19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

[dixieturk99]

Hi all...we've got an old aluminum fishing boat and there is a distinct concave bend in the hull I would say about 1/3 from the back of the boat. I'm sure this must be affecting the performance of the boat. We can't open up the motor all the way since the bow dives and pulls to the left at about 30 mph. Does anybody have any idea of how I can fix this?? Here's some pics of it.

thanks

 

[Les Robb]

Re: 19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

Sorry but can't tell from pic's what you are talking about. Is it like a hook in the hull caused by the bow ring being locked down and the weight of the motor causing a buckle effect over the top of a roller? Can you access the top side of the problem or is the deck in the way?

Let us know

 

[NoKlu]

Re: 19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

You can see it right behind the bunks? in both shots. It's pretty bad and I have no idea if it can be fixed.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: 19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

Ok second time on this answer(forgot to hit submit) anyway before I was looking in the front of photo and not towards the rear. How did the hull get warped, any ideas?
The only way you could reform would be pressure from above or pulling from below the hull and it sure wouldn't be an exacting science. A lot depends on the size of your boat and how easy it would be to manuver off the trailer.

Let us know

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

i bet is was from a poorly set up trailer...

the bunks have to go ALL the way to the transom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

looks like there is air under the end of the boat!!!

at least thats the way it looks...


can you pull the floor?

in any case a difficult repair........but doable

good luck

bob

 

[dixieturk99]

Re: 19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

We aren't really sure how it got that way since we bought it used and unfortunately didn't know what to look for. We can definitely get to it. The floor is easy to pull out. How should we go about doing this?? Put it on a flat floor and pound it out??

thank you all for your input.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

it is not an exact science...

your trick is to support the floor where it is flat and good..

and then add pressure in the center of the worst bow, from the inside of the boat..in a controled manner..

like if you were in the opening of a strongly framed garage door.. and you put some type of jacking device between the frame of the door and the inside of the boat(floor)...you have to have a broad contact , other wise youd put a little dent in your big bowed area!!!

the pattern of your ribbing will play a roll in how you attack this problem


like a 2X2 piece of thick ply wood under your jacking device..

and remember, this is only how Id try it...not that it is a professional way!!!

and reset your trailer if the hull isnt supported properly!!!

bob

 

[dixieturk99]

Re: 19 foot aluminum with a bent hull

thanks for the info....any other tips are greatly appreciated. I'm not sure how the hook was caused. We have it properly seated on a bunk trailer now.