fiberglassing over aluminum

phatmanmike

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Oct 24, 2003
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hello, i have a 14 foot john boat that i completely rebuilt last year....ith help of all of you.<br />sanded to bare metal, aplied gluvit over entire boat, primer, 3 coats of paint. looks real nice.<br /><br />but...<br /><br />i had a small crack on the bottom side of the boat, just under the back seat, about 3 inches wide and 1/16'thick. i applied marine tex over this area before the gluvit last year and now it has PEELED off and the crack is back.<br /><br />i have tons of glass supplies and cloth and such , can i applie a good square foot of glass over the crack and will it stick with poly resin or should i spring for some epoxy. thanks
 

snapperbait

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Aug 20, 2002
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5,754
Re: fiberglassing over aluminum

Weld it... Nothing sticks to aluminum.. <br /><br /> Drill a hole at each end of the crack to stop it from cracking any further, then have it welded....<br /><br />There is some kind of plastic stick that that is like a hot glue stick.. Melts with a propane torch... Think I saw them in cabela's or bass pro catalog..
 

phatmanmike

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Oct 24, 2003
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Re: fiberglassing over aluminum

snapper, you posted a while back about fishin with your best friend and cought a bunch of bonitos before he had to leave.... where were those pics taken?
 

BF

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Apr 8, 2003
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Re: fiberglassing over aluminum

Yes, as the SB says, I'd take it to a good tig/heliarc shop. It would take 'em but a couple minutes, and that'd be the end of the problem. I bought a beater 16' tinny 2 years ago. Had cracks, missing rivets etc. The previous guy had used polyester and fiberglass weave. That didn't work worth cr@p! Was peeling from all over etc. I peeled, pryed, wire brushed it all off. Filled it with water and marked all the leaks with black marker. Then took to welder I've used for aluminum before. For most spots he used aluminum patches welded on (about 10 in total), other a couple other spots he just welded. Took about 40 min's and cost ~$120 (shop supplied & cut the alumunum patching plate too).<br /><br />For a couple of troublesome rivets, I used a dab of fast set 5200 sealant on the outside. But, for a crack, I'd want to fix the structure.
 

KaGee

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Aug 14, 2004
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Re: fiberglassing over aluminum

WOW! Snapper... I am envious. We never get action like that on the Great Lakes.
 

phatmanmike

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Oct 24, 2003
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Re: fiberglassing over aluminum

move down here to florida. sunshine 300 days a year. no snow !!!!!!! lots of fish, and the ones snapper was showing were SMALL ONES!!!!
 

mellowyellow

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Jun 8, 2002
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Re: fiberglassing over aluminum

MY will take snow over hurricanes, thanks :p <br />KaGee; "We never get action like that on the Great Lakes"???<br />they are killin' big walleye in lk. erie down there<br />and the salmon and trout in ontario dwarf them bonito's.<br />not as good of a fight though. memories of pacific<br />ocean fishin....<br />as 4 orig.?, see crab's reply.
 

KaGee

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Aug 14, 2004
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Re: fiberglassing over aluminum

Originally posted by mellowyellow:<br /> MY will take snow over hurricanes, thanks :p <br />KaGee; "We never get action like that on the Great Lakes"???<br />they are killin' big walleye in lk. erie down there<br />and the salmon and trout in ontario dwarf them bonito's."
The last two years for Walleye in Lk Erie have been poor. Limit has been reduced now to 6. Those who limit out, usually troll all day and burn a tank of gas just to get six fish a person. As for Salmon, that can be fun. Did once on Lk Mich up north of Ludington.
 
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