Hurricane Sandy in NJ/USA tree damage to alluminum hull

[Jerry_NJ]

My circa 1985 Grumman ProFisherman 15.5" Aluminum fishing boat was hit by a parts of a large White Pine Tree that came down in hurricane Sandy that hit NJ about 11 days ago.

I haven't completely dug the boat out yet but I can see the gunwale (heavy brace that runs around the top edge) on the left hand side was bent downward and deformed the hull side a bit (not crushed, maybe a 4 to 6 inch depression).

I do not know if there is any rivet damage, but that will be easy to test with a garden hose in warmer weather.

It occurs to me one might be able to take a hull to an auto repair shop to get the gunwale straightened - I thin it is too stiff for a simple hammer and 2x4 approach.

I seek any thoughts and advice.

I further advise: do not leave equipment under White Pine trees in a hurricane (ever "Just" a class 1, maybe just a tropical storm being I am in about 45 miles form the coast) no matter how healthy the tree looks. I also had a yard tractor under those trees and I think it is totaled.

 

[rbh]

Re: Hurricane Sandy in NJ/USA tree damage to alluminum hull

When you have aluminum that is formed IE the gunnels it is hard to straighten them once they have a kink.
Try with a little heat to pull it out first, warm the entire area and apply pressure to avoid snapping.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Hurricane Sandy in NJ/USA tree damage to alluminum hull

I once straightened and repaired an aluminum canoe that was picked up in a storm, blown 1/4 mile and trampled by cattle... It was partially broken in the middle and torn in a few other places... it was also BADLY bent pretty much everywhere... my tools were several hammers (including a sledge and dead blow I used as hammer and dolly) a drill, 3m 5200, a couple pieces of aluminum (angle and flat) from lowes, and a few hundred closed end pop rivets. Took two days.... yours can be fixed too.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Hurricane Sandy in NJ/USA tree damage to alluminum hull

when I was younger, our aluminum starcraft was hit, too, but it was by an oak so I can't really help you.

 

[Jerry_NJ]

Re: Hurricane Sandy in NJ/USA tree damage to alluminum hull

Thanks all. On the heating, is a simple plumbing propane (old plumbing type when solder still had lots of lead in it) effective?

I had considered the idea of a sledge hammer and maybe a 2x4 wood stud length to drive the gunwale back toward near normal. I am not demanding pretty, just functional. I'm an old guy so I don't have any need to impress the "girls" : ). Also, it is a fishing boat, not a skiing boat so almost straight is good enough for sub 6 mph speeds.

Related question, related in terms of storm damage, not hull, the 9.9 hp OMC circa 1995 got hit too and the fiberglass (whatever) cover has some serious cracks, but I think some correct adhesive and some "tapping" to align the pieces will fix that. I'm not sure if there is any other structural damage to the engine, but it was at the far end of the tree down fall, the left gunwale was at the head, nearer the trunk, the engine saw the smaller branches (narrower trunk).

 

[rbh]

Re: Hurricane Sandy in NJ/USA tree damage to alluminum hull

Just warm it to avoid cracking, it does not take much to melt aluminum.

There are a couple of examples on you tube with guys fixing their snowmobiles that got twisted.