So, I messed up...

[Budcjoline]

So, I messed up. I picked up a bass tracker the other day. The owner said the previous owner hit something and put a metal plate over it to cover the dent, then they bondo'ed it to level it out. Well, the boat was cavitating a lot so I decided to fix it the right way. Well, I take the bondo and this dent is freaking huge. How do I even go about fixing this? I know, I know, I shouldn't have bought it. I'm past that and now just trying to have my wife not divorce me lol. Pics are horrible, I know. Not the easiest thing to capture in pics.

[Shimano_1]

Hard to tell much in the pic. Id suggest a good fab shop. A good aluminum welder could fix that up. We've repaired some crazy things at my work that have all turned out nice. If its aluminum it can be fixed 

[GaryH]

Ouch.. Like Shimano said aluminum can be fixed. Also welcome aboard the forum.

[TnRiver46]

I wouldn’t fret it (tell your wife we said that). Call some fab shops and ask who welds on aluminum, they will most likely fix it for way less money than you might imagine. The people that have welded on my boat tried not to take any money 

[Budcjoline]

2 minutes ago, GaryH said:

Ouch.. Like Shimano said aluminum can be fixed. Also welcome aboard the forum.

Thank you! Wish my first post was a bit happier. I'm going to call some fab shops. Some people on Facebook gave me a few ideas as well to try. I'll do my best to try them today and report back! 

[GaryH]

5 minutes ago, Budcjoline said:

Thank you! Wish my first post was a bit happier. I'm going to call some fab shops. Some people on Facebook gave me a few ideas as well to try. I'll do my best to try them today and report back! 

 

Life is good looking at your profile pic... Warms the heart.. Merry Christmas and good luck with the boat.

[Budcjoline]

2 minutes ago, GaryH said:

 

Life is good looking at your profile pic... Warms the heart.. Merry Christmas and good luck with the boat.

I couldn't ask for a better life! That my twin boy, have two other Littles ones. The oldest loved fishing off my old boat, so can't wait for warmer weather to take the three out of this one! Merry Christmas to you too! 

[Shimano_1]

Yeah don't fret about it it can definitely be fixed. If it were mine I'd for sure have it done right. Probably have to cut the patch out thats dented and replace with a good piece of aluminum.  Little grinder and finish work and some touch up paint and all will be right! Id offer to do it but you're pretty far from me. Good luck with it!

[Goldstar225]

Like others have said, don't sweat it too much.  It can be fixed for not too much money and serve you well for many years.  Just make sure the shop is competent on patching and welding aluminum.

[Budcjoline]

14 minutes ago, Goldstar225 said:

Like others have said, don't sweat it too much.  It can be fixed for not too much money and serve you well for many years.  Just make sure the shop is competent on patching and welding aluminum.

Thank you! Between Facebook and this forum, I feel much more confident. 

[skunked_again]

Run the boat as it sits without the bondo/plate. See what happens. On a side note, is that a huge hole in the boat just behind the circled area? It's hard to tell what part of the boat we're looking at.

[Budcjoline]

1 hour ago, skunked_again said:

Run the boat as it sits without the bondo/plate. See what happens. On a side note, is that a huge hole in the boat just behind the circled area? It's hard to tell what part of the boat we're looking at.

I'll take it out as soon as I can get to the ramps, stupid snow.. That hole if from the ride plate, I removed it to see what all I have going on. I need to reseat and seal it 

[fishnkamp]

You don't say where you are located in PA. but you mention the Susqy, so you can't be too far from Harrisburg. I lived north of there back in the 90, and there was a company called Snyder's Airboats back then. It was a father and son setup. The son took it over.  Last I heard he was building custom jet boats.

I promise you you will not find a better boat welder.  

Here is his website         https://snyder-jetboats.com/

He is located in Millersville, up along the river and not fare from where the ferry crossing was.

