little gash in my alum 14 ft

[kawk]

got a 2 inch by 1/8 inch gash (im a bit excited) on the bottom aft section of my 14 ft aluma craft. this is primarily a hand lauch boat that gets dragged more than it should. ive made some temp repairs that have worked but im looking for somthing more permanent. thanks in advance.

 

[ck85abc3]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

What were your temporary repairs?

 

[5150abf]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

Find a weld shop, that should be really easy to fix and not very expensive, if you clean it up good you might save ever more.

Maybe see if the can weld some aluminum angle on the areas where you drag it, did that for my friends boat and it worked really well.

If you lived anywhere close I would do it for you.

 

[Captain Paul]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

If you don't want to bring it in for a weld job, do you have a pop rivet gun? Here's an easy but solid fix, small chunk of aluminum from big box store, drill a hole through it and on both sides of the gash,mix up some JB Weld, goop the JB in the gash and around it, pop rivet on the aluminum. Try to match the contour of your patch piece with the boat. It ain't real purdy, but she'll hold.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

i have used JB Weld Marine, to fill a 2inch gash in one of my boats. i built up the inside, and then worked the outside. never leaked a drop.

 

[kawk]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

#2 Today, 07:31 PM
ck85abc3,
if you really want to know the first was plummers putty and the second was clear silicone. both repairs involved some strategically placed duct tape. both repairs worked remarkablely well, no water at all!!! when the fish are biting ya gotta fish.

 

[kawk]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

t-daddy,
never dealt with or heard of jb weld. where do you get it and is it idiot proof? i got a welder close by ,dont know if he deals with alum but i like the idea of reinforcing my problem spot. thanks all. iboats, greatest site ever!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

welder is the best rememdy. JB Weld is a 2 parts that you mix together. and is a very good patch. google JB Weld.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

#2 Today, 07:31 PM
ck85abc3,
if you really want to know the first was plummers putty and the second was clear silicone. both repairs involved some strategically placed duct tape. both repairs worked remarkablely well, no water at all!!! when the fish are biting ya gotta fish.

I have used duct tape on my fiberglass boat as well but not for long. I finally ended up using marine tex (the 2 part that you half to mix) and so far it is working well. The boat hasn't sunk yet and it had been in the water all afternoon through to the next morning at one point (the longest it has set in the water) and it didn't take on any water.

 

[eavega]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

never dealt with or heard of jb weld. where do you get it and is it idiot proof?

You can get JB Weld at auto parts store . My local auto parts (Advance Auto Parts) even has different sizes so you don't have to keep a big tube of it (although once you have it, you keep finding uses for it). I've used it to repair my aluminum boat, patio furniture, lawn equipment, etc. It bonds well to metal, and is sandable and paintable.

-E

 

[johnson seahorse]

Re: little gash in my alum 14 ft

i got a 12 foot grumman vnose same problem rip in the floor to thin for anybody around here to weld so i went out behind the garage cut a 5x5 peice out of an old arctic cat tunnel got out the rivet gun and plumbers goop dont leak a drop best damm water sealant around looks a little crude but works