Hi
I've got an older 14 foot aluminum boat and the only place I can see the water coming in from is the drain hole. I've tried a few different plugs but it still manages to come in. The hole isn't perfect in the sense that it seems a tad stretched or slightly oval.
Is it a big/expensive job to rebore a new hole? Would they simply solder a new panel and drill the hole out of that one?
My boat is in Val-des-monts. Does anyone know someone out there that could do the job?
Thanks
Alex
Re-drilling a new drain hole on an aluminum boat
Here are some suggestions in order of what I would recommend; each fix is more drastic
1. When you install your plug, wipe some silicon grease, plumbers grease or even vaseline on it. This will help to seal it - and make it easier to install and remove.
2. Considering that it's an older boat you could try using a liquid metal to refinish the hole. Crappy Tire carries "JB Weld" that will bond nicely to clean aluminium. I suggest lightly sanding the inside of the hole and around the inside surface. Use a q-tip to apply a thin bead around the inside edge of the hole. Once it has cured you can refinish or reshape the hole with 400 grit and a dowel that is close to the final hole diameter.
3. Another option you have it to slightly enlarge the existing hole so that it is round and burr free; tighten the cam on your existing plug so it expands tighter. Won't work if the new hole size is to big for your plug to fit when compressed.
4. Repunch the hole to the next plug size. Find someone with a "Greenlee" punch - takes about two minutes to do. this would work if your existing hole is 5/8, make the new one 3/4. If your existing hole is necked (flared out) it will be replaced with a square hole.
1. When you install your plug, wipe some silicon grease, plumbers grease or even vaseline on it. This will help to seal it - and make it easier to install and remove.
2. Considering that it's an older boat you could try using a liquid metal to refinish the hole. Crappy Tire carries "JB Weld" that will bond nicely to clean aluminium. I suggest lightly sanding the inside of the hole and around the inside surface. Use a q-tip to apply a thin bead around the inside edge of the hole. Once it has cured you can refinish or reshape the hole with 400 grit and a dowel that is close to the final hole diameter.
3. Another option you have it to slightly enlarge the existing hole so that it is round and burr free; tighten the cam on your existing plug so it expands tighter. Won't work if the new hole size is to big for your plug to fit when compressed.
4. Repunch the hole to the next plug size. Find someone with a "Greenlee" punch - takes about two minutes to do. this would work if your existing hole is 5/8, make the new one 3/4. If your existing hole is necked (flared out) it will be replaced with a square hole.
Hard to suggest anything without seeing or at least knowing the diameter of the drain hole,
like suggested above you might have to inlarge it a bit and install a new drain fitting, clean the area real good and use 3M 5200 marine adhesive around the new fitting and screw holes,
something like this: http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/p ... duct=87186
like suggested above you might have to inlarge it a bit and install a new drain fitting, clean the area real good and use 3M 5200 marine adhesive around the new fitting and screw holes,
something like this: http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/p ... duct=87186