Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

[bojango541]

I am looking at purchasing a 17.5 ft bass tracker. The boat looks great except for a large dent on the rear port side. The current owner says it doesn't leak but he has trouble getting the boat over 20-25 mph, and that the dent is the cause. It is powered by a 40 hp johnson. Just wondering what are the options to repair this? Is it repairable? Could it be as simple as hammering it out?

I read some other forums, and it seems the best choice would be to rivet a piece of sheet metal over the dent, then seal it some how.

Any Input would be appreciated. I don't know if this dent should be a deal breaker or not.

Thanks

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

I've been waiting for a long time for a post like this. I am a "Glasser" and know very little about "Tin" Boats. I've learned a lot on this forum about them. I've even considered buying one but...This issue you have is one of the things I fear about owning one. If this were a glass boat, I would know exactly how to go about fixing it. I will REALLY be interested in seeing what the "Tinnys" have to tell you about this. I want to learn all about this repair. Thanks for Posting this.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

a good aluminum fabricator could pull that out, re-weld for about $150. my radiator guy would also do it for that. they paint and decal will be fubar'd if you are handy, pound it out yourself, then find someone to weld it back up.

however having had a Bass Tracker in the family with a 50hp Merc on it , the boat would do 32-34mph in the right conditions, 25mph sounds about right with a 40hp johnson.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

The only way I would buy that boat is if it was DIRT CHEAP,........And then I would strip off the good parts and haul the hull in for scrap,.....

But that is just my opinion,....For what it's worth,..

 

[Bondo]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

The only way I would buy that boat is if it was DIRT CHEAP,........And then I would strip off the good parts and haul the hull in for scrap,.....

But that is just my opinion,....For what it's worth,..

Ayuh,.... Ditto that,...

If ya beat that dent out, being on the corner, the aluminum will Tear...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

That is quite a bit of damage and will take quite a bit of work to fix.

Whoever suggested the patch should be put in front of a firing squad.

The aluminum at the dent has been stretched and won't pull out or hammer out back into its original shape and look passable without some sort of cosmetic work like bondo or the marine equivalent... and even then the metal will be weakened in that area.

If you'll look at the gunwale, you can see it sloping down at the area of the damage, this will need to be straightened out... as well as any transom irregularities that we can't see in the pic. For me, the only acceptable fix would be to cut out the dent back to the closest vertical/lateral rib and weld in a patch after everything is straightened out.

If you're looking for something to take out on the water right away, I'd pass on this boat... but if you're looking for a project and the price is right, go for it.

 

[oops!]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

that boat is an insurance write off.

you would need to cut and weld...

im going to pm a bud to see what he says.

 

[bojango541]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming. I asked the seller to send me a few more pictures, which I have attached here.







A little more information on the boat...

It is a 1998. The rest of the boat looks mint. Comes with fish finders/trolling motor, and some other accessories. Ive seen similar boats of this age going for around 4500-5k. He is asking 2800 and told me he is willing to work on the price before I even thought about making an offer.

If I were to repair it, I wouldn't care about the cosmetics. I just don't want any major structural or performance problems coming up a year or two down the road.

 

[oops!]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

.

Any Input would be appreciated. I don't know if this dent should be a deal breaker or not.

Thanks

View attachment 132385

as for this comment, yes,,,,,,this is a deal breaker......

this boat is damaged almost beyond repair.

as for the price........right now......the motor, trailer is the only thing worth money.

the hull is worth only the price of scrap

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

He is asking 2800 and told me he is willing to work on the price before I even thought about making an offer.

Well, I'd price out the outboard, trailer and gear, cause that's what you are buying in this case. That Tracker is about toast or salvageable in the right hands for good $$$.

For somewhere in the $2000 - $3000 range you could likely grab an alum boat you could put on the water tomorrow.

WOG, I really hate to say it, but you win the day buddy.

(sorry opps: I got caught doing something else before I hit "post" so this is just an add on)

 

[bojango541]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

If I could find a welder do do it for a reasonable price, what would be the downside of cutting out the dented area and welding on a piece of aluminum to replace it?

Nick

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

I'd think you'd pay a good welder close to a 1K to repair that area the right way, to be safe add another 200-300 and make it 1300.00 for the repairs and keep in mind, that's only the visible damage, what's going on with the frame work under the flippin' deck? Is it bent and causing the floor to not be level? What would it cost to fix that if it's an issue? Did the original accident cause "twist" to the overall structure at all?
A year or two ago, I sold a 90 Fisher Hawk w/40 Merc that almost looked like it came off the showroom floor for $2500.00 . Motor probably had less than 150 hrs on it, if even that much. Trolling motor, livewell, all aluminum welded body, front and rear flippin' decks. So if this guy is asking 2800.00 for something that damaged, not sure he'd go down to the point that I'd be interested, which would be in the area of around 1500.00 max..

 

[oops!]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

That Tracker is about toast or salvageable in the right hands for good $$$.

now if this was a glass boat............................(big honkin grin)

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

now if this was a glass boat............................(big honkin grin)

metal repair is just as easy as fiberglass repair. especially if your a metal basher by trade

 

[Teamster]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

$2800????,............Are you kidding????

I would maybe offer $500 if the motor is clean,....

Otherwise I would run away very fast!!!

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

Darn it, and here I was hopin, like Wood, to see a Tinny actually get some real damage repaired, not jus replace a couple of reevits some Gluv-it, epoxy some ply, slap in a little JB Weld, and go fishin...

but an actual structural failure repaired to like new condition...just like a glasser...

Awww, come on deal with the guy, get it for say 300-500 bucks and get it fixed...

Hey worst case, scrap the hull, pick up another for cheap, transfer parts and you'll be golden...

300-500 tho...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

Deal-Breaker!

I'd offer $500 and then start looking for another boat. The hull is worthless (cost as much to repair as it's worth) and the other parts are only worth their used value "if you need then".

The thing about that dent, it's in a structural area of the boat, it's not cosmetic. Someone might knock $1000 off a car with a dented fender like that, but would you buy a car with a bent frame? I bet that whole corner of the boat is tweaked out of position, the side is, the transom is, bottom of hull too???

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

The thing about that dent, it's in a structural area of the boat, it's not cosmetic. I bet that whole corner of the boat is tweaked out of position, the side is, the transom is, bottom of hull too???

Yup, I was just getting ready to type this ^^^ gotta agree with dan here. Being that it's right at the corner (critical, structural corner), not good at all.

It's just not worth the trouble and expense to repair.

Now, if there happened to be a nice 2012 50 HP Etech hooked to that tracker, yah buddy!!!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

I definitely don't like the looks of the damage to the transom. There will be problems in the near future with that.

If you could find another Tracker the same year and model as that one but with the insides trashed, the damaged boat would be a good donor boat and then scrap the hull.

 

[bojango541]

Re: Large Dent Aluminum Hull Bass Tracker Repair???

I definitely don't like the looks of the damage to the transom. There will be problems in the near future with that.

If you could find another Tracker the same year and model as that one but with the insides trashed, the damaged boat would be a good donor boat and then scrap the hull.

What could end up happening with the transom? He said the dent is right near the corner of the transom, and that is it. Everyone saying $500 or walk away, what exactly is your reasoning? the guy has been using the boat as is. If I have the dent cut out and welded, is it possible that alone can give it a couple extra mph, and and perform well on the water? The Seller claims the extent of the damage is limited to the corner. I feel like I want to take a chance on this boat for around 2k but I dont think anyone else thinks I should. Im still very undecided.

thanks again