goodforbrains
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- Joined
- May 9, 2018
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Hey there, I have been stalking this site for a long time, and now I have an issue that I can't seem to find a complete answer to. Now, I know there are a bunch of posts on how to fix holes in aluminum boats, but this one is special. I have found the WHOLE hole. This isn't a half a hole, no sir ree! I have seriously found the mother hole in my transom. I just bought this boat and trailer a month ago. It is ugly, so I started to strip it and get it ready for a paint job. When I got to the transom, there was a nifty little aluminum plate bolted to the outside of the transom through the plywood support into the transom support bracket. When I pulled this little plate off, I felt this crushing pressure to my spirit. Holy m&%$#@ F*&%^er! Wow, just wow. This is a 1968 Dura Nautic that someone obviously had pressure treated wood in it at some time.
So, what is the best way to go about fixing this? I just acquired a large piece of 1/8 plate aluminum that I can either get welded (if there is enough metal) to weld to, or I could put an epoxy and mat patch on and then make an aluminum sandwich to the wet epoxy. Or 5200 around the hole and make my aluminum sandwich with that in the middle??? The original aluminum patch had a piece of old inner tube cut to match the aluminum patch, both sides were covered with silicone and then was bolted to the boat. I know it was holding because the boat was filled half way up with water when I bought it, and there were no drips anywhere. I know welding is the best permanent fix, but there is so much thinned aluminum all around the hole. I don't know. I need some experts help!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!! Brian
So, what is the best way to go about fixing this? I just acquired a large piece of 1/8 plate aluminum that I can either get welded (if there is enough metal) to weld to, or I could put an epoxy and mat patch on and then make an aluminum sandwich to the wet epoxy. Or 5200 around the hole and make my aluminum sandwich with that in the middle??? The original aluminum patch had a piece of old inner tube cut to match the aluminum patch, both sides were covered with silicone and then was bolted to the boat. I know it was holding because the boat was filled half way up with water when I bought it, and there were no drips anywhere. I know welding is the best permanent fix, but there is so much thinned aluminum all around the hole. I don't know. I need some experts help!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!! Brian