It has front and back decks, and i cannot fix them from inside the boat. Aluminum boat repair kit with west system gflex epoxy. Best method to repair stress cracks boat design net. While many boat owners resort to temporary fixes such as epoxy, super alloy 5 is a permanent repair for aluminum boat seams. Place the boat in such a position as to face the hole or crack at its highest upward position. What is so important about the metal parts on our boats. How to fix aluminum boat with jb weld marine weld jb weld. A hammer and an autobody bucking dolly gave us reasonable control in getting the hull close to its original shape. For a durable, longlasting and strong repair to a damaged hull, welding is commonly thought of as the best and most proper method of making the repair. Jul 24, 2007 approx 68 long, this area was hit by sail boat that miss his mooring. Repair the most common problem with aluminum boats and canoes.
A simple sanding with an orbital sander will be enough for this. Then fill the seams and rivets in this area while the aluminum is still warm. I knew either way i would have to prep it, i wire brushed around the crack on the outside. When repairing aluminum boats, most methods call for either welding or fiber glassing the area in need of repair. Aluminum boat crack repair this old boat lake ontario. Jul 17, 2017 its characteristics, such as low density and corrosion resistance, make it a popular and useful material. Patching cracks in an aluminum hull bass boats, canoes. You might be able to get away with a jb type fix for a while, but it probably wouldnt last forever like a reweld. One boat actually carried a bilge pump to help keep up with the bailing. I just got off the phone with a boat repair business in hudson, wi. Removing a dent in an aluminum boat requires techniques very similar to auto repair, since many of the same tools can be used.
We are a trusted aluminum boat repair shop that wants you to be more than satisfied with our commitment to quality workmanship and. For example, if repairing a crack in a hull, it is recommended that a small hole be drilled at each end of the crack, and then the crack can be welded closed. The patch looked like a piece of thin plate aluminum with the rubber patch the same size. Or maybe the leaks were a gift from the boat s previous owner.
Oct 21, 2016 besides boat repair, the hts2000 can also repair engine blocks, radiators, fuel tanks, air conditioners, latches, brackets, rivets and many more aluminum surfaces and objects. I you have a hole, crack or leaky rivet it is super easy to fix on your own with a small propane torch and some hts73511 rods. Of course, you might first talk to a boat dealer and ask how they repair these things. The guy there told me that he would weld the crack from the inside and outside and put a plate on the inside of the hull. A hose can pop loose or the thruhull itself fails, leaving you with a serious hole below the water line. Just because its an 18 boat doesnt mean that its always used on a lake.
Hull damage to an aluminum boat can occur from abrupt groundings. I was quite surprised to find that every aluminum boat owner i talked to said they had some sort of leak. Given the size 18 boat were dealing with, its a better than even bet were dealing with a riveted hull rather than a welded hull. This lets you do the repair without flipping the boat over. To ensure good adhesion it is critical that the repair patch is adhered to undamaged laminate. Large size sticks will handle twice the repairs of other kits. The pop rivets passed through the plate and the rubber seal. To make the repair, we use super alloy 5 and an oxyacetylene torch to seal the.
Their instructions require you to coat the underside of the boat. Nov 10, 2015 finding a marine repair shop with the right skills, technologically advanced facility and experience is the key to the best overall aluminum boat repair experience. Working with a fiberglass, or even a wooden hull, you will need to start by cleaning out the crack and affected area. Totalboat aluminum boat leak sealer fixes leaking rivets. At totalboat, we worked long and hard to come up with a faster, easier to use, more reliable fix for these common problems. Aluminum is also 100 percent recyclable and easily can be repaired. While both methods are acceptable in repairing aluminum boats, the purpose of the repair often dictates the method used. It looks like there is a fine crack along this butt joint and it is leaking inside the boat. Diy repairing a hole or crack in an aluminum boat super easy.
If water is leaking into the bottom of the boat, and it really is coming in from a leak that is drawing water in from the inside of the hollow keel, then filling the hollow space of the keel. They dont handle flex or stress well, which leads to cracks and failure of the repair. Aluminum typically dents when encountering an object, whereas wood will crush and fiberglass cracks. Pitting, cracks and crevice corrosion are three of the drawbacks of any. Fix leaking seams in aluminum boats with west system g. Over plating an aluminum boat miller welding discussion. Before repairing a dent, make sure to determine its size.
