repairing an alum boat

[damlin]

All,

I am faced with a conundrum. I have an aluminum boat that I received for free. The metal part itself is not in bad shape, just needs some cleaning. The problem is the wooden gunwale. It's very, very rotten. I could replace it with wood, but I was thinking of making the whole think aluminum. A wise decision, as the aluminum would not rot.

I have 2 issues- 1) I can't find anyone in my area to do aluminum work on such a small scale; 2) is it even worth it? The boat is 13 ft long, unknown make (it, and the homemade trailer, is older than me i.e pre-1968). I have talked with others who have worked in aluminum and they said the cost of the materials and the equipment needed (probably have to rent) to bend the aluminum may be cost prohibitive. For a few $ more, it may be better to buy a new or slightly used one and trash the old one.

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks.

Doug

[Grey Wolf]

Aluminum prices are up I here.

[Catt]

I spent 15 yrs in the Aerospace Industry as a Manufacturing Engineer and IMHO it's what we call BER Beyond Economical Repair.

[floridabassboy]

ALUMINUM JONS ARE LIKE 500$ FOR A 10FT  

CRAZY RIGHT?

I JUST BOUGHT 1

[Tom Bass]

Try this, call a few welding shops in the area and see if they work with aluminum. If they do, tell them what you are looking to do and see if they can do it for you economically. If not, go back to wood and treat it good so it lasts.

[PeterF]

I didn't weld any of the mods on my boat. I used 1/8" rivets on the sides. Here's a picture of the sides. You can get the lower gauge aluminum at Lowes or Home Depot.

[Nick_Barr]

Is it the gunwhale or the transom???? If it the transom, replace with a Treated 2 by 6 and your good to go, if its the gunwhale I have no idea.....except that recyling aluminium prices are very high now.

[damlin]

Nick- It's the gunwhale, the transom is alum.  And I thought about the recycling part, it may be worth it to recylce and use teh $ for another boat.  Thanks

Thanks to all that replied, too.

Doug