Aluminum hull repair

[Floyd M]

I have a nickel size hole in the center bottom of the hull about a foot from the transom wall. What is the best way to patch? (weld, epoxy, JB, etc.) Thanks in advance for the info. Just reading all of the posts I have seen so far has provided tons of info regarding my 74 starcraft.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Floyd welcome to iboats . We will need pictures of said Starcraft to let you in the club oh and dues of course but BobVT handles that end of things . The best way to repair it would be to have a ( capable shop ) weld a patch in . The other options would be to rivet a patch in and gluvit the snot out of in on the inside of the hull . I would use 3M 5200 sealant on the patch before putting it under the boat then rivet then gluvit from inside . With all of this said I have 24 or so extra 3/16" holes in the bottom of my 70 Starcraft Jupiter and just picked up 250 Closed end Rivets to fill said holes with before I gluvit the inside of the hull . Feel free to view my resto thread for the reason for the 24-25 extra holes in the hull of my boat .





Rick

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Floyd welcome to iboats.

We only collect dues from Rick !!

A nickle size hole? If you ever want to stop a fish from flopping just step on it..... guns leave bullet holes in the boat.

I would get a piece (or two) of scrap aluminum possible from an old aluminum road sign or street sign. Go to your local municipal authority and I am sure they have one that someone has run over. Cut yoursel 1 or two pieces with a heavy duty tin snip about 3X3" and use that as a patch. I would pre-drill some 1/8 inch holes in the 4 corners and slap the 3m5200 to in and pop rivet it in place.

No more shooting in the boat!

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Boy now I am glad I let Kev take care of my first 2 years worth of Membership Dues . Bob is the Tinny authority around here ( I'm pretty much a newby too ) .


Rick

 

[Floyd M]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Hey guys, I will get some pics up soon... I do have group envy but from the looks of things a 12 step group may also need to be started with all of these Starcraftees. I do have a friend who happens to be a welder and does quite a bit with aluminum. Is there a reason to do one option over the other mentioned? I could easily do any of them......About the "bullet hole", how come I didn't get any attaboys for getting that sucker with just one shot:?

This evening I was just going to do a few minutes on the boat and remove the original, in great shape, gas tank. Let's just say it all ended with myself and two other neighbors wearing a new cologne that won't come off for a few days. I am getting the tank steamed at a local radiator shop and was wondering where I can get new fittings for the tank. (cap, sending unit for a gauge, conections for the appropriate external transom mounted fill spout) Thanks again for all of the advice. I have to say that after I picked this boat up I found NB's rebuild thread just surfing google and was immediately excited. This is a great resource.

Keith

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

If you can get it welded .... by all means go for it. About 95%+ of the people can not get access to a good person who knows how to weld aluminum.

Yes.... one shot/one kill is a good thing but the shot has to happen before it enters the boat.

 

[Floyd M]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Thanks Bob and Rick for the info. Rick, I saw your "hole" dilemma and was almost tempted to go out and pull up a piece of my rotted floor to reassure myself. That whole thing is just crazy. I am interested to see how your repair progresses. I hope to get some pics of my own up soon. The floor and flotation comes out this weekend as well as engine removal and transom replacement (Oh Boy!).

Keith

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

LOL Kieth honestly I was almost tempted to leave the deck in as it was quite solid fortunately . I retentiveness got the better of me and I yanked it . The holes will be filled with closed end rivets before I gluvit the inside of the hull . The bad news is I will be in Fla all weekend so most likely no progress till next week ( I do intend to have her in the water before the end of August ) . I would have probably welded up the holes in my hull but I didnt want to blow $1000.00 for the spool gun and such for my mig right now .


Rick

 

[Floyd M]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Thanks Rick. Sorry about your delay this weekend. It seems like since I got started on the boat....well you know....I can't stand not working on it. I think I have the fever. My goal is to be in the water in September. My rebuild is especially interesting because it is a family project if you can believe it. My wife actually took off the first rusted bolt. The most excited member of the family is my 8yr old son who wants to rip out the old floor with an axe....seriously. My daughter is already figuring out which of her friends get to ride in the boat. It is going to be a fun process.

Keith

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

LOL Kieth you got it made the most my bunch has offered to do is help me fill mine full of peaple whenever I get around to finishing it . I have 5 between 14 and 24 and its way to hot outside for them to actually come outside LOL plus theres no computer or game system in the boat so they would get bored ROFLMAO.


Rick

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

I have a nickel size hole in the center bottom of the hull about a foot from the transom wall. What is the best way to patch? (weld, epoxy, JB, etc.) Thanks in advance for the info. Just reading all of the posts I have seen so far has provided tons of info regarding my 74 starcraft.

the problem with aluminum is that it gets very brittle with fatigue. when there's a weak spot, like a hole, the material flexes in bad ways. The more it flexes the more the fatigue, the more the fatigue the more brittle, the more brittle the easier it will crack and break, the more it cracks the more it flexes... see the trend here?



Considering this in under the water line in a critical area, don't screw around with half-assed fixes, do it right, get it welded.

 

[Floyd M]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Thanks Lightnig, I talked with my welder today and it is amazing what a guy will do when he knows I will smoke a pig for him. His actual comment was, "just leave her with me and I'll weld anything that you want". Hopefully I will get to drop it off for the job in a week or so.

Keith

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Aluminum hull repair

Good choice Floyd, I am glad to hear you decided to get it taken care of the right way.


And even better that you are getting a deal on it too. I love it when the barter system works.