Dents in aluminum boat

[Bill B.]

I've got some dents and scrapes in my Islander from the previous owner running into docks. I'd like to fix them prior to painting the boat. What's the best way to do this? Will Bondo work? I'm concerned that whatever I fill them with might break-up when the aluminum flexes on rough water.
Bill

[Jason Adam]

I would think bondo would do more harm than good, as once you paint over it and it cracks and falls off with the flex and abuse of the water, its gonna take your clean paint with it and look really crappy. If you can access it from the backside, I'd say fix it just like a car door panel or whatever. If you cant access it from behind and bump it out, I'd paint it and call it good.

[Leakypipe56]

Just a thought, there are copamies call The Dent Doctors located around the state that fix auto dents for cars. They do it with heat and special tools..:bash: ...no painting at all. I know people that had it done and looks great and at a fair price.

[MGV]

Dry Ice. I am not sure if it will work but it does for smaller dents in cars.

[TONGA]

Sounds like you need someone who has the talent with the hammers and shoes.I really don't think any kind of fill will last for reasons J.A. mentioned above.

[Foxy Carp]

MGV, what is your trick with dry ice. I've got some dents on my truck I'd like to get out.

[MGV]

I have never tried it before. You take a towel and wrap the dry ice in it. Make sure you have enough on the side you will be holding(so you don't burn yourself). Then let the cold do its thing to the sheet metal. It works by the thermodynamics of the sheet metal. This is by the expanding and shrinking of the sheet metal with different tempetures for those of you not familiar with thermodynamics.

[walleyechaser]

The dry ice trick works best when the metal is very warm esp. after
sitting out in the sun in summer.
You may have to heat the metal around the dents with a salamander
or something like that to get the right results.
BTW I saw this work on a car that was dented from hail. The car sat
out in the sun all day and several blocks of dry ice were put in a
bucket of water to super cool it.
You wouldn't believe the sound when that bucket of water was splashed
on the hood of the car. I was amazed but it worked great.

[solasylum]

OK....where do you get dry ice? Sounds like it's worth a shot for the few dings I have in my doors.

Scott

[schaaed1]

OK....where do you get dry ice? Sounds like it's worth a shot for the few dings I have in my doors.

Scott

Scott - We periodically get dry ice for work someplace over in Muskegon. Check the phone book for reg ice companies ... I think they will probably have it. Maybe even a Linde or BOC gas outlet (think there is one over by Fisherman's Landing).

Ed

[Foxy Carp]

Good advice!! Thanks. I'll have to try it some time.

[TONGA]

Oh so that's the deal,,,I have heard people (body guys) over the years mention the dry ice thing in passing conversation and never new what they were talking about.
They would say things like " hit her with some dry ice and she was strait as light!"
or "a stiff wheel and some ice and that enamel never new it moved!"
It's funny but I always thought they were referring to some kind of rubbing compound? lol!