Heya Gentlemen! I've been trolling here for sometime as I bought an old 14" aluminum v-hull a couple of years ago to fix up with the intention of having a boat to go on the river to fish with my son. Well.... a few medical emergencies my wife had precluded being able to have the funds, but this year, I saved my taxes and my son is helping me restore it this summer.
The problem I am running into is that whoever had this boat before, put vertical steel braces at 3 different locations (each side) and didn't put any kind of protection for the aluminum. There is some rust... not tons, but I need to figure out a solution. The other problem is that a number of the aluminum bolts used to hold the original transom in place, snapped in half when sufficent torque was applied to remove them. I've looked high and low for matching aluminum bolts, but have been unable to find them, so I've had to resort to stainless steel.
My question is.... what can I used to protect the boat from the steel braces (2"x8") as well as the aluminum bolt holes that the stainless steel screws will be going through to hold the transom in place. I've heard tef-gel or lanolin might help protect the bolt holes from the stainless steel bolts. Any advice guys?
I've got and am using "Coat-it" for the birch transom expoy... and I've got some GE UV/H20 Proof silicon..... and I just picked up some 3M 5200 fast cure, but I'm wlling to get something else if you guys don't think any of those would make sufficient barriers between the steel and aluminum.
I'd really like to do thsi right so that the boat can be passed down to my son someday. We are having a lot of fun so far, but just want to get this right so I don't damage the boat!
Oh.... this will be used primarily in non-salt environment.
Thanks much guys... .and any help is greatly appreciated.
James
The problem I am running into is that whoever had this boat before, put vertical steel braces at 3 different locations (each side) and didn't put any kind of protection for the aluminum. There is some rust... not tons, but I need to figure out a solution. The other problem is that a number of the aluminum bolts used to hold the original transom in place, snapped in half when sufficent torque was applied to remove them. I've looked high and low for matching aluminum bolts, but have been unable to find them, so I've had to resort to stainless steel.
My question is.... what can I used to protect the boat from the steel braces (2"x8") as well as the aluminum bolt holes that the stainless steel screws will be going through to hold the transom in place. I've heard tef-gel or lanolin might help protect the bolt holes from the stainless steel bolts. Any advice guys?
I've got and am using "Coat-it" for the birch transom expoy... and I've got some GE UV/H20 Proof silicon..... and I just picked up some 3M 5200 fast cure, but I'm wlling to get something else if you guys don't think any of those would make sufficient barriers between the steel and aluminum.
I'd really like to do thsi right so that the boat can be passed down to my son someday. We are having a lot of fun so far, but just want to get this right so I don't damage the boat!
Oh.... this will be used primarily in non-salt environment.
Thanks much guys... .and any help is greatly appreciated.
James