Weld or rivit?

[66liner]

Hey all, I am gonna start on my Cruiseliner resto in a month or two when I get back from Iraq, but I wanted to get your opinions on something.

The previous owner started converting this boat from an OB to an I/O but never finished it up. He was doing a rush job just to get it on the water and instead of closing up the outer transom skin, he left it open and just put in a small piece of metal where the top of the transom plate mates up to. I was thinking of adding a new outer skin portion to it for one, closing it up and two, give the transom a nice surface to mate to.

In the pic you will see my layout for the outer skin but my question is should I weld the new one to the original skin (both inside and out) or should I just rivit and 5200 the crap out of it.

I have been readin alot of the Starcraft resto threads and have gotten alot great information but I am just wanting a clear view on the pros and cons of both approach. Thanks.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Weld or rivit?

I'm not a tincanner but if it was mine, right or wrong I would mig it. A nice bead, then feather it in. Hopefully a tincanner will see this and chime in to help

 

[66liner]

Re: Weld or rivit?

yeah I was thinkin that but I didn't know if stress cracks would develop around the weld area.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Weld or rivit?

If you can afford a sheet of aluminum to do that, I would get it welded. It only has to be welded on one side since it is thin.

Very interesting conversion..... when you can I would like to see more pictures.

Thanks for your service. When are you due to rotate back to CONUS?

Bob
Retired Active Duty Army

 

[66liner]

Re: Weld or rivit?

Hey Bob, I only got a couple of weeks left, but I am getting anxious to get started.

Here is a couple of pictures of the inside transom. The PO made the transom board out of 4 pieces of screwed and glued standard plywood, but then it sat for about 2 years before I got it, and has been sitting for another year with me being gone. I had been trying to decide whether to take it back to an OB or just finish what he started. The deck will have to come back up from the cabin bulkhead to the stern, it is completely full of foam. I know it doesnt leak, because he had coated the entire bottom of the hull with a coal tar epoxy and when I was home 6 months ago there was water standing in it form the tarp I had being blown away. But, I love these old tin cans so I am not worried about the work,,,just wanted to get some different opinions.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Weld or rivit?

If you have EVERYTHING ready to drop in and feel comfortable installing the I?O I would say go for it.

If not.....

It would be a fairly quick conversion back to an outboard "provided" you have the OB on hand or know where you can locate one. That mercruiser you have now has a good market for parts so you will be able to sell it for cash if needed.

 

[66liner]

Re: Weld or rivit?

Yeah I have a donor boat and a spare parts engine. And I also have access to other OB engines as well. I have a small spoolgun welder so I might just go ahead and weld it. Thanks for all the input.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Weld or rivit?

WOW spoolgun is the way to go! Just do not weld a riveted seam only weld patches or cracks.