I have an older riveted aluminum 16' boat. It has a stress crack down the strake on each side. A year ago one of the cracks ruptured.... almost costing me everything. I lucked out with a tip of JB weld... I applied it and it held for the entire season. This fall I checked the weld and it is starting to crack through it.

Does anyone know of someone that would be able to properly weld my stress cracks, preferably for not a ton of money? I want to bring my 4 year old daughter out on the boat but won't take the chance due to safety. We don't have lots of spare cash but I want to get her into her first salmon.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Leischvost

Where do you live?

In Nanaimo. Sorry should have posted that to start with.

Thanks,

Leischvost

Cheers,

While there are lots of aluminum welders in Nanaimo I would take a second thought at what safety means before simply asking for the lowest price. Your daughter as while as your peace of mind is priceless.

I would suggest that you contact one of the boat builders (Lifetimer in Duncan, Wolf Creek in Black Creek etc...) and have it done right. On my last aluminum boat I needed some welding done and I arranged with Lifetimer to have it done and the final product and price was excellent. The peace of mind that comes with your daughter in the bow with land disappearing aft allows you to relax and enjoy the great outdoors and the experience.

As far as Ive heard... you cant weld most riveted aluminum. That gauge is too small and will just burn through... that's why they are riveted?

I had heard that too but then someone said that they can do it.

I wish that I had lots of money to get it done properly. I pretty well know how I want to have it fixed. The strake that goes down each side of the boat is hollow.

I hope to get the hollow strake just filled in entirely. I know that it will add a little more weight to the boat, but I am really not concerned about that.

I have hundreds to spend, not thousands. I hope that there is someone that knows of a company or person that can do it right for me.

Thanks again,

Leischvost

I just asked Wolfe Boats about this last week. His welder said they do take one on every so often. It depends on the boat condition as the metal has to be clean and in good enough shape the they won't just be puting bigger holes into the boat by trying to weld it.

Good Luck,