Inspecting an aluminum hull for cracks and stress

[geedubcpa]

I figure the guys in the restoration would have good insight on this.

I am looking at a 97 fisher-hawk 18 foot aluminum boat - the hull looks clean from the outside - but if i wanted to check for stress and cracks - where should I be looking - I assume most cracks will be visible to the eye - maybe stress is little harder to see.

Any ideas on the best way to inspect this boat - also i do get to do a test ride so I will be watching the drain plug when we pull for excess water.

The hull is welded vs rivots.

Thanks in advance for help on this.

 

[Grandad]

Re: Inspecting an aluminum hull for cracks and stress

I'm not familiar with this particular boat, so I can't give any specifics, but I sense you may be feeling a little lonely after 2 days of no responses. What I would do is to try to understand how the boat's outer skin is reinforced. Fatigue cracking appears first at points where the bending stresses of use are concentrated. Wide open areas are not likely to show cracking as the entire area is free to flex which spreads the stresses. Look at places where the reinforcement of ribs and strakes terminate. Those are the points where the hull skin bends the sharpest as it flexes where it is unsupported and transitions to where it does not flex where it is supported. - Grandad

 

[geedubcpa]

Re: Inspecting an aluminum hull for cracks and stress

Thanks - the boat showed no signs of leaking after being pulled out of the water, also no stress marks were apparent.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Inspecting an aluminum hull for cracks and stress

You should be good to go then.

How does the interior look? Is the decking wood or aluminum?

 

[geedubcpa]

Re: Inspecting an aluminum hull for cracks and stress

The floors and most of the interior is aluminum - covered in carpet.