Welding brazing giant cracks in an aluminum jon boat hull. By apextrail in forum kentucky discussion board replies. In fiberglass boat repair the repair area may have hardness very similar to the original laminate and you can accidentally change the shape of the surrounding area. Hull repair is fairly easy for someone who owns a small fiberglass boat of their own. Patch holes in aluminum boats with west system gflex epoxy. Brazing the entire back of the boat back together again. How to fix aluminum boat leaks with jb weld marine weld. Then we softened the edges of the aluminum with 120grit sandpaper. Aluminum has a reputation for bubbling and blistering paint finishes. Now, im not saying cover your entire hull in small dimples for extra speed, but i wouldnt worry about what a few bumps on the hull will do. However, if welding isnt an option, i would clean and prep the surfaces on both the inside and outside of the crack. This is similar to the physics behind the dimples on a golf ball. If we are aboard a steel or aluminum vessel, then metal is the structure of the whole boat on a ferrocement boat, a metal armature is the reinforcement for the entire structure with a fiberglass boat, well need to know how, where and why the different marine.
The last thing you want when you are out in a secluded area of the lake is to find leaking rivets or a bad weld on a gash in the hull. Cracked aluminum can be adequately repaired without welding using an epoxy embedded with aluminum. I had it on the water over the weekend and had to bilge it a few times, so when i got home, i filled it up with water and found a crack in the passenger side of the hull, more towards the front of the boat. Jan 24, 2017 a hose can pop loose or the thru hull itself fails, leaving you with a serious hole below the water line. Sealing a crack 4 inch crack on the bottom of a pontoon for a boat. When the resin is hard enough cut the wire, sand and fair. West system gflex 650k aluminum boat repair kit west marine. This fusion bondage epoxy will repair and waterproof aluminum boat rivets, minor cracks and small holes without welding. The forced air from the heat gun keeps the repair area warm and lets you direct the gflex where it needs to go. Approx 68 long, this area was hit by sail boat that miss his mooring. The leaking has significantly slowed, but its still leaking.
Aluminum hullkeel repair ohio game fishing your ohio. Is this a gauge metal aluminum fishing boat or something a lot more substantial. I guess what im getting at is if it is riveted or welded construction. Use the heat gun do not use a propane torch for this step in one hand while applying the gflex from the syringe with the other. How to repair an aluminum boat hull gone outdoors your. Apr, 2014 the seam that runs down this aluminum boat has separated and is leaking badly.
I had it on the water over the weekend and had to bilge it a few times, so when i got home, i filled it up with water and found a crack in the passenger side of the hull, more towards the front of the boa. So, if you have an aluminum boat and are in need of a quick and easy method for boat repair, look no further than our industrial strength, secondgeneration line of boat. Aluminum works well when used on small bass boats, dinghies, ski and sailboats and even some yachts. You then paint over the bare aluminum with self etching spray primer from napa auto and then paint to match your boat color. Within 3 hours, i had several coworkers volunteer their aluminum boats for the experimental fix using gflex. Additionally, the osmosis of water into the inner fibers of a fiberglass hull can result in rotting. Determine the size of the crack or hole and whether you need to back it with some scrap strips of aluminum. Oct 06, 2010 i have used it to repair leaks in a big outdoor pool i used to take care of, and as a sealant when i rebuilt the transom on a small aluminum boat i have. Most marine outlets also stock epoxy repair kits that work fine with smc. This seals it for good and will not leak or come off.
Clean the damaged area on the aluminum with some acetone and rags, removing algae, mud and all chemical water stains. All you need is a standard torch and fine sandpaper or a wire brush. Its a crestliner sabre, which is welded, but the crack is not on a weld. Hull damage to an aluminum boat can occur from abrupt groundings, collision. Adhesion failure in the repair laminate is the most common failure mode for fiberglass repairs. Clean off cracked portions working with a fiberglass, or even a wooden hull, you will need to start by cleaning out the crack and affected area. I tried patching them using aluminum puddy it hardens to aluminum. We drilled stopper holes at the end of each tear to reduce the potential for crack propagation. May 08, 20 i have a 15 aluminum rowboat with three small cracks in the hull. Each kit contains 8 ounces of gflex 650 toughened epoxy, adhesive filler, application syringes, mixing pots and reusable mixing sticks and protective gloves. You really have to look to even see the crack, but i want to make it right before it gets worse or leaks. West system gflex 650k aluminum boat repair kit west.
