Dents in toons

[shane1]

Has anyone ever had a dent removed from a pontoon? <br /><br />Thanks Shane

 

[Hooty]

Re: Dents in toons

Hooty never has.<br />What kind of dent? Dime size or bigger than a dinner plate? Sprung in or is the metal stretched? S/S, steel or aluminum? Give us some clues.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[shane1]

Re: Dents in toons

Well Hootey,<br />It looks like the previuos owner hit something at a pretty good rate of speed I'd say it's about 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. It's aluminum. What gauge I have no ideal. I'd say the metal is stretched. If you want to see a picture of it check it out here . Just thumb through to the last pic. It's pretty much smack dab in the middle of the toon.<br /><br />Thanks Shane

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Dents in toons

shane1 <br /><br />I've never done a pontoon, but if you got a piece of lite gauge aluminum sheeting the size required to cover the damaged area, form it on the undamaged portion and epoxy it over the damaged area with large panel aircraft epoxy used for auto panels etc. You could use motorcycle hold down straps to conform and hold the patch in position. It would certainly repair the cosmetic appearance. The epoxy is incredible stuff. Just did the rear 1/4 panels on wifes car using it. Welding auto panels and fenders is a thing of the past.....<br /><br />

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Dents in toons

Kudo's to Schematic That new automotive panel epoxy is great stuff (real short working time so be accurate by dry fitting first). I have used it on two of my trucks to repair the wheel arch panels. It has even passed crash tests by the manufacturers. Great idea Schematic.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Hooty]

Re: Dents in toons

Good lookin' barge Shane, has "party" written all over it. <br />Schematic's solution iz a good one. Another is to attempt to pull dent out, and there sevevral ways to try it. One is to drill several holes in the dent, 1/4" or so, and reach in behind dent with ah "L" shaped rod and pull it out. Then you just fill holes with epoxy or polyester putty. It's probably to large for a plunger (plumber's friend) but you might trying oiling the dent lightly and pulling it out with the plunger. This works on smaller sprung-in dents.<br /><br />g'luck & c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Dents in toons

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Dents in toons

The panel epoxy should not be seen. It is applied as a bead on both materials and yes sone excess may sqeeze out but that can be sanded off.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Hooty]

Re: Dents in toons

ebbtide's got a good point. When I saw the dent, I thought about puttin' a "OUCH" label on it and callin' it fixed. Tell everbody it's an old football injury.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[shane1]

Re: Dents in toons

Well I appreaciate all the replies fellas. I think the patch would be the best solution for now. I'm not to hip on drilling into my toons allthough the thought had crossed my mind.<br />I'll prolly end up writing it off as a character building scar.<br />Thanks for the compliment Hooty.....it's gonna be a good project!<br /><br />Shane

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Dents in toons

Most 'toon boats have partitioned floats. The vent plug is usually located at the top under the deck. If you can, you should pressurize the section with about 1-2 PSI or air(using a regulator. DO NOT TRY TO USE MORE AIR TO "PUSH" OUT THE DENT!!! THIS IS THE KISS OF DEATH! Try using a toilet bowl plunger with some soap working from the edges of the dent...and don't laugh, I used to do this to a lot of 'toon boats in the Orlando Florida area when I had my welding business.... then use a body puller to work out the rest of the dent.....Peen in the body puller puckers with a small ball peen hammer then take to weld shop that T.I.G. welds aluminum. For lets say about 10 holes..the weldor should charge you about 25-50 bucks tops.(Tell him to use 5356 filler and crater out slowly..)) Make sure you leave out the plug while the weldor welds, otherwise the air expanding in the partition will get hot and pullute the weld. The little weld ****les can now be sanded off using a disk sander with about 120 grit and some candle wax on the disc to keep it from loading up. Hand sand out the final sanding marks by hand using 180 grit, 220 grit 400 grit.....in that order.......