How to Fix an Aluminum Canoe
Although some canoes do use aluminum as a material, aluminum alone is too soft to construct an entire canoe of it. Because of this, canoe manufacturers add others metals--like alloy 6061-T4, which is composed of magnesium and silicone--to make the aluminum harder and stronger. Unfortunately, these durable metals can't prevent every aluminum canoe from getting damaged, but with a propane torch and the right kind of aluminum patch, you should be able to fix any aluminum canoe.
Things You'll Need
- Propane torch
- Aluminum patch
- Wire brush
- Steel clamp
- Metal cutters
- Welding rods
Instructions
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1
Measure the hole in the canoe that is to be patched. Cut your aluminum patch so that it is about a half inch bigger on each side of the hole. Place the patch on the inside of the canoe over the hole and secure it with a steel clamp.
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2
Brush around the area that you will be welding with your wire brush. This will remove any oxidized metal and ensure that your weld will hold.
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3
Turn on your propane torch and heat the thickest part of the aluminum patch at its outside edge. At the same time, take your welding rods and scratch the patch until the rods begin to melt. The melting will hold the aluminum patch to the rest of the canoe.
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4
Circle the outside edge of the patch with the rod and propane torch until the patch is held in place. You might have to circle a few times to ensure that the patch and the welding rod have bonded.
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5
Remove the rod, turn off the propane torch and allow the weld to cool. To make the finish smoother, you might consider sanding the aluminum so that the patch doesn't appear as a bump in the canoe.
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References
- Photo Credit beached canoe image by Tanya McConnell from Fotolia.com
