Wondering if I bit off more than I can chew here....

[GMAGUI]

OK so first off hello everyone. I am new to rebuilding boats. I have done trucks and cars but not boats. and not anything this bad before. (or what I think is bad)
So I picked this up for $300. Boat, trailer, new marine battery, oars, small trolling motor. From what I saw on Craigs List and other sites this was a decent buy.

History of the boat: was a farm pond boat passed down three generations. Guy I boat from was the first to register it. He estimated during registration that it is around 1950's. Based off generations... The trailer looks to be from a popup tent...... again not sure...

The boat has been used recently, works fine, no leaks. I got it as it looks below:

The front has several dents and dings... I am afraid to hammer them out to much due to aluminum being so thin.. and the top is bent up pretty bad that any bending would just weaken it more... I am not sure if I should cut pieces and reweld or what....

 

[GMAGUI]

SO above was what it looked like Saturday... on Sunday, I sanded it (just the chipping and loose spray paint) removed the two wood seats in the middle and primered just so I feel like I accomplished something. Plus I can do fixes with primer on anyways... and I only primered the bottom. So far I have used three cans of Rustoleum (made for cars) primer. Its my first time not using a sprayer so I hope I didn't waste to much.

anyways after sanding and primering...

If anyone can tell... the last picture shows the rails or seams or whatever they are. They are pretty intact except for at the end where there is an obvious gap. I plan on filling that with some type of sealer but am wondering is there anyone out there that has any suggestions?

Any help or suggestions as to whether i should do some replacement paneling, and also where I removed the wooden seats in the middle there is metal from the original seats there that have so many holes I might as well remove them, but they are reiveted to the side.... not sur eif that would be a good idea to patch rivet holes.. or even how to patch rivet holes... the front of the boat is not crooked.. that rail the guy put in is crooked which gives it that appearance..

my intent is to put a flooring in, with livewell and all the hookups and make it look like some of yours out there.

 

[Mojo^]

Those rails or seams or whatever you want to call them (I call them rub strips) on the bottom of the boat are doing their job. They are protecting the hull when it is pulled out onto dry land. Try to imagine someone pulling the boat forward from the bow end. Those strips would be contacting the ground rather than the hull of the boat. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Trying to fill them will probably result in trapped water which may eventually lead to corrosion. In their current condition they display honest wear and are proud reminders that the boat has had a long life being used for it's intended purpose.