How Do We Get Treadmaster To Stick To Aluminum?

by John January 1, 2005

Question: We are having trouble getting our Treadmaster deck covering to stay stuck to our bare aluminum deck. What can you tell me about getting epoxy to stick to aluminum reliably?

Can I Use Bronze Sea Cocks In An Aluminum Boat?

by John January 1, 2006

Question: Do you have bronze sea cocks in your aluminum hull and if so what level of corrosive activity have you seen?

Can We Install A Bronze Transducer In Our Aluminum Boat?

by John January 1, 2006

Question: We want to replace the current inoperable depth sounder on our aluminum boat with a forward looking type (EchoPilot or Interphase), but we have run into the dilemma that the transducers suitable for our hull have bronze stems.We have been advised that bronze stems can be installed in aluminum hulls if the stem is [...]

What Do You Think About Spray Foam Insulation For A New Aluminum Boat?

by John February 1, 2008

Question: We are planning to insulate the interior of our new aluminum boat with spray foam, any comments? Is your hull foamed? Was it primed with paint before or sprayed directly onto the metal?

How Did You Install Treadmaster On Your Aluminum Boat?

by John February 1, 2008

Question: When you were installing your Treadmaster, did you grind back to clean metal and glue it down, or did you, as I was advised, paint with epoxy first?

Issues With Teak Deck Replacement On A Metal Boat

by Phyllis September 1, 2008
Phyllis uses a chisel and 5-lb maul to chip away the varnished eyebrow on aluminum sailboat Morgan's Cloud.

Question: We are hoping to draw on your experience with teak deck replacement on our steel sailboat…Despite our initial plan of just stemming the leaks for the short term until we sailed somewhere fun, they are just too bad and the deck has to go next spring/summer. While going through the process of finding someone [...]

Another Reason We Have An Aluminum Boat

by John March 1, 2010
A huge gump with a large rubber tire attached on a beach in Nova Scotia.

We were out walking on the foreshore here in Nova Scotia a few days ago and came across this remnant of what I’m guessing was a commercial wharf. Clearly it had been in the water for quite a while before it fetched up here in a winter blow.

Grounding The Engine On An Aluminum Boat

by John May 11, 2010
Bronze sea cock

Question: I was wondering if you think the engine should be grounded to the hull or not [on an aluminum boat].

About Fig Leaves And Installing Seacocks

by John May 23, 2010
Marelon And Bronze Seacocks With Plastic Spacers

Installing a seacock properly is not a trivial project. First you need to  install a backer plate and then you need to figure out how you will bolt the flange of the seacock down.