Badly pitted Grumman canoe!!

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Warren G
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Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2020 8:39 pm
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Badly pitted Grumman canoe!!

#1

Post by Warren G »

SO like a dummy, I bought a vintage Grumman canoe without giving it a thorough inspection. I got carried away with the brand—. It looked straight, no dings, little use and some built up dirt on one side. I left a auction bid and I won—. After a good scrubbing, I come to find some pretty deep pitting on one side approx 12” by 24” section where apparently the canoe rested on it’s side on concrete. A strong hose actually reveled 2 pencil size holes. I know I should just scrap it but I want to bring it back from the brink. Using a stainless wire brush, I removed all the loose stuff oxidation [img]and now have to decide how to properly clean and what to use to fill the craters. If it was a car, I would use bondo. I considered the new low temp aluminum welding rods but using map gas might warp the aluminum or swell the rivets that are in the area. JBweld marine, alum bond, 3M5200—-skim Coat?
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kmorin
Donator 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:37 am
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Location: Kenai, Alaska

Re: Badly pitted Grumman canoe!!

#2

Post by kmorin »

Welcome to the AAB.com Forum, sorry its in these circumstances.

As you might see from the posts and pics? the main boat here is plate so likely a bit thicker and of 5000 series aluminum? Not sure what alloy is used by the stretch formed, pressed boats like a canoe, but is pretty clear the aluminum corrodes in a similar manner?

A bit thin to weld, more or less our typical remedy/repair/restoration methods for plate welded boats. Looks like that entire area will have thinned and already light panel?

I don't have any experience with canoes' hull repair- except helping to tighten some rivets in the keel/centerline of another old canoe. Whatever you decide to do? probably tests patches for adhesion to the metal before 'going for it' over the whole area?

I wonder if a bed liner type of pour on/roll on semi-hardening adhesive film might be the answer? At this point, where your canoe becomes a planter, it might not hurt to try? Maybe put a rivet into the holes? tighten them up with a 5200 type sealant? then apply the bed liner type of material over an acid etched surface- might try to get some primer/allodyne conversion film to stick?

Good luck, wish I knew more about the canoe's alloy and repair work on that type of boat.

Cheers,
Kevin Morin
Kenai, AK
kmorin
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