Is Your Aluminum Hull Damaged?

When it comes to making boat repairs on aluminum boats, most methods used call for either welding or fiberglassing. And even though both methods are acceptable, the purpose of the repair will usually dictate what method is used. For example, a durable, long-lasting and strong repair on a damaged hull, welding is said to be the best method to make repairs. When the repair is eliminating a slow leak in the likes of a riveted seam, then fiberglass will be the preferred method on aluminum boats.

If, however, the reason for repairing is restoration, then welding, grinding and polishing will give a more traditional finish once the repair is done. Depending on what method is used, the most important thing is to first clean the repair area before any work is started. Using a mild acid to remove any oxidation and sanding the damaged area is still the No. 1 tip when it comes to repairing aluminum boats.

When you attempt to use fiberglass on an uncleaned aluminum surface, it will result in the fiberglass eventually peeling off in a short period of time. Also, welding over dirty aluminum results in a contaminated weld which will oxidize and eventually eat itself, that will leave several small holes in the area that was repaired.

The tip which could save the repairman’s life is using a breathing apparatus when welding aluminum. This is because aluminum produces a toxic gas when it is welded, which makes repairing aluminum boats an extremely dangerous practice when the correct precautions are not taken. When repairing very thin aluminum, a good tip is using a torch and braze instead of a weld. This process uses less heat and will not damage the surrounding metal. With a few instances, welding will often result in creating a bigger hole in the boat than the original hole.

For all your boat repair needs in the Weatherford, TX area, please feel free to call us at Sailordan Maintenance and Repair today at (817) 598-9817.