repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

[dkonrai]

i have a small hole on the bottom of my little tin boat. its a lightweight boat, and the hole is small about the size of a nail hole.
thinking of marine tex the repair on both sides? or 3m 7200? the boat is out of the water most of the time and i only use it for fresh water fishing
thoughts?
thanks
dino

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

You'll get a variety of thoughts on this - put in a rivit/put in a machine screw both w/5200 and some other thoughts. I've had good luck on my aluminum hull with Marine Tex and glass, above the water line, on 1/4 inch holes, where just one side was accessible. How about Marine Tex and glass on the inside and Marine Tex alone on the outside? If it doesn't work you can always come back and stick a rivit w/5200 in.

If you go the Marine Tex route, surface prep is the key. I sanded to a bright, scuffed surface followed with a vinegar wipe and then applied the Marine Tex.

 

[dkonrai]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

You'll get a variety of thoughts on this - put in a rivit/put in a machine screw both w/5200 and some other thoughts. I've had good luck on my aluminum hull with Marine Tex and glass, above the water line, on 1/4 inch holes, where just one side was accessible. How about Marine Tex and glass on the inside and Marine Tex alone on the outside? If it doesn't work you can always come back and stick a rivit w/5200 in.

If you go the Marine Tex route, surface prep is the key. I sanded to a bright, scuffed surface followed with a vinegar wipe and then applied the Marine Tex.

thanks for the fast reply. yeah i was heading towards the marine tex. the hole is on the bottom, near the transom. its like someone put the boat down on something that had a small nail. i got the boat cheap, hundred bucks, its not pretty but i think it floats
thinking of marine tex, some fine mesh glass, and coat both sides. i was going to use some scotch pads to clean it up. like the vinegar wipe! figured what the heck, as long as it doesnt spring a leak i should be ok. we are just going for small lakes. have this 88 evinrude 15hp i think that will make the boat scoot along pretty good.
will update in a day or two.
thanks again
dino

 

[lncoop]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

thanks for the fast reply. yeah i was heading towards the marine tex. the hole is on the bottom, near the transom. its like someone put the boat down on something that had a small nail. i got the boat cheap, hundred bucks, its not pretty but i think it floats
thinking of marine tex, some fine mesh glass, and coat both sides. i was going to use some scotch pads to clean it up. like the vinegar wipe! figured what the heck, as long as it doesnt spring a leak i should be ok. we are just going for small lakes. have this 88 evinrude 15hp i think that will make the boat scoot along pretty good.
will update in a day or two.
thanks again
dino

Overkill. Certainly won't hurt anything to carry it that far, but in this situation JB Weld would be just fine.

 

[pevaguy]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

Take it to a welder that can weld aluminum, a tig welder would make a nice clean repair.

 

[64osby]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

I used JB Weld and a small piece of alum on the inside, clean it real good, gob it on and feather it out. Make sure it presses through the hole and smooth that out a little. On my old tinny I just used the JB and it held great.

 

[dkonrai]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

wow, really? jb weld will hold as good as marine tex? now i dont have to run to the marine shop
dino

 

[dkonrai]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

patched the boat, and will see how this works. i ended up using some pc marine epoxy. i cut a small patch and kinda smoothed it all in.

small hole

ready for the patch

final patch

inside the tinny i just smashed some epoxy in a round flat dot.

dino

 

[Brenn]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

let us know how it works in the water though it looks like it would should work fine.

 

[dkonrai]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

hope to get it out next week sometime. bought the tinny for a family camp trip in august. cutting things close now all i gotta do is fit the trailer. spent the day wiring and fitting new lights, and checked the bearings.

 

[64osby]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

Patch looks good, hope it holds.

Trailers are always so much fun.

Get to it so your ready to fish.

 

[dkonrai]

Re: repairs to tin boat? small hole now what?

got the patch done, boat is at least on the trailer.
wired the trailer
new lights, had to drill the frame of course
adjusted the boards, still off a bit.
new ply for the back transom, need to wait 48 hours... then i was thinking of using some aluminum flashing material i have to cover the bare ply on top, and round it over the existing transom.
will post some picts later.
thanks all who have helped! thinking of setting her on some sawhorses and checking for leaking rivets. all i need is more time :0