Fixing a SMASHED Aluminum Gunnel and Rub Rail

[CaptObvious]

Sorry about your boat Geo. Glad your safe and back on shore to be able to worry about the damage. Hope you find someone.

[stripernut1]

geo, first of all, glad youre ok, that couldve turned out waaayyyy worse than it did.
i know there were a lot of boats that were repaired from the damage incurred during the ice storm down here. right off the top of my head i can think of a handful that were in my opinion were "unfixable" but turned out pretty good. i will ask around and find out who did that type of work.
it may take a bit to ask a handful of people but i will let you know what i find out

[GeoFisher]

geo, first of all, glad youre ok, that couldve turned out waaayyyy worse than it did.
i know there were a lot of boats that were repaired from the damage incurred during the ice storm down here. right off the top of my head i can think of a handful that were in my opinion were "unfixable" but turned out pretty good. i will ask around and find out who did that type of work.
it may take a bit to ask a handful of people but i will let you know what i find out

Man, THANKS.........

I'm mostly scared about the weld, as stated above.................And the gunnel is just as also stated above. Cut it out, and custom retro fit a new piece in. I've not found anyone that can do that yet........A body shop said they could "sleeve it, if I could find an exact "donor" boat........that ain't gonna happen , I don't think........

[Dobe Mejuwa]

I’m glad to hear you are okay. Boats can be replaced, people can’t. As another thought, the boat did it’s job protecting its crew. Marine grade aluminum stretches when it bends and as such as you noted structural integrity and potential cracking becomes an issue. My gut tells me folks that do industrial repairs to commercial marine vessels may be used to working on dented aluminum boats especially those that transit the Ohio River.

Thank goodness the boat toke care of you. Really wish ya the best.

http://www.marineworks.com/

[roadrunner]

Geo glad your safe and no one hurt it helps when your going slow.

I am pretty sure there is a guy here in Robinson IL that can cut and weld it. Is that to far to travel. If not I will show him the photo's he has a condo at Lake Barkley so you might hook up with him there.

[jcclark]

Keep asking body shops for PDR (paintless dent repair) guys they might know of.
Most body shops have someone that specializes in that.
That will be your best bet, if they can't do it then welding in
a new section is your only alternative.

[gofishdave]

you might want to get a hold of the prop guy for Bass Pro. he used to straighten all the pontoon damage for BPS. don't remember his name , but Dave or Jimmy at Cabelas marine dept. can tell you I'm sure

[GeoFisher]

Well, It looks like I found a place........it ain't cheap.

Also, it seems that extruded aluminum for making the gunnel is available from Tracker Marine, so the place I'm talking with will pull the top plate, pull the rod boxes, remove the foam, beat the hell out of that dent..........fix the bent stringers........

they think there is a stringer RIGHT there that is in trouble, but they cannot tell until they pull the top plate.

Once they do all that stuff, they will also check / reweld the welds, as they do look suspect.

After the boat work is done, they will cut the gunnel out, and weld in a replacement piece.......

Then new rubrail...........

All for a very serious price ......but hey, my insurance didn't balk yet, so there is hope.

I'm hoping to have it all on the water in a month.....we shall see.

[Les Young]

Glad you're ok & good luck on the fix.

[stripernut1]

glad you found a place that might be able to fix it. after asking around i found a couple different guys that "sometimes" do that type of work and they said it could be up to a year before they could get to it.....translation: NOT INTERESTED....at least that what i translate that to.
best of luck, it hurts when our baby is not well

[PRO V LE]

I just saw this thread, If this hull has full coverage it would be totaled and replaced with no questions asked by my Insurance co.

[GeoFisher]

I just saw this thread, If this hull has full coverage it would be totaled and replaced with no questions asked by my Insurance co.

I have full replacement insurance..........and the total cost is way, WAY, WAY MORE then the repair cost..... I get what you're saying, but the repair is 1/4 the total cost.......

Actually prob more like 1/2 as prob 8k of my insured value is the motor........

IF they had totaled this at 8-10k I would have taken the cash and probably been done fishing....I'm not interested right now in buying a new boat......other things.

As it is, I will spend the thousands of dollars of INSURANCE money getting it fixed, and if I"m happy with that, I will have them do the carpets, and if happy with that, have them do a motor swap.........

We shall see.

Later,

Geo