Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

[I_5320]

Hey all,

Not a good day. Pic below is from another thread but holes I have are just the same. I found about 5 total the biggest about 5/8 long by 1/4 wide.. The rest are 1/4 round and smaller.

Can I use JB Weld and Gluvit method with hole this big? I was planning stripping hull bare and using sharkhide below waterline. If so will JD Weld need to be coated on the outside? Also worried these may be underneath the stringers. Are
these a reaction to old spray foam? if So I'm hoping I'm OK.

Last,, totally forgot about the no Steel brush,, I used a course small one on a drill for the worst spots and went over again with a course nylon brush. Anyway to neutralize this reaction before it starts?

Picked a bad month to stop drinking.

MW

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I wouldn't trust a goo patch on a hole that big. I'd have it welded professionally, and you may need a backing plate on the big one. Of course this means removing your decking and any foam that's in the way. Is your decking removable with exposed fasteners so you don't have to rip up your deck finish (carpet etc.)?

I don't think your as screwed on the wire brush deal as some say, I used a wire brush on some of the aluminum in my boat and haven't seen any ill effects yet.

How did those holes get there, do you know?

 

[I_5320]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I wouldn't trust a goo patch on a hole that big. I'd have it welded professionally, and you may need a backing plate on the big one. Of course this means removing your decking and any foam that's in the way. Is your decking removable with exposed fasteners so you don't have to rip up your deck finish (carpet etc.)?

I don't think your as screwed on the wire brush deal as some say, I used a wire brush on some of the aluminum in my boat and haven't seen any ill effects yet.

How did those holes get there, do you know?

I don't think your as screwed on the wire brush deal as some say, I used a wire brush on some of the aluminum in my boat and haven't seen any ill effects yet.


How did those holes get there, do you know?[/QUOTE]


No don't know, only suspect wet foam. I bought the boat mostly gutted and had never had in the water. (85 Sylvan) The decking was all off but the Ski Storage bin below had not been removed. Not wanting to use it, I pulled it off and it had some foam underneath. Almost cutting off the ability to drain.

The pic below show the underside and you can see the foam outline. I had some red rust looking patches but those spots had just a little surface corrosion. The thru hull holes had white powder look and when I hit with the wire brush the holes appeared.

[/ATTACH]

 

[Star]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I_5320,
Better to find it with a steel wire brush than 2 miles off shore. Steel is not good on alum. because it leaves iron in the cleaned area.
From the look of the many areas and deep distruction in the alum. There had to be galvanic action taking place. You can repair almost any condition with welding or plastic patch material but if you hit that with a welder it will vaporize any of the attacked metal. Plastic only work for a while. I would suggest that you look for another hull. There are plenty of them around for not too much money. I don't know how big this boat is but Iboats, Craigslist, and Ebay have plenty of them. Newer is not nessasarly better, older boats used much
heaver gage alum. My 1961 Starcraft is made with .070" thick alum. Yes it makes it heaver but when you smack something with it you will come out allot better for sure.

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I don't have a tig wielder so when I have something aluminum that needs to be done I take it to a guy that makes up hydraulic and air conditioner lines. A radiator shop should be able to do it also. Aluminum wire is available for mig, though I have not tried it and suspect it would burn through that(I use .030 steel wire for auto body repair). There also is aluminum filler rod that can be used with oxy-acetylene, again I have no experience with it, I use steel coat-hangers and bronze brazing rod on sheet metal.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I'd be thinking a decent size alum patch all gooped up with 5200 and riveted in place. Never leak again.

This boat is totally salvageable from what I can see

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I'd be thinking a decent size alum patch all gooped up with 5200 and riveted in place. Never leak again.

This boat is totally salvageable from what I can see

This will work too.^^^^

Dry fit and pre drill the rivet holes on the patch and hull and goop it up (I'd use the Loc-tite marine epoxy because it's stronger, but the 5200 will work too) lay the patch on the inside of the hull and install the closed end blind rivets through the outside and you'll barely be able to notice it except for a few extra rivets.

