10ft plastic coleman hull imploded

[jww311]

Just bought an older coleman brand plastic bass boat while transporting it home hit a pothole and the trailer bounced when it landed it caused the front of the right pontoon to implode.  How hard are these boats to split in half at the seem where top and bottom are secured together.  i need to force the hull back to its original shape. Also was going to spray some foam on the inside for added buoyancy.  Suggestions?

[jww311]

[Scott F]

Just looks dented to me. If it isn't cracked, just push the dent back out from the inside.

[Kevin22]

Looks dented to me also. 

 

As for spray foam, it won't add any buoyancy.. just more weight. Only way to make it more buoyant would be to increase the surface area and weight distribution. You can put 100# of foam or 100# of lead in it, the buoyancy will be the same. 

[jww311]

ya its not cracked. and thanks for the info about the foam as for as opening the boat up into 2 halves what would you recommend for sealing the halves back together  right now its just seems to be secured with larger staples

[Fishing Rhino]

Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer. 

[Allen Der]

turn it upside down and leave it in the sun for a while.  when it heats up it might fix itself.  this technique works on kayaks so I think it is worth a shot on a plastic jon boat

[jww311]

I will have to try that too bad its only high of 40 degrees today in chicago smh 

[Kevin22]

You can CAREFULLY go AROUND the dent with a hair dryer or heat gun on the lowest setting. Will take a while, but when it gets warm (not hot) you can try to carefully push the dent back out. Don't force it. 

[jww311]

In order to do that I would have to split the boat apart.  My question is that have any of you guys taken one of the boats apart and how hard are they to put back together?

[livemusic]

I have read (and seen pics) of people splitting in two boats like this, but necessarily this exact brand/model. I think it is in the Pelican Bass Raider thread. Which might take you a month or two of reading, lol.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I wouldn't split the 2 halves if it were me. I'm assuming that it's made of Ram-X, and that stuff is very difficult to patch effectively. The expansion and contraction rates are hard to match, and it will end up leaking. I'd try and do the heat thing, or just live with it the way it is. 

I've had a few Coleman and Pelican canoes (same difference) and they are nearly impossible to patch permanently. I had a pinhole in my last one and it needed to be patched about twice per year. 

Just a thought, but you might want to try the heat treatment while it's still cool outside. If it's air tight, the cool air in the pontoon will expand when it heats and it might just pop the dent out on it's own. It might just pop out as the weather gets warmer too.

[GLK]

Maybe drill a small hole in the top and push it out with a dowel

[Molay1292]

If it has a drain plug, just put a little water in the hull, tip the boat until it is in the general area of the  dent.  When you get enough water in it you should be able to just lift that corner of the boat and the weight of the water may pop it out.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Get a toilet plunger make it wet and pretend your on a date with Megan Fox and you stopped her throne up with a cypress log

[buzzed bait]

15 hours ago, Molay1292 said:

If it has a drain plug, just put a little water in the hull, tip the boat until it is in the general area of the  dent.  When you get enough water in it you should be able to just lift that corner of the boat and the weight of the water may pop it out.

^^ this  

if that doesn't immediately fix the problem, i'd leave the water in and try the heater/blow dryer suggestion.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

The toilet plunger will work too works on car doors ,truckbeds, etc