Wakeboard tower split open need advice

[missnmountains]

We went and pulled out ski boat out of dry storage today and were getting it ready for spring when we noticed the damage shown below.

My first thought was that some water may have gotten in it and froze over the winter, but I cannot find any possible place water could have entered. There is actually a drain hole below the split.

There is a slight bulge, and the aluminum is split open.

Do you think it can be welded to close up the split?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Ken

 

[earthmover17]

Ken,
Any good weld shop can fix that. They may need to put a small patch on it if the material around the split has weakened. Should probably take it off to prevent any weld slag from harming the fiberglass.

Jack

 

[missnmountains]

Jack, will be looking for a weld shop next week.

I agree, the tower should be at least lifted off of the fiberglass prior to the weld.

What do you think caused it?

Ken

 

[Summer Fun II]

I've got to say that water got in there & froze

Edit : I emailed that pic to a friend that works with metal.
He said thats a freeze crack for sure !!

 

[electricaldoctor]

Hard water. :grin:

 

[fwebster]

Look at the distress marks on the metal.......it is obvious that expansion from inside caused the split. Before you get a welder involved, look at every inch of tubing, welds, braces, brackets above the split to see if you can see where the water entered.

That is aluminum and it will be TIG welded. The weld envelope will be shielded with Argon gas and there will be no slag. The welders in our area wouldn't remove anything; they would cover the deck with a welding pad and go to it. In the grand scheme of boat repairs, this one isn't a biggie.

 

[missnmountains]

Well I drilled a small hole in the bottom of that particular tube and Yep it was filled with water.

I did the same thing on the port side, and it was dry.

I am going to get it welded this week, and I think I will leave the little holes. I just cannot figure out how it got in there. There was quite a bit of water. The only possible source would be the snaps, but they are all on the bottom side of the tower.

I should also point out that we have had this boat since new in 2003. This has never happened in the last 7 years.

Ken

 

[electricaldoctor]

Well I drilled a small hole in the bottom of that particular tube and Yep it was filled with water.

I did the same thing on the port side, and it was dry.

I am going to get it welded this week, and I think I will leave the little holes. I just cannot figure out how it got in there. There was quite a bit of water. The only possible source would be the snaps, but they are all on the bottom side of the tower.

I should also point out that we have had this boat since new in 2003. This has never happened in the last 7 years.

Ken

How often do you get sub-zero temperatures down there anyways? I know that you had it bad this winter though. Keep those drain holes open & you will be OK..

 

[missnmountains]

How often do you get sub-zero temperatures down there anyways? I know that you had it bad this winter though. Keep those drain holes open & you will be OK..

This is my ski boat I keep in Colorado. Very Very Cold. Especially over the last three years. It is the middle of May, and night is still below freezing. We have a winter storm watch Tuesday through Wednesdaythis week.

Ken

 

[electricaldoctor]

This is my ski boat I keep in Colorado. Very Very Cold. Especially over the last three years. It is the middle of May, and night is still below freezing. We have a winter storm watch Tuesday through Wednesdaythis week.

Ken

Sorry about that. I saw Florida as your location in your sig.