I have a 14 ft vhull aluminum boat w/rivets,
When I bought the boat used, that booger tried to sink on me. I immediately took it home to fix it, but I didn't know what to do...
I went to Autozone and bought some of that Rhinoliner (truck bedliner stuff) And coated a small portion of the boat with it in the rear.. While my wife decided I was spending too much money on this stuff ($35.00 a half gallon) I only had enough to do about 1-1/2 ft from the transom. It did however stop the leaking in this section. I don't want to pour money into this "throw-away" boat, nor am I ready to purchase a newer one. Can anyone tell me of a better alternative to this problem? My next move was to go to Home Depot to get some of that Aluminum roof coating that they use on trailer houses to stop leaks. Thanks for any advice ..

First try tightening the rivets. Turn the boat on it's side and have a helper hold a backing block (metal works best) and take a hammer and hit the rivets to tighten them. Don't get carried away, they are aluminum so they are soft. If that doesn't work, go to a good bolt supply and buy a handful of "Bucking" rivets and replace the originals. The bucking rivets come in common sizes so you can get them the next size larger than the originals.
The bed coating is not a good idea.

I have a 14' and when I got it the previous owner had put on the aluminum roof paint. Boat was leak proof for a while. The roof paint just does not stand up to the weather and boots and it leaks again. The other thing is that now the inside of the boat look like carp becuase it just did not stand up.

I did have 1 rivit that went bad and purchased some 3/16" x 3/4" long soild brazer rivits. I bought the smallest amount I could, 1/2 pound for $7, and have more than enough if you want some. Let me know and maybe we can hook up, I am in Carrollton.

There is a web site that will have the info you are looking for: http://pagebiz.com/bds/aluminum/repair.html The web site also recommends a marine sealant called Sika-Flex 291 to help waterproof the rivits.

i use gutter sealent. it's cheap & plyable. put a blob about the size of a nickle on the rivit, spread it around the rivit in a circular motion. try not to leave any air bubbles. about 4 bucks a tube. 1 tube will last about 5 years.
good luck
oh yea - always apply to the head of the rivit
all the heads are on the outside of the boat

Thanks for the info ya'll, I know there may be a couple of loose rivets. But I got to lookin yesterday when I was in the river, and I watched water slowly coming through the seam up by the bow. I may have to just quit being cheap and go get another boat. only thing is, since my boat is so small and weightless, It hauls butt on the water w/ that little 15hp tohatsu motor. Anyonw know where to get like a 20-25hp reasonably for like a 15-16 footer, if I get one this weekend?

3M 5200 is an excellant sealer.. Sand around ribets and apply Wal-Mart & auto parts have it