How to Seal an Aluminum Canoe

Anyone who has knocked around in old aluminum canoes knows what a pain it is when they start to leak. Rivets loosen with age and abuse. A trip to the welder for a heli-arc welding job is expensive. You can solve your problem, more or less permanently depending on how much effort you are willing to put into the job.

Things You'll Need

  • Duct tape
  • Slow-curing epoxy
  • Paint brushes
  • Small steel bolts the size of rivets, washers and nylon coated nuts
  • Phillips screwdriver and socket wrench
  • Soap, alcohol and cleaning rags
  • Safety glasses
  • Work gloves
  • Propane torch
  • Brazing rod
  • Metal grinder or drill with metal grinding blade
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Instructions

  1. An Emergency Temporary Seal

    • 1

      Flip over the canoe along the bank, and dry the area that needs to be repaired.

    • 2

      Reach for duct tape--a valuable resource in any canoe emergency kit.

    • 3

      Tape a strip of duct tape over the outside of the canoe so that it covers the hole or seam that is leaking.

    • 4

      Flip the canoe back over and head for home.

    • 5

      Remove and thoroughly clean the tape residue before making permanent repairs. This quick repair can get you home with your feet dry, though, and duct tape patches can last for several extended canoe trips.

    Resin

    • 6

      Put your boat, right side up, on a pair of sawhorses or boxes.

    • 7

      Clean the areas of the boat to be sealed or repaired with soap and water and alcohol. Dry with a towel.

    • 8

      Mix a bucket of slow-curing epoxy.

    • 9

      Paint the seams on the inside of the boat with the epoxy. Don't just paint part of the seam; paint the whole seam, as the actual leak might not start where the water finally comes out.

    • 10

      Work the epoxy into the edges of the riveted seams. When the epoxy seeps into the gaps along the edge of the seam, it will expand, harden and seal the leak for a while. If you treat your boat well, it might serve as permanent solution. If you abuse the boat, it might start leaking again, especially if the canoe has broken ribs that allow the bottom to flex inordinately.

    Bolts

    • 11

      Examine the boat for loose rivets along leaking seams. You will need to replace rivets for about a foot to either side of where the rivets appear to be leaking

    • 12

      Drill out loose or suspected rivets

    • 13

      Replace the rivets with small steel bolts of the same diameter. Place the rounded head on the outside of the hull and push through the rivet hole.

    • 14

      Tighten a washer and nylon coated lock nut onto the bolt on the inside. You'll need someone on the other side of the hull to hold the bolt in place while you tighten.

    • 15

      Grind down any protruding bolt ends inside the canoe to prevent injury to paddlers

    Brazing

    • 16

      Set the boat on something stable, and locate any leaks. If you are repairing a gash, you'll need to hammer the bent edges so that they are flat and the edges touch each other. For seams, mark the area that is leaking and repair at least 12 inches to either side of the leak.

    • 17

      Clean the area thoroughly and dry it. Sand away any corrosion and clean with alcohol to remove grease or oils.

    • 18

      Cut a "v" shape with a grinder blade along the area to be repaired so that the solder flows into the crevice and puddles there. Don't cut all the way through.

    • 19

      Use a propane torch to heat a brazing rod. Move it along the seam and allow the melted metal to flow into the seam.

    • 20

      Scrub the seam with a light stainless wire brush and reheat the seam. This second pass ensures the repair will not leak.