19' Alluminum Boat Frame Damage Help

[garrett113]

Hello all,

I'm working on a 19' alluminum fishing boat, I'll be doing the deck, replacing all wood and re upholstering top to bottom. Ill share details and post progress pics as I go but for know I'd like to addrerss a concern I have. After stripping the boat I noticed some damage to the "sub floor" (?) the frame or stringers if you will. after seeing this I got out and looked at the exterior of the hull and there is some pretty Bad wave/ripples where it looks like the sub floor is.
I should mention this is not my boat, I am an upholsterer but having done the deck stringers and transom on my own fiberglass boat I decided to take on the deck repair as it is much easier on an alluminum boat.
As I said, not my boat, I did not look at the hull prior to starting (rookie mistake) so im not sure if the damage was existing or not. Is it possible or likely that I could have caused the damage? Maybe by standing near the front of the bow while the deck was out? Im convinced it wasdamaged prior to removing the deck. It just seems like it woiuld take a lot more force to not only bend the supports but they are also cracked about 3/4' where they bent and also in a different spot the welds are cracked with a 1/16-1/8" gap. I should also mention that there was 4!!!! Batterys up at the very front of the bow along with tons of other stored items. The compartment the batterys where in, the deck had completley rotted out and the batteries where sitting on a couple folded up floor matts directly on the hull. Im wondering if all that weight with no deck under them to dispers the weight could be the cause, any thoughts? Please and thank you for your input.

-Garrett

 

[Woodonglass]

I'm NOT a Tin Can Boat expert but...IMHO that damage could NOT have been caused by you. Definite CREASE damage on the outside of the hull which indicates it was damaged IN THE WATER. I'd for sure notify the Owner of your discovery because if he wants to fix it...Now would be the time.

 

[garrett113]

Thanks for the response woodongllass. I will definitley be notifying the owner, I just want to confirm I couldn't have caused this damage. I agree with what you said. I definitley wanted some un bios opinions.

 

[GA_Boater]

Want brand of tinnie is this? Could you get a pic or two showing the entire inside structure?

I highly doubt this was caused by anyone other than the owner. How bad was the deck when it was brought to you.

 

[MTboatguy]

That has been hit on the bottom by debris in the water, most likely a submerged log at one time or another and it was hit pretty hard, you didn't do it.

 

[garrett113]

Had a welder that was referred to me come out and take a look at the damage. He was not concerned in the least. He told me the structural integrity is not compromised. Said he would be more than happy to weld it up if it will help the owner sleep. Guy seemed cool enough I just have a hard time believing that the structural integrity hasn't been compromised. The boat owner has a welding guy, I'm going to take it over there for a second opinion. Where do you all sit with this?

 

[ab59]

I have a 20 Aluminum . I replaced the deck among other things and I have got to say that unless you weigh 900 lbs and had a party up front with 5 oher 900 lb guys I do not think that there is any way that you could have possibly done any damage to that boat.
Ask the owner , he most likely knows about the ripples and like you said , now would be the time to fix those problems. Structural or not , I myself would want the problem fixed as it is only going to get worse in time and could really be a problem somewhere down the line at an inopportune time.