Patching an aluminum hull

[Pagetslady]

Does anybody have any experience in making repairs to an aluminum hull, bearing in mind possible shortage of sheet aluminum sheet and welding experience to weld patches, has anybody tried fibreglass and epoxy,
Regards Mike.

 

[TradewindSailor]

You can make an emergency patch with many materials. It rather depends on the damage and whether it has to be load bearing.

The main problem with aluminuim is getting anything to stick so you invariably end up using a plate of aluminium, plywood, glassfibre panel, or whatever with caulking and through-bolting or riveting.

Obviously any proper repair would involve an assessment of the damage and a review of the availability of tools, materials, experience, etc..

 

[William_H]

Repairs can be made to aluminium. It is done on wings of large aircraft C130 Hercules for instance over cracks. As said it is all in the prearation of the ali. You need to clean then abrade the ali then slap on the epoxy quickly. The actual material for repair can be kevlar for toughness carbon fibre for stiffness or just plain glass for cheapness. I beleive they use Boron fibres for the C130 repairs. One can't help feeling however that welded ali plate might be a better repair. good luck olewill

 

[BruceDanforth]

There doesn't seem to be a shortage of welders around Glasson Dock:

http://www.yell.com/s/welders-glasson+dock.html

Fixing it properly might be a better bet than sinking/drowning.

 

[TQA]

Why bodge.

Find someone who can weld ali and do a 'proper job'.

 

[Iliade]

Assuming this is for emergency repairs at sea, how about carrying a 6' * 4' sheet of 1 mm ally, a lot of Lifecaulk a hand drill and pop-rivets or good steel self-drilling self-tappers (not stainless)? Or even a nail gun! Sheet that thin should be easy to hammer form to match any contours. Repairs could be from inside or out depending on access and 1 mm should be strong enough to keep the sea out for a fair while.

 

[Pagetslady]

Hi there.
My query is not for my boat, I have been watching this , www.youtube.com/WhiteSpotPirates for some weeks now and this young lady has been very inspiring for an old man like me now she has just about got to the end of her tether with this holes ini her aluminium hull. If you have time try to watch all here blog, she I think bought her boat unseen.
Regards Mike.

 

[MrB]

Yeah she did Mike but fair play to her she has stuck with it. As soon as i read the thread title yesterday i had a feeling it was about her boat. Now this young lady knows social media and how it works with out even trying, she has a long list of sponsors. She is great on facebook, she chats with every one of her followers and replies to almost all questions....a true inspiration. Forget JE, PBO should do a story on this lady (her name's Nike) a hard working girl following her dream and working her ass off to do it. :encouragement:

 

[ripvan1]

Only had a quick look at the most recent update but seems she's got some work to do there. Good luck to her - I'll certainly have a more leisurely look at her blog when I've got some time, thanks for that.

 

[TradewindSailor]

I'm not able to see the youtube ..... I don't have the available data and it's too expensive.

It sounds like she may have a major problem that requires professional help on site. I may be able to give some advice if I can see some photos of the problem .... but it is very difficult to spec a repair without seeing it first hand. If she's not getting any help at the moment ...... perhaps she can PM me or put something up on this forum.

 

[BruceDanforth]

It seems strange that it is rotting like that. Does it have the right anodes?

 

[bluerm166]

The OP can buy aluminium in various grades cut to size from Aluminium Warehouse website.You can enter the size to get an instant price.I found delivery of some cut marine plate reasonably priced and quick.No connection.

 

[KellysEye]

Find an Aluminium welder many steel welders can't weld Aluminium. As said don't bodge it.

 

[MrB]

This is her on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/whitespotpirates?fref=ts

She has some guts. Young German girl on her own in Panama trying to fix up a yacht herself. So far she's done a fantastic job with Karl (her yacht) and i do hope she can get this fixed and move on because her videos are great. People keep asking her to set up a paypal or just giving type of site so they can send her money but she just won't, she doesn't ask for anything more than advice.

I'm in no way associated with Nike, just a fan of her on going story.

 

[Steve_N]

It seems strange that it is rotting like that. Does it have the right anodes?

On the lift-out video you can see a large anode hanging from a wire in between the keels. Looks like it may have become detached from the hull and failed to do its job.

 

[alteredoutlook]

I used to own a 43 aluminium boat sailing boat at Glasson and had to have new aluminium plates replaced. Aluminium welding is a specialist job - I got
J Mortimer Fabrications Ltd,Unit 3, Old Station Yard, Kirby lonsdae, LA6 2HP. 015242 71700.
to do the job. Mortimer's is a good outfit and although they mainly do agricultural stuff are very good at stainless and aluminium.
Best of luck
dave

 

[Steve_N]

I doubt that they'd travel to Panama though.

 

[BruceDanforth]

hmmm

On the lift-out video you can see a large anode hanging from a wire in between the keels. Looks like it may have become detached from the hull and failed to do its job.

 

[TQA]

Just watched the last video posted 22/2/2014.

I think she is about to give up and based on what she says about the widespread corrosion, numerous holes in the hull and the leaking fuel tank that might be the best thing to do.

Before I would be confident taking that thing to sea I would want to replate the whole boat.

 

[dylanwinter]

don't count her out yet

Just watched the last video posted 22/2/2014.

I think she is about to give up and based on what she says about the widespread corrosion, numerous holes in the hull and the leaking fuel tank that might be the best thing to do.

Before I would be confident taking that thing to sea I would want to replate the whole boat.

I have had my moments on my little project

just three down days over six years

but everything tickety boo at the moment

-until I try to start the engine or actually put the boat in the water

d