AluminumAlloyBoats.com

Just checking in, Carl here. I am the new owner of a old boat. She is a 1976 Starcraft Chieftain 18' with a Merc 1150 Thunderbolt and my first boat besides flat bottom John boats. Pix are coming as soon as I figure out how to resize them.

welcome Carl, once you figure it out it's a piece of cake [pics that is.
Here is a link that might help for posting pictures >>>>> viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40

Carl Welcome!
Your our Famous 1500 Member.
Les aka Welder Is supposed to have some stickers for you being our #1500 Member
I understand why you will most likely not want one a Boat with a Fort like us up here in the PNW.
Dave will be around to Ask for pictures and to make sure you got your location down proper

Carl, PM me your Address and I will send you some stickers.
Oh yeah, also your shirt size.

welder wrote:welcome Carl, once you figure it out it's a piece of cake [pics that is.
Here is a link that might help for posting pictures >>>>> viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40

Thanks, problem is my computer crashed and I am haveing to do all this from a ipad until I get something better going. It shouldn't be long.
Carl

Loving the boat but I did find this when checking for leaks and that is how I found your site. Looking for a way to fix a split on the bow.

welder wrote:Carl, PM me your Address and I will send you some stickers.
Oh yeah, also your shirt size.

Thanks, this is a cool welcome.

Way Classic ALLOY.

Welcome...I have always liked that style of boat fro family and fishing. PJ

A view from back aft and the Merc Tower of Power

Thanks PJ and Lester, right now its looking like a lot of work to be done. Going through and finding all the easter eggs the PO left behind. I'll most likely be asking a lot of questions so stand by.

<<<<<<<<<< VINTAGE Rivets >>>>>>>>>>

Cool.

Traxx wrote:Loving the boat but I did find this when checking for leaks and that is how I found your site. Looking for a way to fix a split on the bow.

Came with that????

Yes, but it was well hidden. I thought it was a rivit leakig first an started cleaning it up with a wire wheel and found that under a grey filler that had been sanded down and painted.

Welding might be difficult.
Drilling and filling all of those rivet holes would be a pain in the Butt. After you drill it off you would have to get a replacement "V" angle. it is soft aluminum Alloy? Then you need a rivet gun, bell die, and a bucking bar. Also the right length rivets or a means to cut them to the right length.

Marine Tex would be your friend

Thanks, Im looking into the marine tex and muggyweld. I still have at least 2 and a half weeks to think about it.

Traxx wrote:Yes, but it was well hidden. I thought it was a rivit leakig first an started cleaning it up with a wire wheel and found that under a grey filler that had been sanded down and painted.

You said Muggyweld.....and I have no clue if that's the same thing or not. But I have had great outcomes using the low temp welding rods. The stuff that melts at 600 degrees and the boat show harkers fix ripped in half beer cans with.

Used it to fix a fuel tank once, and owned that boat for 10 year after, and never had a problem.

BUT, your problem is "cleanliness". I ground the aluminum fuel tank clean to bare metal, then hit the split in it with a hammer and made a dimple, and filled the whole dimple with the shet. Not sure if you can do all that.

I can't even make out your entire problem there. Let alone, know what you have in store for yourself. Maybe a "Professional", would be able to fix it, since it's in such a "crucial" spot.......where someone else decided to drive over a rock, dock, concrete, or a truck.

Ive called and visited many places around DFW and no body will touch it. 1 due to the age of the boat and 2 because the backside is in the cabin.
Google fu Muggy weld and it is basically a low temp rod. They have 2 flavors one for 350f and one for 600f. I'm thinking to try the rod, then marine tex and put a bow bumper strip. If the crack repair goes well then I have some other places to try to.

Sounds good with muggy weld. Clean the heck out of it and press on.