cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

[wnight1]

:facepalm:I have one broken cross member and would like to know how to reinforce it ?
Does anyone have an answer ? Thank you for all the advice . I am going to have it welded like you stated.
thanks again

 

[NYBo]

Re: cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

A picture will be necessary for good answers.

 

[wnight1]

Re: cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

There is a piece of steel over the crack in the cross member with (2) stailess screws. I bought the boat like this and I am looking for a more stable fix. Any help would be appreciated.
steve

A picture will be necessary for good answers.

 

[5150abf]

Re: cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

You will need something fairly heavy, .080 aluminum would work, and about 10''-12'' long that will fit down over that like a u shaped peice with maybe 5 rivets on either side to help spread the force out.

You are dealing with a good but of force being on the bottom of the boat.

 

[wnight1]

Re: cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

Thanks for the advice . I need to know exactly what I need and where to buy it . I probably can figure it out.I was hoping that there was a site where I could purchase a cross member.

 

[Tracker Dave]

Re: cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

I'm not sure how thick the material is, but a good welder can probably weld the crack up, and possibly add a reinforcement plate. That would probably be the strongest repair, but it depends on the thickness of the material and how oxidized it is. Sometimes old aluminum boats are difficult to weld.

 

[robert graham]

Re: cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

My aluminum canoe had the exact same cracks and the welding shop placed some sections(about 12" long) of about 1"X1" aluminum angle over the cracks, welded them in place, and it's been fine since. Home Depot and Lowe's has a good variety of aluminum angle and channel-shaped pieces, just pick the one that fits down over your crack the best(Maybe a 1"x1"X1" channel might be better than the angle in your case?) and have the welder tack it down. Good Luck!

 

[robert graham]

Re: cross member in a 10 ft Jon boat

Another idea might be to lay sections(about 2' long) of say,3/8" diameter aluminum rod down either side of the crack and tack weld that in place. It's wouldn't stick up and get in your way as bad as the angle or channel repair...I'm pretty sure Home Depot and Lowe's would have the aluminum rods, but a welding shop would have them for sure!...