oldude
Active member
I did a leak test on my lund and found these hairline cracks. Found some other leaks too.
Looking for advice on how to fix these cracks. I've read here that I should drill small holes at the end of each crack. One post said to drill 3/16 holes. That seems awfull big for small cracks. I've thought about welding but if I weld from the outside I won't be able to seat the rivet. If I weld from the inside the rib won't be flush to the hull. Other possibilities I have thought of;
1: Smear 3m5200 on the inside and hope it holds
2: Place a thin sheet of aluminum smeared with 3m5200, marine tex or gluvit either on the inside or outside (or both sides)
of the hull and fasten with 1/8 rivets
3: Drill the rivet head just deep enough to pop it off with a chisel and weld the cracks and whats left of the rivet from the outside of the hull.
Or is there another way to go about fixing these? I'd rather do it the right way than to put a bandage over it. if these pics come out in the right order to cracks will be first. There is a crack near to the of the rivet on the right and left side. Also there is a small crack at the 9:00 position going down at a 45º angle. The second pic is the tail of the rivet on the rib.
Looking for advice on how to fix these cracks. I've read here that I should drill small holes at the end of each crack. One post said to drill 3/16 holes. That seems awfull big for small cracks. I've thought about welding but if I weld from the outside I won't be able to seat the rivet. If I weld from the inside the rib won't be flush to the hull. Other possibilities I have thought of;
1: Smear 3m5200 on the inside and hope it holds
2: Place a thin sheet of aluminum smeared with 3m5200, marine tex or gluvit either on the inside or outside (or both sides)
of the hull and fasten with 1/8 rivets
3: Drill the rivet head just deep enough to pop it off with a chisel and weld the cracks and whats left of the rivet from the outside of the hull.
Or is there another way to go about fixing these? I'd rather do it the right way than to put a bandage over it. if these pics come out in the right order to cracks will be first. There is a crack near to the of the rivet on the right and left side. Also there is a small crack at the 9:00 position going down at a 45º angle. The second pic is the tail of the rivet on the rib.