Patching Holes in Aluminium Boats
Submitted by kackles on Tue, 2009-12-08 16:50
Hi guys,Just wondering if anyone had any experience with patching holes in aluminium boats and whats the best stuff to use?
Yesterday i went over a reef and accidentally put a small pencil sized hole in an existing patch on the boat. That particular area appears to have been patched before but now i got a new hole in the patch. Its not leaking yet, but i want to "re patch" the patch.
I have no idea what the previous owner used but it appears to be silverish in color and they used a sealant to go over that particular patch.
Any ideas on what i should be using?
Cheers.
Kackles
meggs
Posts: 9
Date Joined: 16/11/09
Ali repairs
Kackles have a look at this web site this product may be of use. www.durafix.com.au
Cheers
Meggs
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
wouldnt it be better to just
wouldnt it be better to just weld a piece of ali over it ??
cant say i'd be feeling to safe if i glued something to a hole in my boat
kackles
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 30/09/09
mm
unfortunately i got no access to any welding equipment
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
u can get
a 2 part epoxy ally putty called devcon . its really good ive seen heads repaired with it but it aint cheap
better of getting it welded but
sea-kem
Posts: 14984
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I'm a welder, and would
I'm a welder, and would recommend welding the hole it would only take half an hour to repair. You would be up for a minimum charge I guess but better for the long run. If you patch it ,the ali will eventually deteriorate, I specialise in offshore equipment and have seen what smothered ali will do after a while.
Love the West!
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
If its a tinny, not a plate
If its a tinny, not a plate boat, I'd try and sikaflex it. No one likes welding holes in that light ali, its like welding the holes up in a teabag.
sea-kem
Posts: 14984
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Use a tig and you can weld
Use a tig and you can weld holes in a teabag:)
Love the West!
kackles
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 30/09/09
mmm
hi sea-kem,
Just out of curiosity, what sort of price would i be looking at?
Cheers
kackles
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 30/09/09
mmm
hi guys,
I got Selleys Knead It Aqua, thats the only thing they carried in bunnings. When i asked for devcon i was getting quizzed looks so i took this instead. Going to put this over the hole then finish it with sikabond. Lets see what happens :)
By the way anyone know where i can get devcon?
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
coventries sell it
or bearing services was the last place i got some
slothwan
Posts: 145
Date Joined: 02/02/09
Blackwoods or Coventries for
Blackwoods or Coventries for the devcon, make sure its the ally type not steel. It is expensive Not too sure about the Selleys stuff? I wouldn't use it.
You'll pay about $70 to $130 per hour for welding. If its an old hull u may be opening up a can of worms even with the TIG. the problem with old ali is it is full of impurities and the weld pool spits back making welding very hard.
kackles
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 30/09/09
mm
ok thanks guys for the hints :) Hope the patch holds. i did some research on the selley's stuff, apparently alot of people had alot of positive thing to say about it so lets touch wood.
I don't think such an old hull is worth welding unless its a major hole / dent then maybe i might look into it.
roscopico
Posts: 31
Date Joined: 22/06/09
have used selleys knead it
have used selleys knead it before on my tinny and as long as you rough the surface up a bit and get it really clean it works a treat
kackles
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 30/09/09
mm
thanks for the feedback, i sanded the edges to "roughen" it up a bit. Seems to form nice and hard. Gave it a few hard taps, very solid.
mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
maybe invest in a bucket or
maybe invest in a bucket or bilge pump as well just incase it doesnt work lol
kaneo
Posts: 340
Date Joined: 09/01/08
$50 max mate
$50 max mate
kackles
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 30/09/09
oic
Thanks for the clarification. Will see how this epoxy goes, failing which might have to get it welded.
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
god
safety first is my motto with the ocean mate, hopeflly your selleys works lol farked if id be going out to sea though relying on some selleys stopping my boat from flooding!
Id imagine the tube of selleys cost you around 20 bucks, for another 50 you prob could have got a proper welding repair done on it and have good piece of mind.
Gooooone Fishin!
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Not exactly, its really
Not exactly, its really horses for courses.
I had some ali welding done recently and most of the places I took it to wanted me to use an epoxy because its so hard to get a good job done with a welder on pressed ali boats, plate is totally different.
kackles
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 30/09/09
yup
yup mine is pressed aluminium. Besides with a hole that size i rekon i would have some time to get back to shore before it would be totally flooded so l'm not too worried.
Like i said the selly is just going over an existing patch. Seems this boat has about 4-5 patches on its underside but l've taken it out and its never leaked once so l'm not too worried. l've also used my hand to tap the patches to ensure their solid and they are so l'm cool with it.
Either way, l've aqua selly'ed it and then put a layer of sikabond on top for extra protection.
If anything happens, l'm usually only a max of 1km from the marina anyways so can leg it if i really have to.
Cjsurf
Posts: 134
Date Joined: 23/08/11
Selleys Knead it Aqua
Hey mate its been a while since this post, does your tub still float or should i look at a different product ive got a small pencil width hole in my tinny, mate gave me some of this stuff http://www.deks.com.au/products/plumbing-fittings/adhesives-plumbing-fittings/ but not too sure if its appropriate. Any others give knead it aqua a try
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Worked for a couple of
Worked for a couple of year's for me... Just get it welded!
adamsmith84
Posts: 402
Date Joined: 04/11/09
.
.
barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
you might want to be careful with some glues
some aren't compatible with ally and will start the corrosion process quicker
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Dynasteel epoxy putty $12 at
Dynasteel epoxy putty $12 at auto one .worked for me.
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls