Hole in my boat

[Sandmannd]

I just bought a boat a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't figure out why I had to run the bildge every hour or so and had quite a bit of water in it. I brought it to work today to go out after work and was showing it to a coworker. In the morning sun I saw something hanging loose under the boat. I looked close and there is a hole under the boat with a patch job coming loose. Does anyone know how I could fix this or is this something I should take in and have done? What would I use to fix it or where would I go to have it fixed?

[Fishin4Life]

Glass or Aluminum?

[Sandmannd]

Sorry, I should have put that in my post. It's Aluminum.

[blakjack23]

Do a search for marine Tex. The stuff works great. Whatever you use make sure to prep the area real good. Aluminum creates an "oily" coating and if you don't clean the area real good nothing is going to adhere to it.

[Sandmannd]

I found some stuff at Fleet Farm. It's an Aluminum Poxy. Seems like it worked great. I have to smooth it out when the weather cools down, but it holds like steel.

[Steve Bakken]

The best and most reliable fix is to aluminum weld it. If you're nearby, bring the boat by and I'll take a look at it and give you some ideas.

[fishonnopeoff]

I agree with Steve, take old patch out and weld in new aluminum.

Fix it right and you wont have to mess with it again.

[eurolarva]

I got that stuff from Fleet Farm. You kneed it in your fingers for a minute and apply it to the aluminum. Stinks real bad at first but it is some awsome stuff. I sanded it down about an hour after I applied it. I lost two rivets and have not had a leak in the last three outings since using it.

[Sandmannd]

Steve, where are you located? Are you available on Saturday's at all? I would like to see about welding it. Let me know.

[Steve Bakken]

We're near Mankato, if that's a reasonable distance for you. Saturdays will work for us.

[Sandmannd]

Alright, this just sucks. I got my boat down to Steve with Bakken's Boat shop on Friday. I had spoke with his Dad, Richard about a month ago concerning the hole in my boat and he said he needed to see it to quote a price, which makes a lot of sense. Anyway, I got a call from Richard today that the hole has been filling the foam up and that the foam is water logged and would have to be replaced. A bigger job than I thought, but that was just the beginning to my problems. He said the transum is loose and coming away from the boat. If I wouldn't have had a transum saver on the trailer, the whole thing probably would have fallen off driving it down the road. He said it was not a safe boat to take on the water. The total cost for fixing is around 2k. This is an '87 Alumicraft Pro 17, 91 Johnson 60HP motor and a shorlander trailer. I wanted some advice on what all you FMr's think. This is my first boat and I got screwed big time. I don't know if I should pay to fix the boat or find another boat and put the motor and trailer with it. If I do that is there a place to get rid of the boat? The thing that sucks is that I was just diagnosed two weeks ago with Kidney cancer. I have to have my kidney removed on Wednesday. On top of that my insurance at work went up last year so I dropped it down a notch on coverage and now will have to pay a few grand in deductables so I won't have much to spend on a boat problem. Richard is a very kind man and said I can leave my boat with him while I think it over and that I should take my time. Many thanks to him and Steve. Though I haven't seen their work (except on the HSOforum http://www.bakkensboatshop.com ), I would recomend them. They have a personal touch that is missing in companies these days. I had the fealing over the phone that Richard felt bad for having to break this news to me and I appreciate that. Anyway, any ideas? Is the trailer pretty much interchangable to a new boat? Same with the motor? I'm pretty green to boats, this was my first boat and I'm learning a lot about them. Unfortunatly it's been the wrong way.

[Valv]

I wish I could help you but I don't have any boat available right now.

Yes, you can use your trailer and motor with any boat of approximately same size.

Is it a tiller or a console ? If Steve/Richard Bakken cannot help, I'll be glad to see if I can do something installing motor and swapping trailer.

You can sell you existing boat here on FM, stating clearly the problems, maybe soembody will be interested fixing it, otherwise I would take it to a recycling center, since it's aluminum you might get some money or at least not pay to dispose it.

[Surface Tension]

I feel for you.

Put the boat on hold and focus on getting well.

A hole in a boat is something a seller should point out. I'd contact the guy you bought the boat from and explain the situation. Who knows he might help you out.

2K for the repair is about what the boat is worth when in working order and you could find a replacement for that much.

I see a couple options. You can sell the boat stating the damage. Or have the transom fixed and do the foam and floor replacement yourself.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Quote:

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Alright, this just sucks. I got my boat down to Steve with Bakken's Boat shop on Friday. I had spoke with his Dad, Richard about a month ago concerning the hole in my boat and he said he needed to see it to quote a price, which makes a lot of sense. Anyway, I got a call from Richard today that the hole has been filling the foam up and that the foam is water logged and would have to be replaced. A bigger job than I thought, but that was just the beginning to my problems. He said the transum is loose and coming away from the boat. If I wouldn't have had a transum saver on the trailer, the whole thing probably would have fallen off driving it down the road. He said it was not a safe boat to take on the water. The total cost for fixing is around 2k. This is an '87 Alumicraft Pro 17, 91 Johnson 60HP motor and a shorlander trailer. I wanted some advice on what all you FMr's think. This is my first boat and I got screwed big time. I don't know if I should pay to fix the boat or find another boat and put the motor and trailer with it. If I do that is there a place to get rid of the boat? The thing that sucks is that I was just diagnosed two weeks ago with Kidney cancer. I have to have my kidney removed on Wednesday. On top of that my insurance at work went up last year so I dropped it down a notch on coverage and now will have to pay a few grand in deductables so I won't have much to spend on a boat problem. Richard is a very kind man and said I can leave my boat with him while I think it over and that I should take my time. Many thanks to him and Steve. Though I haven't seen their work (except on the