Please don't ask me why I know how good he is at repairing Susqy river boats! lol 

I will just say I owned one of the first jet setups on the entire river back in 1990. I went where only his airboats could go, well all but once. 

I lived above the Clarks Ferry bridge near Duncannon PA.  Beautiful smallies up there.

 

Edited December 26, 2020 by fishnkamp

[Way2slow]

Can't tell squat about the pics, but I have to ask, why do you think the dent was the cause of the cavitation it it was filled in and leveled off? 

There are tons of other things that are much more subject to cause that.  Usually about the only problem shotty work on the bottom is create a turbulence that screw up you depth finder on small boats

My first thought is, did you check the height of the anti-cavitation plate on the motor an see if it's about even with the bottom of the boat and not up too high.  You may have gotten stuck with a boat that has a short shaft motor on the long transom.

[mcipinkie]

I have no idea what we are looking at.  What kind of Tracker is it.  Where is the dent? How large? How deep?  How much is the boat worth?  You don't want to spend several hundred dollars fixing a boat that's only worth a few thousand and doesn't run very fast anyway.

 

What ever it is, a good aluminum shop should be able to fix it, if spending the money is the right answer.  I've fixed dents with Marine Tex (sp?) in my old aluminum boats.  Filled a couple with Bondo and then pop riveted an aluminum plate over them.  Looks like a riveted boat, so a couple more rivets probably won't mean anything. 

 

I'm inclined to agree with Way2slow,  the damage may not be the cause of yourperformance issue.

[Budcjoline]

21 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

You don't say where you are located in PA. but you mention the Susqy, so you can't be too far from Harrisburg. I lived north of there back in the 90, and there was a company called Snyder's Airboats back then. It was a father and son setup. The son took it over.  Last I heard he was building custom jet boats.

I promise you you will not find a better boat welder.  

Here is his website         https://snyder-jetboats.com/

He is located in Millersville, up along the river and not fare from where the ferry crossing was.

Please don't ask me why I know how good he is at repairing Susqy river boats! lol 

I will just say I owned one of the first jet setups on the entire river back in 1990. I went where only his airboats could go, well all but once. 

I lived above the Clarks Ferry bridge near Duncannon PA.  Beautiful smallies up there.

 

Thanks! I might need to check that out! 

[Budcjoline]

11 hours ago, Way2slow said:

Can't tell squat about the pics, but I have to ask, why do you think the dent was the cause of the cavitation it it was filled in and leveled off? 

There are tons of other things that are much more subject to cause that.  Usually about the only problem shotty work on the bottom is create a turbulence that screw up you depth finder on small boats

My first thought is, did you check the height of the anti-cavitation plate on the motor an see if it's about even with the bottom of the boat and not up too high.  You may have gotten stuck with a boat that has a short shaft motor on the long transom.

Thanks! It's an inboard jet. I was told that if there is a dent or soemthing in front of the intake that it could cause it to suck air. I'll be honest through, I'm new to inboards. 

[Way2slow]

I guess I missed something saying it was a jet and not an outboard.  What I first posted has nothing to do with being a jet boat.  

You was told right, if it's on the intake side of the screw, then if it's not smooth and flat, it can cause turbulence that can cause cavitation.  

Anyone doing any repair work needs to understand how a jet boat works and it's critical it be fairly smooth and flat in front of the intake and on each side.

You also might want to check the screw and make sure it's not worn too much.  Too much clearance between the screw and the housing can cause problems.

To do a proper repair will require someone with the knowledge of what's required.  Being in that seam, it will be easy to cause the rivets to loosen and leak.  Bending and working aluminum can cause it to work harden, become brittle and crack over time.  

If a home repair is tried, it would probably be best to use a sheet of 16-18ga aluminum and reskin around the intake and up toward the front a couple of feet, being sure it's a smooth transition from old to new with something like Marine-Tex.  Marine-Tex is made for below the water line and to hold,  bondo is not.http://marinetex.com/products/marine-tex-products/marine-tex-epoxy-putty/