rivits or welded hull

[Plainsman]

Is there any advantage/disadvantage to either type of hull?

 

[steelespike]

Re: rivits or welded hull

In my opinion they are just 2 ways to build a boat.
Riveted boats go back to the early 1900s maybe even before.So rivets have a long history of success.There is the problem of a little more resistance compared to welded.
I think early on there was some weld failures but I think it is pretty successful now.
I have a 77 Crestliner 18' utility it has been used and abused since 77. The keels and seat bases are riveted a couple keel rivets leak a little and I have tightened them a couple of times.
Usually they were just damp around them with an occasional dribble.Most summers as the season goes buy the leak allmost stops.We also have an equally abused riveted 58 LoneStar utility that has no rivet leaks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: rivits or welded hull

If rivets were bad, airplanes would not be riveted.

 

[talberna]

Re: rivits or welded hull

Both have their qualities. The difference is more in their construction and less in the technique. Look at the construction of the boat, is it adequately supported at the joists? Is there signs of forethought in the planning?
Rivets offer consistency as long as they are properly spaced, supported and located. Welds are stronger than the boat they hold together but just like rivets need proper spacing, support and location. Improper technique will be the failure to either.
Rivets have worked their way back into construction due to keeping production costs down. Which is cheaper to keep around, a kid with a rivet gun and a template or a skilled welder who won't turn sheets of aluminum into puddles of goop?

Default Re: rivits or welded hull

If rivets were bad, airplanes would not be riveted.

True, unfortunately airplane rivets are solid and boat rivets tend to be what are called "blind rivets" or inaccurately "pop rivets" which are hollow. Good comparison though, but the reasoning is quite different for both.

 

[5150abf]

Re: rivits or welded hull

Rivets will never crack like a weld can and I think with the overlapped joint they are a bit stronger, there are lots and lots of boats from the early 50s-60s that are riveted and still going strong and welded jon boats are a fairly new thing, not very common even 15 years ago.

Welding is a more modern less expensive way to build boats, if you have ever seen a riveted boat put together it is really labor intensive, saw a show on Lunds and I was amazed at how much work goes into it.

In the end I really don't think one is better than the other, you could have either one be really good or really crappy, depends on design and workmanship.

I am an aluminum welder too by the way and have a riveted boat.

 

[Engine344]

Re: rivits or welded hull

If rivets were bad, airplanes would not be riveted.

However Airplanes don't need to float LOL I have a rivited boat as well as a welded Jon boat>>>>Both have been great!

 

[stylesabu]

Re: rivits or welded hull

True, unfortunately airplane rivets are solid and boat rivets tend to be what are called "blind rivets" or inaccurately "pop rivets" which are hollow. Good comparison though, but the reasoning is quite different for both.

are you sure they're called pop rivits,? I would think pop rivets would leak

 

[robert graham]

Re: rivits or welded hull

I have a 1983 riveted canoe and a 1999 all-welded jon boat, no problems from either. While I believe that modern welding materials, techniques and boat designs have improved to an almost bullet-proof level, any boat can pop a rivet or crack a weld. Maybe riveted boats are at a disadvantage in salt water since the salt can work it's way into the rivets? This is just my personal experience with both construction methods.

 

[mommicked]

Re: rivits or welded hull

I think rivets are fine for v hull boats,but not so great for fast semi v or flat bottom Jonboat styles w 40+ hp.Ive seen many leak or worse compared to welded jon boats.My welded jon boat had the crap beat out of it by the previous owner,pretty good warping or cupping between some of the ribs.it has never leaked though.Riveted jons like the old trackers will not stand up to as much pounding as a welded boat IMO.I know a man who loaded his 16 riveted jon boat w too much gear and hauled it to the beach the wieght in the boat on the trailor caused rivets to leak throughout the boat.he didnt get to fish!!!smaller lower powered riveted jons are pretty durable.I think generally the welded boats have thicker hulls than riveted also.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: rivits or welded hull

thanks for the input!

 

[reel clownz]

Re: rivits or welded hull

The newer boats with welded seems are not done by hand. They have some sort of a jetline or something equvilent tig line welder...way better than anything andyone can do by hand. Rivets have been used forever. I had a 89 starcraft islander that seen use in Lake ontario and lake erie..6 ft waves sometimes. Yes its a little nerve racking knowing a rivet or 2 comes loose in some rough water but they do work. Its all preference. I think the weldeds seems look alot nicer but as for function there is no difference between welded and riveted

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: rivits or welded hull

Airplanes are not immersed in water.....rivets are not structurally poor in strength. A leaky joint can still be a strong joint.

