Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

TheChad. Sorry. I thought yours was a Aluminum boat. My next will also be Aluminum to. I have a 16' Lowe that is 15 years old and fishes every day in rocks and weeds. Not even damp by any of the rivets. Fiberglass for rough water comfort. Aluminum for the good times. --------------------------------- I use the glass boat for long "iffy" weather trips.

 

[JC1933]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

TheChad.<br /><br /> Airoplains maid with pop rivets, would be kind of hard to keep pressurized.<br /><br /> I have owned four light planes, they wer not pop rivited ...This is just my experiance...Claude...

 

[TheChad]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

Originally posted by jc1933:<br /> TheChad.<br /><br /> Airoplains maid with pop rivets, would be kind of hard to keep pressurized.<br /><br /> I have owned four light planes, they wer not pop rivited ...This is just my experiance...Claude...

Claude, I was thinking more of Commercial Jet airliners, and I was speaking/thinking more of the wings/engine bays.. there are alot of pop type rivets, which enables maintaince crews to get inside. I use to work for Southwest Airlines..<br /><br />But either way... Still two completely different worlds boats & airplanes..<br /><br />-TheChad

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

At the rate glues are pushing hardware out of every metal fastening job, planes are almost completly glued together, all sizes, it is only a matter of time till they get to the boat hulls. Steel wall studs are all glued metal to metal joints. Sound like a Aluminum boat hull application? Aluminum has no real disadvantage if built with the same care. AND they tow easier and carry heavier loads when needed. A good emergency repair kit is a roll of very good Duct Tape and a swim mask. Enjoy.

 

[TheChad]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

That may be very true.<br /><br />I still don't see how metal 'bonded' (glued) to metal, could be stronger than metal 'melted' (welded) to metal.<br /><br />But I know there are epoxy's that will actually melt the surface of what they are bonded to, but I don't think they melt metal..<br /><br />-TheChad

 

[koolerb]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

I'm taking the entirely opposite approach to my next boat. It seems like the last two manufacturers that are still riveting their mid to high end aluminum boats are Lund and Alumacraft; so I’ve limited my search to those two. I plan on owning my next boat for a long time and I don't think a welded boat will last as long as a riveted one. <br /><br />I think all of the other manufactures went to welded hulls solely because they are more economical to manufacturer, not because it results in a better product. Even in a very ridged hull design there is still going to be some flex in daily operation. Repetitive flexing of that hull is going to work harden welds over time, and some are going to crack.<br /><br />I've owned two riveted boats so far, and I've never had a leak at a rivet, or a loose rivet. But even if one did loosen up, you drill it out, buck a new rivet, a dab of touch up paint and you’re done. A whole lot easier than trying to repair a crack at a weld seam.<br /><br />And just for the record, there are no "pop rivets" in any kind of structural aircraft application. Most of the rivets in any aluminum airplane are still solid, bucked, or squeezed rivets. There are many different kinds of blind structural rivets used where solid rivets can't be used, Cherry, Huck, etc. But they cost a lot more than solid rivets so they’re only used when absolutely necessary.<br /><br />A riveted aluminum boat is a sure thing. The welded boats,,, we’ll know in about another ten years.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

OK, maybe less than ten years. Read the Nov 16, "Cracked Aluminum Hull" post.

 

[KCook]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

manufactures went to welded hulls solely because they are more economical to manufacturer

My guess would be old fashioned sex appeal. Welded boats look slick. But my experience with rivets was very good.<br /><br />Kelly

 

[stevens]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

This thread has kind of turned to a riveted vs. welded debate.<br /><br />However, back to the original question, i.e. "Brunswick owning all that floats".<br /><br />They've been on a buying spree over here as well, buying several of the best boat brands in Scandinavia and elsewhere (Uttern, Bella, Aquador, Flipper, Askeladden, Örnvik, Arvor, Valiant), then letting them get on with their business as long as there is a Mercury engine in it. See for example these links: Bella Marinepower <br /><br />Every business I know is in a phase of international consolidation, with more and more power to a handful of global players. So, I guess boating is no different. <br /><br />How to get rich then? Start something that is a direct challenge (or a great complement) to one of the big guys, and do it so exceedingly well that they want to buy you out...<br /><br />Smart Tabs anyone? Bennett? How about some Turbo props? Navman electronics? Oh, Brunswick already owns Navman? ...

 

[cart7]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

You'll be happy to know that Lowe's still has their own facility in Lebanon Missouri. In fact, Lebanon is probably the Aluminum boat capitol of the country. Lowes, Landau, G3 and Bass Tracker Aluminum boats are all made there and the plants are all right along Interstate 44.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

Gluing is used on wall studs because, it has more bonding area, can not work loose, does not cause stress cracks around holes, anyone can put it together, cut lengths are no different. And it is cheaper and faster per joint. Buy fastner glue stock.

 

[joblo33]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

Doesn't Brunswick Corp. own Mercury marine too?

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

Eric, is your last name Brunswick?

 

[joblo33]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

lol, seems like it eh? I've got to get rid of some of these Mercs, I'm getting a reputation. <br />Eric

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

As long as this was converted to a welded vs. riveted: the really good aluminum boats, such as (in alphabetical order) Alumaweld, Armstrong, Coastal Craft, Davis, Duckworth, Eaglecraft, Harbercraft, HewesCraft, Ironwood, Pacific, North River, Seawolf, Silver Streak, Weldcraft and Woodridge, to name a few, are all welded aluminum. There aren't very many Pac NW fishermen nor guides willing to risk running white water, big water, or the Pacific in riveted boats.<br /><br />Yeah, you see lots of the ubiquitous smaller riveted Smokercraft on fresh waters, but they don't last long in salt. My brother's, after 3 years in Tillemook Bay, had several hundred weeping rivets in his; he coated the bottom with paint a couple of times, but he's since replaced it with an Alumaweld and feels much better going out near or even over (in good weather) the bar. I guess riveted boats are OK for flatlander fresh water, but that's all.<br /><br />Back to the thread: for "strategic reasons," Genmar sold all their AL boat lines to Brunswick a couple of years ago, deciding to concentrate on fiberglass. I suspect it helped the sale of Mercury motors more than anything; try to find a Brunswick boat powered by anything else.

 

[jim daigle]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

Its called marketing and market control, they buy the little guy and make it big, buy first downsizing the workforce ie the employee staff and hire out to mexico. The smaller Bayliner and Maxum boats are made in Renosa Mexico and soon to grow there manufacturing size. They also have begun to manufacture the Trofey line... Corporate America is really going to kill this country as it is already declined to bare bones.. I used to haul boats for brunswick and am certain of these facts.... Jim Daigle

 

[bomar76]

Re: Brunswick - Owner of *Almost* All that floats?

THREE YEAR OLD THREAD....
old news.