HSOforum

http://www.bakkensboatshop.com

), I would recomend them. They have a personal touch that is missing in companies these days. I had the fealing over the phone that Richard felt bad for having to break this news to me and I appreciate that. Anyway, any ideas? Is the trailer pretty much interchangable to a new boat? Same with the motor? I'm pretty green to boats, this was my first boat and I'm learning a lot about them. Unfortunatly it's been the wrong way.

---

This isn't quite on topic, but where are you going for your operation?? My mom (70) is going to be at Riverside on Wednesday having cancer taken off of one of her kidneys as well.

However, they're going to try to save her kidney, it's such a small spot of cancer on the outside.

[Sandmannd]

I'm going to Regions. They have to take my kidney because the tumor is over 2" and takes up the whole (Contact Us Please) kidney. I'm not all that concerned about the surgery. From what I hear, once they take the kidney I should be good to go.

Thanks for the info Valv, I'll keep that in mind as I try to figure out what to do with it.

Do you guys have any idea where I could recycle or dispose of the boat if that's what I go with?

[Surface Tension]

I hate to think this boat is a total loss. If you decide to dispose of it, I'd be up for the challenge to fix it.

[efgh]

I got rid of one at Goffer on 3rd ave. Mankato mn. I had to strip the boat of all foriegn material to get top dollar, a;; wood, foam and plastic. They will take whole boats too, but pay a lot less. With the price of scrap alu. I wo uldn;t be in a big hurry to get rid of it.

[Sandmannd]

LWN, I forgot before, tell your Mom good luck. Sucks to have to go through surgery. Hope they can save her kidney.

As for the boat, I haven't decided yet which way to go. I lean towards replacing the boat for a bit, then lean towards fixing this one. It's a nice boat to fish from and I would hate to scrap it . Does anyone have any idea what the boat would be worth to someone without the motor or trailer? Just curious, like I said, I don't have a clue which way I'm going to lean yet. I'll think about it more when I get home from surgery.

[Valv]

The amount of work needed to fix it won't bring much trade in value, if a person wants to tacke the job by itself it will save a lot of money.

There is a for sale section on the forum, you are welcome to post it there with a small asking price and see where it goes.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Mom made it out okay after 2 1/2 hours of surgery today.

Just hoping the same goes for you Sandmannd.....

[Sandmannd]

Quote:

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Mom made it out okay after 2 1/2 hours of surgery today.

Just hoping the same goes for you Sandmannd.....

---

Thanks LWN, glad to hear your Mom pulled through fine. Mine went fine as well. I was out for around 2 1/2 hours. They took the kidney and after taking a look at it, it was full of cancer. They are looking at the area around it to make sure no further action is needed. They recommended and epidural for me and it rocks. No pain so far.

Valv, I know there is a sale forum on here, I don't know that I want to sell it yet. I kinda just was looking at a ball park of what it would be worth.

[Surface Tension]

I hope the results turn up negative and theres no spread of the cancer.

Without knowing the extent of the damage to the transom its hard to put a price on the boat. I'd imagine the wood between the splash well and outer skin is rotted and as a result the top cap is broke as well.

The boat has to be gutted anyway so thats one step into opening up the transom.

Not a lot of money in materials to labor intensive.

[Sandmannd]

Well, I'm home now. Got out Saturday actually. Been spending a lot of time sleeping. The lab work came back negative on everything but the kidney so that's good news. No Chemo or Radiation so we are good there. Just need time to heal. I'm still tossing around with what to do about the boat. I'm just upset this is the best time to be out fishing and I was excited it was my first year with a boat, so a little upset. I found one through a friend that is a 1987 Lund with a 70 hp on it. Not sure of the length or condition. I'm going to run and take a look at it tomorrow, but they guy is only asking $500 so should be worth that. Anyway, I'm still at odds with my boat. Anyone else have any suggestions?

[Valv]

an '87 lund with a 70hp for $ 500 ? I would jump on it in a heartbeat. If you're not interested let me know, I'll take it.

Anyway if you want I can check motor for your, to be sure this is a good one.

[Sandmannd]

Yeah, I got an email to meet the guy at 5pm on Friday. I took a drive by his house around 3pm since it was only about 1.5 miles from my house to see what the boat loooked like. Anyway, there was no boat sitting anywhere. I pulled in the driveway to turn around and a guy came out. I asked where the boat was. He said there has been a scam going around where someone is listing this boat for $500, a Hummber for like $10k and a Viper for around $10k. People have been calling his phone at all hours and coming to the house. They said the cops are involved. I feel bad for the guy they are doing this too, but seems like my luck for boats this year is in the crapper.

[efgh]

Some guy has a wierd sence of humor to even start a scam like this, what would he have to gain? It could be someones idea to get even with this man by sending a whole lot of people to his house.