Macintosh
Well-known member
Hoping folks can offer some advice on what I think (hope) will be a fairly easy repair. Boat is a mid-90’s alumacraft that I had turned upside down on the trailer for winter storage. Had a decent-sized branch blow down and land on the edge of the gunwale—it missed the hull, but bent the gunwale and popped 3 of the rivets connecting it to the hull. I THINK that is the extent of the damage. Photos below.
I believe I can bend the gunwale back down and replace rivets in the original holes plus add a rivet or two and be ok. (??)
Questions I could use advice on:
1) am I missing something else that needs addressed?
2) how would you go about bending the gunwale back into place? There has been some deformation, and while I dont need it to be perfect would like it as structurally sound as possible as well as look as clean as possible. Big clamp between gunwale and the hard chine? Pull the transom corner cap and drive something stiff/straight into the tubing to straighten it? Or??
3) Suggested rivets given this is well above waterline? Id prefer to minimize buying new tools if I can avoid it. I have a pop rivet tool capable of 1/4” rivets. I do not own a compressor. Wondering about the tradeoffs between a solid rivet done with just opposing hammers, and a 1/4”-ish pop-type rivet for this application.
Any other advice, suggestions, etc are also very appreciated. Thanks in advance.



I believe I can bend the gunwale back down and replace rivets in the original holes plus add a rivet or two and be ok. (??)
Questions I could use advice on:
1) am I missing something else that needs addressed?
2) how would you go about bending the gunwale back into place? There has been some deformation, and while I dont need it to be perfect would like it as structurally sound as possible as well as look as clean as possible. Big clamp between gunwale and the hard chine? Pull the transom corner cap and drive something stiff/straight into the tubing to straighten it? Or??
3) Suggested rivets given this is well above waterline? Id prefer to minimize buying new tools if I can avoid it. I have a pop rivet tool capable of 1/4” rivets. I do not own a compressor. Wondering about the tradeoffs between a solid rivet done with just opposing hammers, and a 1/4”-ish pop-type rivet for this application.
Any other advice, suggestions, etc are also very appreciated. Thanks in advance.



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