Hobie Cat Forums

What is the best way to patch old rivet holes (removed boom vang) or corroded areas around riveted hardware on black anodized aluminum booms and masts?

I was thinking of using JB Weld before spray painting.

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Tim
82' H16
Sail # 88863
Panama City Beach, FL

I like to use Devcon Aluminum Putty (F) 10610. This putty works great but is grey in color. You should see if that made in a black. I use more hardener than recommend say three teaspoons of resin and one and a half teaspoons of hardener for quicker results as this takes days to fully cure.
If your holes are small, use a paper punch and some vinyl tape to protect area around the hole and simply remove the tape as product is wet and the repair takes on a button look.

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Bill 404 21SE

Bill,

Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of the hole punch to make the patch smaller and uniform.

Do you have any tricks for putting anything on the backside of the holes (inside surface of the boom or mast) to keep the putty in place so it won't drip through?

I was thinking of rotating my mast or boom so that the holes point down and then putting some putty or JB Weld in the holes and then putting a piece of tape over the outside of the hole so the material would not leak out while it cures. It would also allow the material to spread a little on the backside of the hole to make a stronger patch.

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Tim
82' H16
Sail # 88863
Panama City Beach, FL

Push this product into the hole with Popsicle sticks from all angles. This product grabs a hold very well and will stay where you put it. Of the 40 or so holes I have repaired ,only one sagged in but still covered 90% of the 3/16" hole. Basically a tiny pin hole opened. I just awaited a day and mixed up more putty to finish.

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Bill 404 21SE

A simple/cheap way would be to just pop a rivet (with casing) in each hole.

But this would not look as good as filling.

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1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise - still own
2008 Hobie 16 (currently sailing the crap out of this boat)
1977 Super Sunfish
John