hull dents

[chamm63]

hi guys and gals
i was wondering if anyone has any tips on removing dents in the hull .i have one real bad one a a few not to bad

 

[Watermann]

3M makes a marine filler for smoothing out dent repairs but I'm not exactly sure about in your case if the boat isn't painted how well it would turn out in such a large dent. What size is the boat and where is this dent located? A pic with some perspective would help. I've used marine tex to smooth out dings and small dents. I've seen how guys take and TIG weld a an aluminum eye in the middle of the dent and then use a slide hammer to pull it out, then grinding or cutting the weld off the eye finishing with some filler.

It looks like the dent is on or near some structural supports where the rivets are. Is the structure on the inside bent up? Also the rivets look like they need replaced as well.

 

[chamm63]

yeah shes missing a few rivets .they popped out because of the dent .
.i knocked the dent out from the inside ..it was a in but now its a out dent i can`t seen to get it right

 

[Watermann]

yeah shes missing a few rivets .they popped out because of the dent .
.i knocked the dent out from the inside ..it was a in but now its a out dent i can`t seen to get it right

Yeah you might should stop beating on it. :lol: You have to have someone on the other side bracing it with a dolly so it will only go as far as you want it. Since it's on the bottom I wouldn't have worried too much about it.

 

[henleyhale]

Small ball peen hammer a block of wood and a sand bag, be gentle, a little heat from a propane torch will make it more pliable.

 

[Decker83]

Be very careful with a torch. You can't see how hot the aluminum is getting and you my get a nice size hole instead of a dent..

 

[jbcurt00]

Over working badly damaged aluminum can also work harden it, if the dent didnt do that already, making it even more likely to crack.

Where on the hull, how big an area, whats around/behind/near the damage? I agree w Rob, lookks like there might be structural support on the other side of the dent.

Heating the aluminun anywhere near a seam can also compromise the original sealing material used on seams

 

[henleyhale]

We talkin a little bit of propane here but that is looks like its busted through the seam, what would you use to repair the seam before riveting?

 

[chamm63]

the dent is in between two ribs .i`m thinking about just doing what i need to do to get new rivets in
and seal the seam up and leave the dent alone .. i could always make it worse by messing with it if i`m not careful

 

[henleyhale]

I once ran up on a stump in my old lonestar when i was a boy, dad taught me how to work aluminum on that boat, but that particular dent was just infront of the tiller seat, when i brought it home all ashamed he got in and sat down put his foot on it and said "hey you made ya a new foot rest i like it" jumped out with out another word and went back to his recliner. Nothin wrong with a little dent imo.

 

[GA_Boater]

I once ran up on a stump in my old lonestar when i was a boy, dad taught me how to work aluminum on that boat, but that particular dent was just infront of the tiller seat, when i brought it home all ashamed he got in and sat down put his foot on it and said "hey you made ya a new foot rest i like it" jumped out with out another word and went back to his recliner. Nothin wrong with a little dent imo.

That's too funny. :joyous: