mgfastback25
Recruit
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2011
- Messages
- 1
Hello All
I'm rebuilding a 1984 all aluminum AirGator Center Console Shallow Bay boat. This Airgator hull is normally used for AirBoats, but was converted long ago to an outboard center console. This boat runs with a 200 HP outboard JET DRIVE (yes Jet Drive). I use it in the Laguna Madre along the Texas Coast, and it typically runs in water less than 18" deep. I am the 3rd owner of this boat and have had it about 10 years. It was time for a rebuild.
I've got it completely taken apart, I've cut out the deck, removed the foam blocks, stripped and sand blasted every surface possible, and now I can finally see all the things I need to do.
My main first issue is to deal with the pitting in the bottom hull. Overall, it is in good shape, but there are hundreds of pits from the inside-out of various sizes, from microscopic to completely all the way thru. The hull is 3/16" thick 6106 Aluminum. The pitting was caused over the life of the hull by water (mainly salt water) being trapped between the foam blocks and the interior surface of the hull below the deck.
Here are a few pictures:
Here is my plan:
Weld up the big ones - the ones that breach the hull. Most are only about 1/8 in dia, and can be welded. There are about 8 of these.
Cut out and patch 3-4 areas, about 4" inches square, that have a significant amount of fairly deep pitting. These would be patched with 6016 Aluminum Welded patches.
Then....use one of several methods to seal / fill the rest of the smaller holes.
That leads me to my first question.
After reading many of the threads on this topic, I'm leaning towards the following products to fill / seal the many smaller pits. 1: Gluvit or 2: POR 15 or 3: Evercoat Metal 2 Metal All seem to be expoxy based.
My question. Which is best ? Or...another suggestion ?
Thanks in advance for any advice you have...I'm open for suggestions / help.
Steve - Texas
I'm rebuilding a 1984 all aluminum AirGator Center Console Shallow Bay boat. This Airgator hull is normally used for AirBoats, but was converted long ago to an outboard center console. This boat runs with a 200 HP outboard JET DRIVE (yes Jet Drive). I use it in the Laguna Madre along the Texas Coast, and it typically runs in water less than 18" deep. I am the 3rd owner of this boat and have had it about 10 years. It was time for a rebuild.
I've got it completely taken apart, I've cut out the deck, removed the foam blocks, stripped and sand blasted every surface possible, and now I can finally see all the things I need to do.
My main first issue is to deal with the pitting in the bottom hull. Overall, it is in good shape, but there are hundreds of pits from the inside-out of various sizes, from microscopic to completely all the way thru. The hull is 3/16" thick 6106 Aluminum. The pitting was caused over the life of the hull by water (mainly salt water) being trapped between the foam blocks and the interior surface of the hull below the deck.
Here are a few pictures:
Here is my plan:
Weld up the big ones - the ones that breach the hull. Most are only about 1/8 in dia, and can be welded. There are about 8 of these.
Cut out and patch 3-4 areas, about 4" inches square, that have a significant amount of fairly deep pitting. These would be patched with 6016 Aluminum Welded patches.
Then....use one of several methods to seal / fill the rest of the smaller holes.
That leads me to my first question.
After reading many of the threads on this topic, I'm leaning towards the following products to fill / seal the many smaller pits. 1: Gluvit or 2: POR 15 or 3: Evercoat Metal 2 Metal All seem to be expoxy based.
My question. Which is best ? Or...another suggestion ?
Thanks in advance for any advice you have...I'm open for suggestions / help.
Steve - Texas
