To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

KRS

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I have a new to me (but very used) $200 12' aluminum boat.

I want to weld up the deep vee area up (or down in the picture) to where it's out of the waterline; and then build it up for extra abrasion resistance.

And I want to build up the low (or high) spots at the back of the boat at the transom.

I'm wondering if there is any reason not to weld these up.

KRS
 

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gcboat

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

I guess if you want it to float you're gonna' need to do something to her. :confused:
 

HONKER1

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

If you have welded aluminum before, then go for it. Otherwise I would recommend you get a piece of aluminum the same thickness as the material on the boat and do a practice run. You may elect to go with plan "B".
 

Robj

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

It is not easy welding up thin aluminum. It is a bit of an art. I once had a guy repair my old boat, he was a welder, but not very experienced with the thin gauge stuff. He butchered it. Ended up using JB weld to fix the leak. Ideally that piece should be replaced, but if you have the knack to weld it up, then go for it.

Have a great day,

Rob.
 

erikgreen

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

If you've never welded aluminum, you'll need to practice... on more than one piece.

Things to know: The weld must be kept pure... don't even clean the metal with anything but a clean, new stainless steel brush that you haven't used for anything else. Grind the weld site first to remove any paint, debris, etc. and to take off the top layer of aluminum oxide. Clean the metal after that with acetone or brake cleaner.

Use a heat sink a bit away from your weld to keep the rest of the boat from heating up... it's going to try to suck away your heat anyway. The aluminum will get to the right weld temperature just before it liquifies.

If you've never done this before, consider brazing it, or use one of those low temp zinc "aluminum repair" rods... they're not too tough, but for this they might work.

You might also consider a mechanical repair... cut out the old aluminum, and bend a new piece and rivet it into place. Seal with gluvit or similar.

Welding is the strongest, neatest looking way to fix up the hull, but it's nothing like welding iron or steel, and it's hard to do without lots of practice and a TIG welder or MIG/Spoolgun rig with a tank of pure argon.

I've had a few months of practice myself, and I have a nice pulsed TIG system. I wouldn't try this yet.

Erik
 

KRS

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

Well, I got 'er painted after lots of scrubbing, scraping, some grinding, sanding, wet sanding, washing, solvent wiping.....

BoatPainted.jpg


BoatPainted1.jpg
 

tmcalavy

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

Looks sharp. How did you do the repairs?
 

KRS

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

Looks sharp. How did you do the repairs?

Ummm, well, errrrr, uhhhh [no laughing is allowed], I got so excited about painting that I just painted it :)

Repairs will have to wait until the end of the season.

KRS
 

Bondo

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

Repairs will have to wait until the end of the season.

Ayuh,......

What'd you plug all the Holes with,..?? Bubblegum,..??

The damage in the middle thumbnail looks like something I'd probably Pass on with my Mig,.....
Even with a backing plate of Copper,.... It would Really be a chore to build that back into shape......

Btw,.......
It Looks Great....................:D
 

jlaudio29

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

Tig welding is Definatly the way to go.

Erik was right about the contaminaton and being necessary to grind and clean the welding area throughly before welding, stainless brush is good, but to grind it i would use a flap disc with a grit of about 80 on it. and i only use acetone never heard of using brake pads, and something i notice with cleaning the surface with acetone, use paper towels and only make one or two swipes with each part of the towel, as it gets dirty very easily when cleaning aluminum and as a result you eventually start smudging the stuff aruound intsead of removing it, i usually fold it into a square and use one side for about 1-2 swipes (check to see how dirty it is after each swipe) i then switch sides and use a clean one, eventually the paper towel will be will have almost no black on it when you make a pass or a light amount. and also sometimes... no matter how good you clean the metal .. it will get contaminated or just be contaminted and there is nothing you can do accept back off the heat a bit start feathering the pedal and feeding it some rod :-D

also from your pics, it looks like there is a peice of 1/8th inch thick strip aluminum on there, i would buy some more of that and cut the old stuff off and and back a bit away from the damaged area into some good area, then put down some fresh aluminum and tig weld it from there!


tig welding alum takes some practice, not a whole lot. depends on the machine your using. i have a Miller Syncrowave 250dx at the shop, love it to death!

good luck with the repair keep us posted, and as ive posted before, it sucks you wernt closer id help you out with the welding.
 

GregE

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

Ummm, well, errrrr, uhhhh [no laughing is allowed], I got so excited about painting that I just painted it :)

Repairs will have to wait until the end of the season.

KRS

Hmmmmm, how's it gonna float during the season with that big opening in the keel?
 

bassboy1

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

I hear that certain Wally worlds have bilge pumps on sale.
 

KRS

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

The hole you see is the keel shield (for lack of a better term) that is worn through. The underlying hull is in good shape, other than a pinhole.

KRS
 

GregE

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Re: To weld, or not to weld (alum boat) ??? Pics

The hole you see is the keel shield (for lack of a better term) that is worn through. The underlying hull is in good shape, other than a pinhole.

KRS

Oh ok, thanks for clarifying. That opening otherwise would take on water faster than my jon boat did last year on my first trip, having left the plug out during launch! :eek:
 
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