Grumman Canoe - caved in bottom

[urbanhennery]

I've just inherited a family Grumman canoe (maybe mid-70's?) and the bottom of the boat is caved in a bit. The keel is slightly caved in and the bottom with it. There's also a slightly deeper dent on part of it. There's a strap mark on the forward part of the dent, so it might be partly due to being strapped too tightly to a roof rack.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8540813444_d462067dd8_b.jpg
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8540812406_7ef9bd3c8f_b.jpg

Obviously it also needs to be cleaned well and given some love.

My husband is a handy guy with some body work experience, but I'm not sure if this is more than can be kicked/pounded out? How would you go about it?

It's strapped to my SUV on it's way from MT to MN tomorrow. Want to be ready with a PLAN before I present it to the hubby and ask for help.

 

[TheMaestro]

It doesnt look that bad at all... Ive seen plastic canoes with more of a dip in the centre than that. Id check for leaks and see how it floats and handles before anything else.

 

[wingsnhammers]

I bet some Alumabrite or other acidic aluminum brightener will clean that canoe very well. The dent really isn't bad. You may just be able to set the canoe on the ground and walk on the dented part. Honestly, I've seen much worse. I wouldn't be afraid to try it as it is.

 

[Miller13]

Hey don't even worry about the dent when you get it home fill it a little less than half with water and if it doesn't leak wash it and call it good the more you beat and bang on it the more the metal will stretch and it looks like rivets down the center line and you don't want those leaking