riveting video:

I’m not sure why everyone thinks this type of boat is so expensive. I guess expensive means something different to everyone. It could also be the difference between a trolling motor and an expensive outboard.

We had a 14’ John boat at our family cabin for 12 years until my brother swapped it for a pontoon boat that could be a little more versatile for swimming.

I brought it home in the back of my truck and it’s been sitting upside down on the bank of our lake under some tree cover for 11 more years. It gets used probably 20-30 times a year by anyone who wants to use it. Just bring your own trolling motor and battery. That thing hasn’t cost anyone a dollar and has been filled with thousands of pounds of fish over the years.

I also agree, one can get a lot of use out of a simple johnboat with limited cost. I’m doing a few things to a 14’ johnboat right now, oar locks next. This one was sorta free.

With these boats storage is easy, don’t really need a motor, depending on intended use. I have a 9.9 hp Honda 4-stroke that is plenty of motor.

It’s the big boats that can be $$ pits.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
It's a boat. To determine if you're ready for a boat, I suggest the following:

1) go to your bank and get 10 - $20 bills
2) return to marina and stand at the end of the dock.
3) one-by-one, throw each of the $20 bills in the water and let them float away.

If you can comfortably do this, you may be ready for a boat. If not, find another hobby.

HA ! I believe it. Sounds like every other project I've dived into most of my life.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
The older ones were designed for two stroke motors which didn’t weigh nearly what four stroke motors do.

Yes and no.

I have an old 18 horse that's near twice the size and twice the weight of a modern 18.

Rating and "good idea" are two different things. I have a couple aluminum boats, one a 10-11 ft(?) Grumman, very shallow draft very low gunnels. It's rated for a 10hp engine according to it's tag. Having used a "modern" 5hp on it, the idea of a 10hp on it is terrifying, and would be a bad idea. IIRC it's of 1968 vintage, when a 10hp would have weighed a lot more, which probably plays into the rating at the time.

I’ve used a few old boats that had a ‘slow leak’, depending on how used, no real biggie.

One now used on our smallish camp ponds, trapping or maintenance. The bottom is a little wet after 45 minutes or so, usually back on shore about then anyway. This boat cost $120.

Say there was a small leak or crack, most can be fixed. I think there’s a lot of utility in a simple 12-14’ John boat.

As far as cost & ‘wasting $$’, if one can’t have fun with a $500 toy, something’s wrong. Compare that to an $800 gun seldom used.