simple aluminum gunwale repair advice needed

[32251]

Found an old Grumman rowboat.  There is a crack in the gunwale (top edge).  What can I use to reinforce this. All I need is a short length of something that would fit over the edge and then be tightened by rivet or screwed down.  Seems like a simple repair, but I cannot find any aluminum extrusion that can be used for this repair.  Anyone have a tip for repairing/reinforcing an edge crack like this.  Thanks

[Wayne P.]

Have it welded

[fishizzle]

Alum. welding is pretty expensive

[Wayne P.]

fishizzle, when I need some aluminum repaired or parts made, I go to a place that specializes in doing it. It costs less than getting random parts and putting it together with screws or rivets. The company that I use makes and modifies aluminum boats for jet drive use and they do outboard skeg repair/replacement.

An aluminum boat's gunnel is part of its strength.

I had a transom extension made to clamp a trolling motor on the steering cable side of my boat. $21 for materials and labor:

[32251]

I think I am just going to put a nice cleat on the gunwale.  The underside is flat. I can just put a 1/4" thick piece of aluminum under there and the cleat will span the crack. A bolt through both sides of the cleat down through the gunwale into the aluminum will hold it together and give me something to tie stuff to.  

[wasabi_VA]

You may want to consider drilling small holes at the ends of the crack to prevent it from spreading further. And then, like Wayne said, find a welder to run a simple bead down the crack would resolve the problem. Taking the boat to a welder / welding shop would make it a quick and pretty inexpensive repair.