It's an easy fix since you already have the boat disassmbled.

 

[MWG2600]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

This will work too.^^^^

Dry fit and pre drill the rivet holes on the patch and hull and goop it up (I'd use the Loc-tite marine epoxy because it's stronger, but the 5200 will work too) lay the patch on the inside of the hull and install the closed end blind rivets through the outside and you'll barely be able to notice it except for a few extra rivets.

It's an easy fix since you already have the boat disassmbled.

I agree put a patch on it and be done! Dont scrap the boat for one little hole. And i forget the ixture but water and vinegar will neutralize anything that that's around the damage. i think its 50/50 but not shure. wash with lots of water.

 

[CoffeeHound]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

When your done with the patching , that is the best time to check hulll area for more leaks . i did mine with it on the trailer and a garden hose .
Fill boat about food deep with water and get under the trailer to see if more water is spraying out . Found one hole when i was (thought I was) done under the
hull plate where as blind rivit fit nicely and sealed it completely .
Came back half hour (after coffee) to find the hull was totally dry , not even a damp spot seep.
Mission Accomplished ,,happy with test, and started setting up for new 3/4th inch ply deck .

 

[InMotion]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I agree put a patch on it and be done! Dont scrap the boat for one little hole. And i forget the ixture but water and vinegar will neutralize anything that that's around the damage. i think its 50/50 but not shure. wash with lots of water.

Patch with rivets and 5200 should do it. I had ALOT of similar sized holes and would have kept the boat. However, the rest of the hull on the outside was quite badly corroded. In the end I correctly scraped the boat and picked up another project boat.

Just remember alum tends to Swiss cheese... so really check around for other week spots... any thing with white residue should be looked at very closely.

All the best.

 

[I_5320]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

Thanks All,

Patching it is.. I plan on stripping the hull so I'll tackle these areas first. Slap some Gluvit on the the rivets & seams and I'll filler up to see if she leaks anymore.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

the non stainless steel wire brush is only bad when you plan to weld it to repair it...the iron in the aluminum will cause havoc with thr welding process and not allow the new aluminum filler material to flow and melt into your hull material.

I think a patch from a welder would work fine....they also make easy to weld rod for the hobbiest, that you can use with a map torch...it acts like solder asnd sticks to the aluminum.....for just a leaky spot it should be fine...i wouldnt recomend it for structural support.

id use that welding rod and then put a marinetex patch over it all as insurance.

now if the boat has a bunch of these spots....you might reconsider...

and cut your labor

bob

 

[CoffeeHound]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

Thanks All,

Patching it is.. I plan on stripping the hull so I'll tackle these areas first. Slap some Gluvit on the the rivets & seams and I'll filler up to see if she leaks anymore.

Whoooo there Partner -- not so fast !! . Do your patching then double check eveything and if you find some more patching, do it tooo =-
Then do the bath tub gig with gallon of vinigar added and use with a broom and wash down the whole hulll as it drains.
Now you have an almost dinner tabble clean Dry hull for the Galvit to stick to.

 

[I_5320]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

Whoooo there Partner -- not so fast !! . Do your patching then double check eveything and if you find some more patching, do it tooo =-
Then do the bath tub gig with gallon of vinigar added and use with a broom and wash down the whole hulll as it drains.
Now you have an almost dinner tabble clean Dry hull for the Galvit to stick to.

Point taken CoffeeHound,

Thanks,, any particular Vinegar? White,,

 

[CoffeeHound]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

Point taken CoffeeHound,

Thanks,, any particular Vinegar? White,,

I prefere White because it seem to wash down better.. not stain driveway ,, and smells better !!

 

[byteman]

Re: Day just got worse. Holes in Aluminum Hull & used Steel wire brush

I had a similar hole under the foams where the gas fill-line was routed. I used Marine-Tex to patch mine. Worked like a champ

Byteman