Aluminum boat crack repair

[becks]

Hello - I have a 17 foot aluminum boat and I recently noticed a crack that is seeping water.  I had it on the water over the weekend and had to bilge it a few times, so when I got home, I filled it up with water and found a crack in the passenger side of the hull, more towards the front of the boat.  It's a couple of inches long.  I'll get a picture uploaded later but it might be hard to see.  I'd like to hear what people think is the best way to fix this?  Right now, I only trailer it, but I was hoping to leave it in the water at various time during the summer.

Thanks in advance for all the help!

-MIke

[Thun]

JB Weld makes a marine application if the cracks not too big.

 

http://www.jbweld.com/product/j-b-marineweld/

[bandrus1]

that would also be my suggestion

[becks]

Thanks Guys.  How big of a crack is too big for JB Weld? 

[bandrus1]

I dont think length is an issue at all... just how wide it is... if it is just a hairline crack you are set

[holy mackerel]

I would have it welded. Epoxy would keep the water out, but do little for strength. There is a reason it cracked there.

[58Johnson]

To stop the crack from spreading you will want to drill two small holes at the ends of the crack. Then a marine grade epoxy smoothed over the crack should take care of it.

[Sk8man]

If it were me I 'd definitely have it welded by a competent welder  because if it ever were to re- open  while out on the water and you didn't notice it right away....bad news....not saying the epoxy thing is a bad idea but why take ANY chance with something that potentially serious....?

[FSNmachine]

I would get it welded. As someone else stated there is a reason it cracked there. Some kind of stress point. I would end drill it and then weld it.

[Willy-C]

Like others have said, TIG welded is best...if it doesn't look like a bad area,if you can do without that rivet have it just welded in

A bad area would be were two pieces of alum are overlapped with a gasket in between (ie: keel) in close proximity to the crack, the gasket material will cook and contaminate the weld adding more leaks...

Edited May 21, 2013 by Willy-C

[lineman49]

  I did the JB weld thing as instructed & it did not work/last.   I know guys that used the Alum. sticks where you heat the spot/crack with a torch & apply the alum. stick & it worked great. I forgot what they are called but you see them at the fairs.

[fathobbit0074]

Weld it. Do it right the first time so you won't have to do it again

[Kuba]

Weld it

Sent from my Lenovo P770 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[quality time]

I would weld it. Marathon boats in Marathon , New york do that type of thing all the time.  Wes

[jayjay]

I had 2 cracks on my tracker.I'm a boilermaker/welder so I took it to my hall and tig welded it..used a pulse arc welder to keep heat low.I removed the interior floor them the foam .welded from inside .then the outside.tracker recommended 3m 5200 .I covered the inside with the 3m and replaced foam.the second crack was about 1 1/2 inches and welded from outside ..drinded smooth and covered with 3m ..boat is now water tight ...I would definitely weld ..also very happy with the 3m 5200 ..

[fathobbit0074]

I Have a 06 tracker pro guide walk thru. I just got done this spring tearing apart my tracker and having keel welded As well as other places Make sure you take it to someone who welds Boats. It can be warped easily

[Kuba]

Is that a tracker thing? The cracks?

Sent from my Lenovo P770 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Chas0218]

To stop the crack from spreading you will want to drill two small holes at the ends of the crack. Then a marine grade epoxy smoothed over the crack should take care of it.

 

I would have it welded. Epoxy would keep the water out, but do little for strength. There is a reason it cracked there.

 

Do this with a small drill bit then have it welded. I would not use epoxy on the bottom of the hull.

[Enver]

Hi there will that fix my crack under the boat,?? 

[lrg355]

Jb weld and epoxy is a waste of time. Take a look at this online, it works great. Fluxless alum brazing with a mappgas or propane torch.


Sent from my SM-J737V using Lake Ontario United mobile app