Anyone ever weld on a boat

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A guy brought in a boat with a broken rib for me to weld, it has been broken for a long time because there's a quarter size chunk missing in the rib. The rib is made from bent 16 gauge aluminum and the crack is in a position that I can't get in to weld it with my tig welder.I'm pretty sure I can get in and build it up with my spool gun. Does anyone have any suggestions on this weld job and what aluminum wire to use for welding on a boat? This welding job is new for me as I have never done any boat repairs.Any help is appreciated.
Reply:Is it riveted? On a boat that is riveted about all you can do is tighten the rivets as welding will just crack again. For a rib, it probably would hurt to try and weld it. Someone with more aluminum experience could tell you the best filler to try.
Reply:I've done it a few times. It's fairly difficult to get a completely air tight seal with a MIG weld, especially at your starts. Which with thin aluminum, will probably require a lot of starting and stopping. Unless you have a pulser? So if any of that hole is on the exterior, don't expect it to be 100% leak proof. filling in a quarter sized hole on 16ga aluminum with a spool gun is going to be tough, and will take you a LONG time! Like I said, I've done it before on a pontoon. Unless you have a lot of experience, I would recommend finding an alternative. Can you weld a small patch over the hole instead? Then just weld the perimeter.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:The boat isn't leaking, the hole is in the rib not the side of the boat. The rib is cracked and the aluminum has broken off from the side of the boat flexing. If a hole was in the side of the boat it would be an easy fix. It's in a position under the seat that I can't get both the tig torch and filler rod in to weld, I can get one in but not both. I think I can get my spool gun tip close enough to fill the hole and weld the crack.
Reply:Cut the seat up, cut a square out of the flooring. Access your repair easily. Fix the spot that needs tending to. Take your square cut out from under the seat and weld it back up and install seat back. When working on a boat you have to cut flooring up to get to broken interior ribs. I have had to weld on very large crew boats to very small crew boat. if its accessible without having to cut holes out of the floor awesome. In most cases though you will have to cut you an access hole. Your spool gun will work fine. That's what I used. And you did say a key point... if there was a hole in the side of the boat.... (cut your own hole) you just need to know what your doing and when you go to weld it back up. Don't make a leak point if you don't have to, but if that's the only way to make a clean and proper repair do it. We cut a 20'x20' deck off of a crew boat just to get the 2 cat diesel engine out of the hull. Pulled them, installed two new diesels in the boat. welded pad eyes on four corners of the 20'x20' deck and set it back into place. Welded it from the inside then the outside, put the board runners back on, installed the wood planks, put end caps on wood and it was a done job. 12 hours working all through the night. Got off at 8 am from the dock and had to go straight on the work barge for a pipeline the next day. RoUGH STUFF! All 6010 and 7018 burning all through the night to get the boat back on the open seas.
Reply:If you're talking about a 12-14' fising boat, spool is tough.  I bought finger control for tig just for them, but those take practice,
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveIs it riveted? On a boat that is riveted about all you can do is tighten the rivets as welding will just crack again. For a rib, it probably would hurt to try and weld it. Someone with more aluminum experience could tell you the best filler to try.
Reply:Is that a general rule for all boats?  I tigged retrofitted keels on 25 riveted 14' boats and I don't recall issues, except  much time and brushing if I had to cross an old caulk line.
Reply:2024 and 7075 aluminum is very strong, light weight and take a lot of abuse that is why they use it for boats and airplane shins. But it will crack next to the weld that is why they rivet it.Not saying all boats that are riveted are made of 2024 or 7075 as it also cost more and as we all know the cheaper they build it the more money in their pocket. And some laborer can put in rivets cheaper then hiring a welder.My rule is if its riveted I won't weld on it.....Last edited by mechanic416; 04-20-2015 at 11:07 AM.www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:After looking at the boat today the ribs are riveted in place and all the seams are welded. Iv'e been welding for over thirty years and I'm positive the seams were welded with mig. No tig welding on this boat anywhere. The big question is are the ribs made of the same aluminum as the hull? The ribs and hull are 16 gauge aluminum, one of my welders will go down low enough to weld 16 gauge with a spool gun.Any help is appreciated as this is new for me.
Reply:Personally I would do it.  The other option is make new ribs with angle al like on the river boats. The other option is you can buy closed end al pop rivets for watertight projects if all the holes line up.
Reply:Can you try a small spot somewere you can get at it to see if it welds ok first. Its already broke so you don't have a lot to loose.www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:Originally Posted by kctgbAfter looking at the boat today the ribs are riveted in place and all the seams are welded. Iv'e been welding for over thirty years and I'm positive the seams were welded with mig. No tig welding on this boat anywhere. The big question is are the ribs made of the same aluminum as the hull? The ribs and hull are 16 gauge aluminum, one of my welders will go down low enough to weld 16 gauge with a spool gun.Any help is appreciated as this is new for me.
Reply:Originally Posted by mechanic416Can you try a small spot somewere you can get at it to see if it welds ok first. Its already broke so you don't have a lot to loose.
Reply:Originally Posted by bassboy1Got a pic?I work on boats like you describe everyday, it's about all I do, and I've yet to see one the had the seams Mig welded.  Yours would be the first.Sometimes, the ribs are formed out of the same sheet as the hull, others, the ribs are extruded.  Pics would help here.  If they're brake formed, you can almost always count on them being the same as the hull.On anything but the very oldest hulls, the sheet will be 5052.  Extrusions will be 60**.  Use 5356 wire. I think you are going to make a huge mess and an unhappy customer if you try to mig this, but you are asking for help without supplying the most useful info (pics), so who's really to know?
Reply:Originally Posted by kctgbI can't get both the tig torch and filler rod into the confined area together, I can get one in but not both. If I lay the spool gun on it's side I'm pretty sure I can reach the crack with the tip. This is the most interesting weld job Iv'e ever done. LOL.