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tilt75
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| Joined: | Mon Jun 12th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 1 |
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Posted: Mon Jun 12th, 2006 07:19 pm |
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I have a 18' aluminum boat with a small crack right at the water line. Im planning on having some one weld it up and possible weld some of the loose ribbits. Has anyone ever had an aluminum boat welded?
Any options on the best way to add a center console?
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haganrh
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| Joined: | Tue Jun 27th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: Thu Jun 29th, 2006 04:29 am |
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| if it is a .018 thickness i would not try to weld it. it will just melt the aluminum. try using aluminox if the hole isnt very big. if it is a large hole patch it with another peice of aluminum and rivets sealed with rtv.
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stumped
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| Joined: | Sat Sep 9th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 4 |
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Posted: Thu Jan 4th, 2007 05:30 pm |
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| Try some J.B. weld. I had a crack in the front of mine and it sealed and had no problems.
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58king
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| Joined: | Fri Jan 12th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
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Posted: Fri Jan 12th, 2007 04:04 pm |
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| You may want to consider a product made by Loctite, Aquamarine Epoxy, that may be used on metal. It actually dries underwater.
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kenmyfam
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| Joined: | Sat Aug 19th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 12 |
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Posted: Sat Jan 27th, 2007 04:00 am |
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| If you can find someone with a micro-welder you can get it welded or patched with great success. I have repaired several thinner gauge boats with mine. At the water line I would be putting a patch in place though. Last edited on Sat Jan 27th, 2007 04:01 am by kenmyfam |
HosstheHermit
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| Joined: | Fri Jul 20th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
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Posted: Mon Aug 20th, 2007 09:19 pm |
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| If you go with rivet replacement, I've been told you really need to match the specific alloy as closely as possible to cut down on corrosion.
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Brad
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| Joined: | Sat May 3rd, 2008 |
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Posted: Sat May 3rd, 2008 09:22 am |
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The way to stop the crack from spreading in aluminum is to drill a hole about 1/8" dia. on either side of the crack, making sure that the center of the hole removes the bitter end of the crack on each end. Then have it welded. But there is always a reason for that crack being exactly where it is...
Harmonic resonance plays a big roll in the process of creating those cracks whether they be in fiberglass or aluminum. Every thime the hull slaps the surface of the water it creates sound energy (harmonics). Every hull has stress paths unique to that particular hull. A perfectly designed hull will dissopate harmonic energy evenly throughout the hull. Less than perfect hulls will direct that energy to particular areas (stress risers) in the hull and that is where the metal fatigue will occure.
Picture a guitar with a crack in it... All of the sound will go straight to that crack and dissopate rather than resonating throughout the body of the instrument.
Spider cracks in fibergalss boats happen at specific places where the resonate energy accumulates just like aluminum boats. When materials of different densities are exposed to the same harmonic energy, they will resonate at different frequencies, and that is what causes them to crack. Spider cracks occure in the gelcoat because it resonates at a different frequency as the underlying structure.
Brad
(loves the sea)
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Brad
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 3rd, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 3 |
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Posted: Sat May 3rd, 2008 09:23 am |
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The way to stop the crack from spreading in aluminum is to drill a hole about 1/8" dia. on either side of the crack, making sure that the center of the hole removes the bitter end of the crack on each end. Then have it welded. But there is always a reason for that crack being exactly where it is...
Harmonic resonance plays a big roll in the process of creating those cracks whether they be in fiberglass or aluminum. Every thime the hull slaps the surface of the water it creates sound energy (harmonics). Every hull has stress paths unique to that particular hull. A perfectly designed hull will dissopate harmonic energy evenly throughout the hull. Less than perfect hulls will direct that energy to particular areas (stress risers) in the hull and that is where the metal fatigue will occure.
Picture a guitar with a crack in it... All of the sound will go straight to that crack and dissopate rather than resonating throughout the body of the instrument.
Spider cracks in fibergalss boats happen at specific places where the resonate energy accumulates just like aluminum boats. When materials of different densities are exposed to the same harmonic energy, they will resonate at different frequencies, and that is what causes them to crack. Spider cracks occure in the gelcoat because it resonates at a different frequency as the underlying structure.
Brad
(loves the sea)
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