repairing aluminum boats

J.McDonald Knives

J.McDonald Knives

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anyone got any tips for me? im about to get a boat from my friend but it has holes in it. i know a bit of jb weld will work for the smaller holes but what are some tricks for the bigger holes without welding? thanks for the help. hopefully will find a used motor later on craigslist that is either free and needs repair or really cheap.
 
how about the fiberglass mesh used for bondo, or stick another peace of aluminum from the outside and rivet in place then epoxy over rivets.
 
thanks man. ill have to get that stuff. anyone know how hot a mapp gas torch will get? if i can do it with a mapp gas torch instead of finding someone with a oxy/acet torch then i will be even happier.
 
saw a infomercial once for some aluminum rod that you melt with a map gas torch,filled big holes and did some buildup-wasnt over priced either

try a google search-i bet you can find it
 
The maximum teperature you can reach with different gasses is:

  • Propane...5122.4 degrees F.
  • Acetylene...5720 degrees F.
  • MAPP...5388.8 degrees F.
  • Propylene...5244.8 degrees F.

This is the temperature at the tip of the blue flame in your cutting/welding torch.

Ickie
 
i would get some one with a TIG welder.
I've welded aluminum myself with one of these and they can do a very nice job with some one experienced with this welder.
 
cool thanks. that looks much cheaper. :D how well has it held up with no leaks? also can it patch bigger holes too? i skimmed thru the site so im not sure.
 
J.McDonald Knives said:
anyone got any tips for me? im about to get a boat from my friend but it has holes in it. i know a bit of jb weld will work for the smaller holes but what are some tricks for the bigger holes without welding? thanks for the help. hopefully will find a used motor later on craigslist that is either free and needs repair or really cheap.
Click to expand...


Can you swim:eek: Lets see some pictures of that aluminum boat.
If the aluminum is degraded then take it to the recycling place .
If it has tears or missing rivets then it is usually fixable.

I have a tig welder and can weld tissue paper to railroad iron using two matchsticks:D ....I need to see pics first.
 
The first thing I repaired was a beach chair just to try it. I was impressed.
Then I repaired my boat. It worked fine. You must clean the surface real good with a stainless wire brush, both sides, down to shinny aluminum. I think I still have some, but its down at my campsite. I'll be going down there friday. If I find it I'll PM you and ship it to you. I don't have any use for it anymore. Got me a new boat. :D
 
durafix.com -as seen on tv- that must be the one i saw-the other didnt have that distinction
 
You can get some Marine Tex epoxy, or better yet, some Splash Zone epoxy. Splash Zone hardens better underwater than out of it. It's best worked by hand, in a bucket of water. It will do anything you want and can be drilled and tapped. Welding thin aluminum and not having a problem is best left to someone who really knows there stuff, especially on boat bottoms.

When I ran patrol boats we kept Splash Zone in the damage control locker. Put a badly damaged Boston Whaler back together with it. Also fixed a rudder on a sailboat with it. No skill needed, just mix and apply. You have to grind or file off the excess.

Gene
 
The type of repair won't matter anyway. Squee doesn't have time to fix boats, or fish, or make knives. He is in the land sale business now......and has his eye on a GIRL. I suspect he will have to give up posting all day long next.
 
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