need help with jon boat

[2050z]

My project

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285005

At the front of the boat is crack that needs to be welded. I have no skills in this area and was wondering if anybody out there could help me?


Thanks,

[2050z]

Beer and food will be made available for helping me. I will pay for supplies to fix as well

[bowhuntntxn]

Is the crack too wide to use this?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Boating-Accessories/Boat-Care-Appearance|/pc/104794380/c/104706180/sc/104227380/Cabelas-Aluminum-Boat-Patch/699968.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-boating-accessories-boat-care-appearance%2F_%2FN-1100604%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104227380%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104706180&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104706180%3Bcat104227380

Aluminum welding is very expensive and will probably have to go to a welding shop or boat repair shop to be done!

[SaltwaterSlick]

Looks like it's been "repaired" before. Aluminum is a very tricky material to weld. In fact, most shops won't do repairs on riveted boats because most riveted boats are made of material that is really to thin to get a good weld on without destroying the base material around the damaged area. If it is repairable, it will most likely have to be done with a gas welding rig. That takes skillz, and will probably cost more than a few beers/food... unless of course we have a TBH gas welding dude on here somewhere...

[2050z]

Is the crack too wide to use this?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Boating-Accessories/Boat-Care-Appearance|/pc/104794380/c/104706180/sc/104227380/Cabelas-Aluminum-Boat-Patch/699968.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-boating-accessories-boat-care-appearance%2F_%2FN-1100604%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104227380%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104706180&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104706180%3Bcat104227380

Aluminum welding is very expensive and will probably have to go to a welding shop or boat repair shop to be done!

thanks Glenn........

I will run up to Cabelas to check this stuff out.

[ground level]

Sure hope the stuff works for you - like SS mentioned above, riveted aluminum boats are really difficult in welding and the one doing the welding must be top-notch otherwise they'll burn through it or create huge gorilla welds such as the ones on the plate. Had a boat done at a HS welding class and they really botched the job all to heck.

[Texantax]

Duct tape

[Wildman]

I fixed a crack/seperation on a rib using aluminum brazing rods. Not real difficult but it is pretty easy to "melt" holes in the aluminum. What is your level of welding skills?

[Tommyh]

Once you repair that weld, you may want to find another bumper instead of angle iron to se the bow of the boat against while trailering.

[fowlwaters]

Like SS said old riveted boats are not worth the headache of welding. Most are thin and if you do find someone to weld it get ready for more problems the heat from welding them will more then likely cause some leaking from other rivets. Good luck

[wlgorman]

Tried welding that. I blew the hole I was trying to repair out and made it bigger. Too thin and it was oxidized so that I couldnt get it clean enough.

[2050z]

Once you repair that weld, you may want to find another bumper instead of angle iron to se the bow of the boat against while trailering.

The bumper material was 2x4 covered with green outdoor carpet. I removed the old pieces to show the crack. I plan on using some kind of rubber stopper to help protect the front of the boat.

[Wildman]

Its been my experience (brazing cracks) that a boat in that condition you will spend more on "fixing" it than to just use the money and find ya a boat in better condition to do modifications too.

[2050z]

Danny,

I am keeping the boat so I will attempt to fix it.

[Wildman]

LOL

I guess you could always try to get a gas torch and see how much aluminum weight is there. Sorry bro. I really think the brazing idea is the best. Pretty easy once you learn the ALMOST melt temp. of alumium in a .007" thickness with 1.5" of mud and bondo.