Hello i have a 17 foot aluminum boat and i recently noticed a crack that is seeping water. Besides boat repair, the hts2000 can also repair engine blocks, radiators, fuel tanks, air conditioners, latches, brackets, rivets and many more aluminum surfaces and objects. What are the best tips for repairing aluminum boats. The kit contains gflex epoxy and hardener, 406 colloidal silica filler, application syringes, reusable mixing sticks, protective gloves and step by step instructions to. Fix leaking rivets in aluminum boats with gflex 650. Gflex for aluminum hull repairs including fixing leaking seams and rivets and. The seam that runs down this aluminum boat has separated and is leaking badly. Other repair products usually require the entire hull to be coated, and they can shrink and crack, or fail because they dont tolerate the hull flexing. If so, dab a small amount of epoxy on a thin strip of. Plan on using a variety of sanding tools if you are dealing with a repair that bridges both a flat area and a detailed area such as a chine or gunwale. In getting my boat ready for splashdown i noticed a hairline crack about 2 long on the bottom of my hull.
Gflex by west system for aluminum hull repairs bottom paint store. Or maybe the leaks were a gift from the boats previous owner. Repairing crack in aluminum on lund boat ohio game. I have repaired many boats that wore through on the keels and other spots on the hull. Creating sharp corners when shaping the area to be repaired. The first step in being prepared is to know exactly where your thruhulls are located. There was damage that was repaired close to this area. In this video i go through the basics of tig welding aluminium before welding up a crack in my boat the green machine. Expert boat repair doesnt have to be expensive, but it does have to be done right. To ensure proper adhesion, you need to prepare the surface of the cracked. You have to clean away the paint with a wire wheel or sandpaper the area first. I circled any leaking rivet or seam with a black marker. Unless you have a welder for aluminum, this is a fantastic fix.
To make the repair, we use super alloy 5 and an oxyacetylene torch to seal the area that had been unsuccessfully. I have used it to repair leaks in a big outdoor pool i used to take care of, and as a sealant when i rebuilt the transom on a small aluminum boat i have. How to repair aluminum boat seams, tears, and holes with. Diy repairing a hole or crack in an aluminum boat super easy duration. Without seeing photos, whos to say that a welded repair is better than a riveted patch backed up with epoxy. Since 1968, west marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable associates happy to assist. Get the cardboard in the hole and pull from the wire to hold it against the inside of the hull.
Aluminum hull welding and aluminum boat painting are specialized skills. Fix leaking seams in aluminum boats with west system gflex 650. You have to stretch aluminum to imitate its actual shape. The aluminum particles contained in the epoxy will adhere to the cracked part, creating a permanent bond that will hold up in most situations. Alumacraft hull cracks, update in original post posted by iron banks on 72718 at 4. There is another piece of alumimum that butts up against the transom that looks like it was welded together or had some kid of sealer in the past. The number one enemy of boat performance is drag, and, believe it or not, a smoother hull has a bit more drag then a slightly bumpier one. There are hundreds of products out there that claim to fix leaks and seal cracks. If rushed, a slipshod repair can actually ruin an aluminum boat. I have a 15 aluminum rowboat with three small cracks in the hull. Smc repair kits are tougher to find, though auto supply stores frequently have them on hand. This type of repair is necessary if you run aground, run into a rock, or have some of crack caused by age and use. Whether you want to fix your aluminum siding or mend your aluminum boat, you may want to know how to repair holes in aluminum. We wanted to experiment with using gflex to fix leaking aluminum boats.
In this video, an aluminum boat with a separated seam is repaired quickly and easily, using super alloy 5 and an oxyacetylene torch. Using a propane torch you heat the aluminum and melt the stick over the rivet or crack in a circular rubbing movement. Over plating an aluminum boat miller welding discussion forums. Most existing repair products are tedious and time consuming. This requires identifying and removing all damaged material. Dab epoxy on thin strips of aluminum and glue these pieces to the base of your boat. Home boat design forums construction boatbuilding fiberglass and composite boat building cracked hullaccident please help discussion in fiberglass and composite boat building started by captainreza, oct 19, 2012. Failure to do this added step of drilling the ends of the crack when repairing aluminum boats can often lead to the. Before and after pictures of boat repairs landcraft marine. How to fix a leaking seam or rivet on aluminum boat. Repairing crack in aluminum on lund boat ohio game fishing. To make repairing your aluminum boat easier, west system offers an aluminum boat repair kit that includes many of the materials needed for small to medium sized repairs. Hope to keep the grinding to a minimum, but what tool would you suggest to open up the cracks.
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