aluminum jonboat repair options

[fishon1213]

Hello all, I am on here trying to get some input on my situation. I have a 14ft aluminum jonboat that I just stripped down. It is a '72 rhyan craft, rivited, and is pretty beat up, but I like it. I have had the boat for close to 15 years and have used it thoroughly. Time to renovate. It has maybe three hairline cracks on the center "v" that are going to need repaired. Only and inch or two long. Other than that there are no loose rivets and the boat is holds water and is solid. I am not a welder and am not going to try. Just looking on opinions of getting it welded by a pro vs. products like alumaloy or other brazing rods?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: aluminum jonboat repair options

Just looking on opinions of getting it welded by a pro vs. products like alumaloy or other brazing rods?

Go to a pro to get it welded. Those aluminum brazing rods are good for filling a hole in an aluminum can (like in the video's), but not worth much for boat repair. The temp the rod melts is very close to aluminum's melting point and the rod material is very brittle. So, even if you don't melt a hole in the hull, the repair will likely crack from the hull flexing.

Post up some pix of the cracks, someone might have an idea on how to repair it, without hauling it down to the welding shop.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: aluminum jonboat repair options

I second taking it to a pro.

Your boat is light and easy enough to handle to flip over for eay access to the repairs, probably won't take 45 min. to fix it and should be fairly cheap too.

 

[fishon1213]

Re: aluminum jonboat repair options

I was leaning towards getting it welded by a pro. Stopped by a welding shop down the road this morning and he said they could fix it for me. Probably drop it off next week. Thanks for the input

 

[robert graham]

Re: aluminum jonboat repair options

Yep, I've had a few cracks on the ribs in my aluminum canoe welded at a shop and the repairs last for years. If your cracks are bad, then you could weld a small aluminum plate over it to reinforce it, especially if it's in a vulnerable, high-wear or highly stressed area. The welds could cost you $50...not bad for a 40 year old boat!

 

[fishon1213]

Re: aluminum jonboat repair options

I got the boat back from the shop today. The weld look really good. Cost me $100, I thought that was fair because it needed welded in four different areas. Now I am ready to put her back together!

 

[robert graham]

Re: aluminum jonboat repair options

Great!...Sounds like you're ready to go!...On some loose or weak looking rivets I've used a small blob of the yellow 3M Weatherstip adhesive on the inside and outside to seal and waterproof...stays on flexible, tough and waterproof for a couple of years. Good Luck!