I prefer the welded method....the weld is as strong or stronger than the parent material, and there's no leak point.

 

[mommicked]

Re: rivits or welded hull

If a welded hulls metal is thick enough to be welded strongly,isn't it kinda easy to weld up a crack or repair?I know nothing about welding seriously. I just asume.

 

[Boatist]

Re: rivits or welded hull

I have two aluminum boats. One with rivets and it leaks about 1/4 inch of water a day if the suns not out. Yes you can tighten the rivers if you can get to both sides but many rivets you can not get to both sides and they leak. Some are put together better than others.

The other boat is a 1980 Welded Crestliner and it does not leak a drop ever. The way it is built it can not crack, the parts to be welded go into a channel then it welded on both sides. Unless the weld fails the entire length of the channel on the inside side and outside it can not leak or crack. I know not all welded boats are made this way.

The Klamath Boat I have that has rivets today are all welded.
Also 3 other boats brands that were riveted are now welled.
I Know if no boat type that has switched from welded to riveted.

Also boats with rivets make a lot more air bubbles so Fish Finders transducers do not work as well at higher speeds.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: rivits or welded hull

Rivets allow some flex to thinner material while maintaining a very strong joint . They also allow a lesser grade of material to be used that could not be welded effectively. And also as in the case of aircraft they allow pieces to be removed or repaired very easily. I have owned both and have never had either fail, and it has never been a selling factor when buying a boat. At the end of the day I can't tell whether my rivets leaked or the water is from slinging fish in the boat or kids crawling in and out swimming.


I had never heard the fish finder theory before, that is interesting.

 

[Turbo7]

Re: rivits or welded hull

Anything man made can and will break given enough time. I have a 1988 tracker and it did not leak a drop until the acident.

 

[v_fourmax]

Re: rivits or welded hull

Welded hulls can be easily made to a more complex design than a riveted hull. Hence the reason in the last ten or so years many of the tin bassin rigs have been able to step up their performance levels to much closer to the glass rigs than in years past. Today you see welded tin rigs that sport pad hulls, stepped transoms all kinds of neat performance and smoother ride enhancing options that in the days of just riveted hulls was basically unheard of because of the complexity of the different angles required.

I have over the years owned several tin bass rigs that were riveted hulls, they did their job just fine for what they were. I currently have a Tracker with the revolution welded hull and I will say the newer hull design handles rough water much better and smoother and is a much drier ride in such conditions as well.

I have heard the horror stories of people having problems with cracked welds, not just Trackers although you hear those stories the most, but many brands but my personal experiences to date has been no problems and I have been completely pleased with what I feel are improvements with the newer welded hull design over the older riveted designs. Any style boat and any design boat and even any particuliar brand boat is not a guarantee of no problems, yes some are made better than others but you also pay the price usually at the time of purchase for the top shelf brands.

But that does not mean to get a boat that will give you many years of trouble free service requires you to spend the top shelf money.

 

[roscoe]

Re: rivits or welded hull

I've had both.

I like the handling characteristics of the riveted boats with the exterior strakes.
They cut a sharper arc in a turn, more precise handling.

Also, my welded hull was paper thin, and after 5 years (about 100 hours) the hull was all rippled from slamming into waves. You could see where all the interior supports were, by looking at the exterior.

As far as leaking, only one of my riveted boats leaked, about a cup a day, after it had been tossed 200 yards by a tornado.
Its all about construction. The cheap boats may leak, the better quality boats don't.

 

[mrdancer]

Re: rivits or welded hull

A good riveted boat will outperform a poor welded boat, and vice-versa. I wouldn't let the construction method sway my opinion of the boat, but rather the construction quality.

Some of my favorite boats have been riveted. I had one that leaked a gallon or two of water throughout the day, but it was still the boat I chose over other drier models due to its performance.

If having a super-dry interior is of utmost importance to you, welded may give you an edge. Otherwise, I just wouldn't worry about it.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: rivits or welded hull

everything was designed to break otherwise boat building companies would be out of business because they couldn't sell new boats. as long as its not a homemade rivit job i am guessing rivits are better[more popular].