crack in bow of aluminum boat

[sasanm]

Guys, I finally got out (chipped out) all of the bondo type material out of the bow of my deep V early 60's Starcraft holiday and I found out why it was put there in the first place. there is a crack about 1-2 inches long right in the seam where the bottom of the V starts heading upwards. Any ideas on how to fix it. I do not know how to weld but I was wondering if JB-weld or the rods that you use with the torch will work? The bondo type material that one of the past owners used didn't work because it broke up pretty easliy and didn't stick well. The aluminum in this area looks pretty thin. any help would be great.
Thanks,
James

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: crack in bow of aluminum boat

in that place i think i would call around to local welders, tell them what you have, and are they accustom to welding thin aluminum. that is going to be the only permanent fix. the Gluvit the all the interior of the boat.

 

[tommays]

Re: crack in bow of aluminum boat

Once Alu cracks it usally has metal fatigue and i would not weld it but use the best modern sealer

5200 placed in side with a piece of metal may work BUT look for other opions on the sealing best material suited for a repiar there

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: crack in bow of aluminum boat

Find a professional welder with lots of experience with aluminum. They will use either a MIG welder or a TIG welder. Don't let one of your buddies do it unless they fit the description of being very experienced. Thin aluminum is easy to burn through and the outside weld on the boat will have to be done from below (unless the boat can be flipped), which can be difficult for someone who is inexperienced.

 

[burroak]

Re: crack in bow of aluminum boat

From the pictures, it seems that the hole is the result of grounding the bow on hard beaches. TIG welding will close the hole and something McGyver'd to work like a Keel-Gard will save the bow from further insult.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: crack in bow of aluminum boat

From the pictures, it seems that the hole is the result of grounding the bow on hard beaches. TIG welding will close the hole and something McGyver'd to work like a Keel-Gard will save the bow from further insult.

Hi all this is what i was thinking . that it from beaching !! Keel gard , but get it welded frist !! JOhn

 

[BF]

Re: crack in bow of aluminum boat

one of my aluminum boats had the same prob and been fixed before I got it. Crack was welded, then a new strip of aluminum welded over top to protect from grounding on sand/rocks etc.

Ditto... a local TIG or MIG welder guy would fix you up. But I'd definitely tell them to reinforce it, not only weld the crack. Also ditto that your better to pay a few bucks to have a good welder do it well instead of a buddy making it worse. I weld, but I wouldn't try and weld that myself.