Aluminum Welder?

[NJSquatch]

any recommendations on a aluminum welder in Northern NJ? ​

Any idea on a ball park costs? What can I do to prep the boat for welding and save $?

any other suggestions on a possible fix? G/flex epoxy? marine tex? resin? match?

Boat is a 2000 tracker deep v.

TIA

















TIA

[Flygaff]

From the looks of the damage you will need more than a welder. Most of those spots will have to be reinforced with backing plates. What happened?

[wyldbillnj]

Sorry have to throw this in there....FLEXSEAL!

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by Flygaff

From the looks of the damage you will need more than a welder. Most of those spots will have to be reinforced with backing plates. What happened?

boat has always had a slow leak but it has gotten worse over the past year. i finally squeezed my fat a$$ under the trailer to investigate. The straight lateral cracks looked like stringer welds until i ran my hand over the hull and found them. #2 must have been from an impact from a previous owner. i think they are all related to that impact.

All i need to do i get another year or 2 out of it when all the COVID Cowboys will be begging me to buy their brand new unused boats.

Anyone have an idea on the value of a 2000 90hp merc 2 stroke carbs with oil injection?

[NJSquatch]

Originally Posted by wyldbillnj

Sorry have to throw this in there....FLEXSEAL!

it might come to that to get another year or so out of it!

been researching GFlex as a potential option. It is a structural epoxy that has some flexibility properties. some guys on tinboats.net have had good luck with it.

[Capt. Debbie]

If the cracks are growing then just seal them. My 14' Mirrorcraft is 1982 and I simply use a putty knife to smear aquarium sealer in. Unlike epoxy it is flexible. Epoxy eventually twists and loses the seal a bit.

It's smooth and does not create any appreciable drag. And it's cheap.

If the cracks are growing there is a technique used with steel cracks of drilling a small hole at the end of each crack line. Works like a fire break does. Stops the crack's path progress,

Frankly the welding n patch work you're looking for may be an unnecessarily drastic repair.

I've been at this for 40 years. Trust me, it works.

Flex seal drags like a bitch in the water. Never use it outside the boat.

When boat is hauled out put tape next to the spots leaking water. That way you know where the next sealant smear goes. You stay on top of it for your 2000 vessel.

Hope this helps?

[Meat Hunter]

I'd add another set of bunks to that boat. Looks like the pounding was on the roads.