Patch My Leaky Aluminium With Fibreglass?

[pauloman]

epoxies are generally too brittle to work.

best is an aluminum moisture cured urethane (MCU) - a few coats along the seams. - only works with small leaks. goggle aluthane.

paul oman

[Ace Dragon]

Not a do-it-yourself product, but will do it. find a qualified applicator in your area and never have a leak again.

[jonr]

What's the downside to welding all of the rivets and seams? Hard to beat one solid piece of aluminum.

[PAR]

You mean besides heat distortion opening all the seams, welding light gauge sheet aluminum, distorting the panels themselves, insuring a perfect, water tight weld on every seam and hole? No I can't think of anything other than these trivial bits of heartache.

[Ace Dragon]

sun in my screen so no telling what I will type. the boat is of thin metal more than likely, it would take a quality machine and good welder and if hired out could cost more than buying a new boat.
Polyurea project would go something like this. Carry boat to applicator. one hour for his machine to heat up, one hour to sand blast to get a min. of 3 mil profile, desalt the metal = 30 minutes = after drying it would take 30 min to spray. Cost is reduced if no masking is required - let him coat the complete out side.
You may want a different color but polyurethane paint hold well to polyurea. cost for a simple 20 ft. boat could be around $1,100.00

[bntii]

Ace- how is the product holding up so far in the field on boats?
Any bonding issues?
Equally good to go on FRP, steel, Al & wood?

How is corrosion dealt with on Al and steel hulls?
I did see your other thread- I will be interested to see if the how the product comes along in the recreational boat industry here on the East Coast US.


Thanks

[tunnels]

Some where a few months ago was the almost exact same post !! go look and see !
West system have a rubber toughtend epoxy at sticks really well and is semi flexable for just such a occassion !!

[jonr]

Some of us are good welders with the right equipment. Most of us can respond to a question without resorting to sarcasm.

PAR added to ignore list.

[Ace Dragon]

I received a message that I might be self promoting - Not intended. I just gave a cost as an point of info.

I think I will be leaving this site.
As to salt water boats - we desalt the metal after sand blasting.
We have created a coating that is the first to hold up to silt filled ice of Cook Inlet, and Phantom boats have been using a polyurea for a few years now for rock protection.
Polyurea can hold up quite well if substrate is prep'ed correctly.
Polyurea is a plastic so it can and has been used for electrical protection.
There are many different types of polyurea's and the correct one has to be spec'ed out.
Have fun guys.