Restoring Your Vintage Metal Boat? Services That Can Help
Before fiberglass replaced metal as the means of building a boat, metal was a good material. Aluminum was the go-to metal, since it was lightweight, could float, and would not rust. If you currently have an old boat made of aluminum or some other water-proof, rust-proof alloy, and you are restoring it, here are some services that can help.
Welder Repair Services
Freelance welders often operate their own businesses and supply welding services to customers and clients. Aluminum boats may contain other parts that will require some welding in order to restore the boat and/or hold these parts in place. You may also have some small holes that would require patching with a welding machine. Without having a welder's license and the training yourself, you may find these parts of your boat restoration project impossible to complete.
Dent Fixes
Old boats have a way of collecting their seafaring scars. Dents in metal boats can be removed, but because the boats have to float and not take on water, you cannot remove the dents in the same way you would with a car (i.e., drill a hole, insert a device, and pull). Lightly heating the metal with a few passes of a blowtorch and then hammering the dent out is your best bet. For any dents that you cannot effectively remove, consult with boat restoration experts who have handled dents in metal boats.
Buffing and Polishing Services
Most old, metal boats are either painted with a waterproof hydroxy enamel or are buffed and polished to allow their bare metal to shine. Before you attempt to do this on your own, consult an auto body/boat body expert on the correct ways to buff and polish. If your boat is or was actually painted, then you will need these expert services to repaint it anyway.
Engine Services
Boat engines are very different from car engines. Even if you know all there is to know about car engines, it will not help much with your old boat engine. For this, you will need to take your vintage boat to a boat engine technician. Make sure the technician really knows his or her stuff about vintage engines, or you will have to keep moving the boat to another boat engine technician to get the engine properly restored and fully functional. Consulting with other vintage boat owners also helps locate the best person for these types of services and repairs too. For more information, contact a welding company like Vern Lewis Welding Supply Inc.