Aluminium boats, whether they’re V-hull-shaped boats or plate boats, are undeniably more advantageous than boats made of wood and fibreglass because they are lightweight, maneuverable, and faster. However, like all things, they are far from perfect. Aluminium is prone to getting serious damage from grounding or collision. Cracks and leaks can happen and will interrupt your sailing, cruising, or fishing activities. It is also susceptible to corrosion especially if it’s always exposed to saltwater. That’s why it’s important to learn how to repair an aluminium boat. Here are some ways to repair them based on their damages:

Usual Damages that Happen to an Aluminium Boat

Handling Dents

The boat’s hull can be dented inward or outward depending on the force of a collision. You should begin by having someone carry the anvil when you use a hammer. To restore the dent to a flat condition, pound it or the hill-like shape with a hammer. To provide a backstop, the individual who serves as your helper should use a one-hand anvil. By straightening and pounding the hull, it flattens out. To return to its former shape, the damaged aluminium surface must expand.

Filling Out Holes and Cracks

Some dents occur with holes and cracks, which require additional treatment. The first step is to figure out how big a particular gap or fracture is. When engaging in aluminium boat patching, you must establish a toned bonding surface. Hence, you have to soften the edges of the aluminium by using gritty sandpaper.

Also, remove the paint inside and outside with the help of a coarse bristle disc. The final step for softening the edges. At this point, you’re ready to start with the repairs. You can make patches from a glass fabric. Cut them based on the size of the hole. A single patch is sufficient for the exterior side, and you need three for the interior. They should be in diminishing sizes.

Give a two-inch allowance for each patch, so there’s extra material to overlap and bond around the hole. Then, brush the aluminium boat and repair the epoxy on both surfaces.

Soak the patches that you’ve cut with the chosen epoxy. Lay them out while doing this step. Then, start placing the patch over the hole on the exterior side and add the epoxy.

Continue by placing the three patches for the inside part. Adjust their position to be in the centre and over the hole. Use a squeegee or a scraper to block the air. When all of the patches are on the centre of the hole, flatten it out using the squeegee.

After arranging everything correctly, cure it overnight. Remove any roughness on the edges of the patches the next day. Ground them first and apply marine filler.

For cracks in the boat’s hull, heat it by using a propane torch. After doing that, scrape it with a wire brush. The heat coming from the torch should be consistent when fixing the heated rod on each side of the crack.

Some use a TIG welder to bind aluminium sheets and bring out great results. Moreover, heat is important as it can melt the brass plate, which will flow into the crack or hole. Once the brass melts, it can fill the gap and enclose the damaged area.

Fixing Corrosion on Aluminum Boats

If you notice that your boat is corroding, you can do this by making a solution consisting of sulfuric acid and chromic acid. These kinds of acids are excellent inhibitors of aluminium alloy. Apply it on the hull by using a brush or swab, making sure that you dampen the corroded area before scrubbing. When the corrosion has resulted in pitting, you can follow the repair methods mentioned above.

All these methods ensure that your boat, whether it’s a rear console, a centre console, tinnie, or a cuddy cabin, your boat is as good as new and ready to take you on your boating adventures.