Riveted boat

[lugnutzz75]

is the any advantage or disadvantage to havin a riveted boat welded??

 

[tgissel]

Re: Riveted boat

welded is much stronger, riveted is cheaper

 

[DangerDan]

Re: Riveted boat

Welded boats are stronger than riveted boats. Rivets have a greater tendancy to loosen up than a weld cracking. If a weld does crack it can be welded without removing the floor. Rivet have to be accessed on both sides. Lets see, what else...

 

[samsam]

Re: Riveted boat

Originally posted by Ric M.:<br /> is the any advantage or disadvantage to havin a riveted boat welded??

It seems to me if you weld an already riveted boat, it wouldn't be surprising if a lot of the rivets worked loose and then you would have hundreds of leaks. Even if you weld the seams on the outside and the inside you still have the rivets to leak. Why are you asking?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Riveted boat

Welded vs riveted has a been a boating debate for years with no real proof as to what's better. As for cheaper, I contend its more expensive to rivet. Ever count the number of them in a boat? I've been around the block a time or two and in all those years have seen far more welded boat failures than riveted. Yes, a rivet may leak but it won't generally cause a structural problem. The welded boat failures I've seen have been structural and involve stringers. My thoughts are that if welding was better, airplanes would be welded. By the way, welding on the outside of a boat without knowing whats on the inside seems like a disaster in the making. Get a fire going between the deck and hull and you can write the boat off. JMHO!

 

[Chief101]

Re: Riveted boat

I have both, rivited boat is 45 years old still floats without leaking. Welded boat is 4 and still not leaking...I don't know which one is best but I do know I wouldn't weld the seams on a rivited boat.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Riveted boat

I've learned that this is one of those never ending debates in the boating community. People that like welded boats argue that the welded boats are more ridged and that rivets can leak. People that prefer riveted boats would argue that welds crack, and a cracked weld is more serious than a loose rivet. I'm on the riveted side of the fence.

 

[imported_bjs]

Re: Riveted boat

a welded boat is only as good as they prep the boat when ya start filling big gaps they will crack.putting in buck rivets takes a lot of time.i use to fix big trucks and thats what thry had it takes all day to do a side skin.putting them in a 20 to 22 ft boat takes alot of time.thats why those boat are so $$$$$.but weld a riveted boat why.your thinking outside the box!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DangerDan]

Re: Riveted boat

I wonder how I survived welding for the past 25 years? Luck perhaps. Actually being a AWS Certified welding inspector I know that welding is certainly stronger than a rivet. Planes rivet? Perhaps they should start putting rivets back in bridges and buildings too. As far as welding on a confined space without knowing whats involved an inert backing gas would be key. Helium if the boats hull is inverted or argon if welding out out position. surely the best specialty boat builder out there couldn't be wrong. <br /><br /> http://www.wooldridgeboats.com/ <br /> http://www.tracysboats.com/ <br /> http://www.outlaweagle.com/outlawmarinejets/superduty.htm

 

[rabidfish]

Re: Riveted boat

Specialty...sure...<br /><br />Then some of the most repected names in boating history must wrong... How about production boat companies with hundreds of thousands of boats over the years...<br /><br /> http://www.lundboats.com <br /> http://www.starcraftmarine.com/ <br /> http://www.alumacraft.com/ <br /><br />The fact is... some places on a boat are better welded. Other places are better riveted. No single construction method is better than the other. How about a message from our good friends at Seaark (formerly known as Monark)who have been building aluminum boats longer than most of us have been alive...<br /><br />FROM THEIR OWN FAQ SECTION...<br />Why do some of our all welded boats have rivets? <br />We install rivets around the bow deck and rear bench seat. Experience has shown that these are natural flex points of aluminum boats. The rivets reinforce welds in these areas and add strength to the overall design. <br /><br />I sell Mirrocraft (riveted) which happen to be some of the strongest boats i have ever worked with. But still, I just love the clean lines of a welded boat!<br /><br />Back to the original question. the disadvantage to welding a riveted boat. Riveted boats have sealant between the "laps". the heat from welding will almost certainly damage this seal. Therefore... I would think that if you weld any part of the seam, you'll be forced to weld it in it's entirety. Is there an advantage? I doubt it...

 

[DangerDan]

Re: Riveted boat

Holy cow!! I just re- read the oiginal post on this thread. I totally misunderstood the question.My apologies<br /><br />The difference between these boats is like the difference between say a BMW and a Chevy Chevette. As an entry level boat, the way a mass produced boat is built is certainly satisfactory to the average boater. Given the fact that I mis understood the question though the point in not important.