glen Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 How long do aluminium boats last? I have a boat made in 1975. Is there anything i should worry about? It is painted aluminium. Other than a few big dents and loose rivets that leak it still looks good. I have had this boat for about 20years and i like it. Anyone else have an old boat? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Take a couple heavy hammers and reset those loose rivets...or bring it by and we'll use the proper setting tools. No reason that your great/great/great grandson can't be using that boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_paul Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Glen, I have a 16' Aluminum Starcraft from I think 1964 - still a good solid boat, no leaks and no signs of wearing out. As Wayne says, get the leaks repaired and she should be good for years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike the Pike Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 My thornes 12 foot is 26 years old .I think the life span of boat depends on how well it is taken care of and how many waves pounded it. The little 7.5 Honda that I sold is 27 trs old and still runs like new. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Thanks for the replies. You guys are great. The boat has a floor in it so i am waiting till i replace it in a year or two before i fix the dents and leaks. I put a auto bildge pump in it and that works real good. I will try for another 20years before i buy a new boat. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjsa Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Lessee, I own a 12 ft. Eatons aluminum boat. My buds mother worked at eatons her entire life, and does not remember eatons selling them, lol. Then there is my springbok canoe, it's bottom is rippled between the ribs now from use and abuse, but still going strong, and I remember that thing from 40 yrs. ago fishing in it with my dad. Aluminum boats can last a very long time if not damaged to severely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJQ Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 My 12 foot that I take in the bush was built before I was born in 1963.. is a bit dinged up.. but it doesnt leak 43 years old... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillj Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Actually .. even if they ARE banged up .. its not a big deal to repair them .... as Irish said a few new rivets and a little sealer and they wont leak a drop. If there's a big gash .. simple cut out the piece rivet a new piece in .. bang it into shape and bob's your uncle Should out last you and me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GbayGiant Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Is it hard to fix the rivets yourself, what would you need ? or what would it cost to get them done on a 17' boat ? Some rivets on my 1980 aluminum sarted leaking a little wouldn't mind getting them fixed in the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 John...can you access the inside shop heads of the rivets or is the interior in the way too much where they leak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbalardo Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 I had one from the early 70's i had to patch with fireberglass a few times, but she was still going until a lake erie storm washed it out of my cottage and wrecked it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GbayGiant Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Irish, I would have to remove the wood floor and the side console to get at the rivets but it wouldn't be that hard, I could change the carpet at the same time anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 If that's the case then the suspect rivets could all be "set" again or replaced if necessary while you had the floor out. Generally a re-set on most of them that are easy to get at will put an end to any leaks. I did the 12' tinney at the lake, summer of '05, with my daughter holding the bucking bar on the inside. We did every accessible rivet in about 1/2 an hour. Went from the leaks filling the boat 2 to 3 inches in a day to zip for weeks at a time.... much to her appreciation as she was using it to go back and forth to work at Temagami Shores in Dress pants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GbayGiant Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Thanks again Wayne, mine started leaking this year at about 3-4 inches/day, I have the automatic pump but it will be nice to know my boats not leaking for the peace of mind. What's a buckling bar, do you need one ? do you need any glue or anything els. I'm a rookie at this stuff, I'll send your cheque in the mail, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carp Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 If you repair them if and when needed, they can last a lifetime. Just don't make a habit of running up onto rocks. The few times I had to beach a boat for any length of time, (camping) I would always rest the bow on a piece of wood and tie the bow line to a tree. Much easier on the aluminum than rock, sand or gravel. A night of high winds will do some nasty work if your boat is shifting back and forth on rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Thorpe Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 My 12 foot that I take in the bush was built before I was born in 1963.. is a bit dinged up.. but it doesnt leak 43 years old... So let me get this,your 43 years old and you dont leak! I'd get that checked out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 What's a buckling bar, do you need one ? do you need any glue or anything els. I'm a rookie at this stuff, I'll send your cheque in the mail, lol. A bucking bar is a peice of steel used on the inside of the boat to form the shop head of the rivet while it is being hammered by a rivet gun ( air hammer ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiths Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 I just turned mine over on some saw horses and one guy held a large hammer to each rivet as the other guy pounded it from the other side. Went from leaking a few inches per hour to leaking a cup or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setomonkey Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 My in-laws cottage runabout must be 30 or more years old, leaks a little but is still going strong. The motor is even more impressive, it must date to the 70s, doesn't always start on the first pull but it works... Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 I have many OLD aluminum boats. (We leave them on NYC reservoirs chained to trees.) My buddies and I buy them at auction or otherwise used. Some are, by my estimates around 30yrs old, but that's a guess. They do take a beating getting dragged into the water, going over rocks on the shores. I keep some JBWeld around to make fixes. Works well, though that is pricey for extensive repairs. Most of our boats don't leak. Only one of five is really a problem....I'll deal with it in the early spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorhead Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 My 12 footer was my grandfathers originally then it went to my Dad, and now it`s mine. Still leaks a bit but wouldn`t trade it for anything.... It`s got to be over 50 yrs old, but with my merc 7.5hp on it she`ll do 19km/h with just me in it... The number of fish that boat has seen over the years must be mind boggling.. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Thanks again Wayne, mine started leaking this year at about 3-4 inches/day, I have the automatic pump but it will be nice to know my boats not leaking for the peace of mind. What's a buckling bar, do you need one ? do you need any glue or anything els. I'm a rookie at this stuff, I'll send your cheque in the mail, lol. Sounds like you may actually have a crack somewhere. If you get the floor out have a really good look. They can be difficult to see but will radiate out of a rivet hole generally. As was already pointed out a "bucking bar" is nothing but a heavy hunk of metal...but with a polished face that forms the shop head of the rivet when using a rivet gun on the outside/mfg's head. As I pointed out right at the start of this thread you can also use two heavy hammers with as much success. Seam leaks can be fixed by scrubbing the area with coarse 3M scotchbrite...cleaning with Acetone and then sealing with Sikaflex 391. Same can be done over a small crack..although the proper thing to do in your case before the floor went back down would be a proper alum patch riveted in place over the cracked area. If you want a hand...once the floor is out bring it to Penetang and we'll sort it out together. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GbayGiant Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Thanks for the offer Wayne, I don't have a shop to work in so I'm going to work on it before fishing in the spring, I'll let you know if I have problems. Hopfully theres no cracks but I'll know for sure when I rip everything apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 My old 1972 Starcraft with the Electric shift 50 HP Evinrude is still serving me well and I don't have a mortgage on it. I only went thru 4 tanks of gas this year so I guess the OL' 50 will be good for another year. Kerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carp Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 So let me get this,your 43 years old and you dont leak! I'd get that checked out I would have guessed he leaks a lot,... but what do I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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