Weld VS Revits

[dad's boat]

I'm going to be looking for a new aluminum boat 16 footer about. what do you think welded or revits. or are there pro's and con's to both. I'm not a hard core every weekend fisherman.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Weld VS Revits

If welding was better than rivets, airplanes would be welded. Let the fight begin. Riveted boats have been around for decades and perform just fine. I've owned many and nne have ever leaked. I do know a couple of folks with welded boats and they have had cracked weld problems. Crestliner is one that comes to mind.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Weld VS Revits

It all depends on the quality of the welds and rivets and the thickness of the metal. Go with a good brand and don't worry about welds/rivets. I've had a riveted boat for 45 years with good luck, but wouldn't hesitate to buy a welded one if I were in the market.

 

[dad's boat]

Re: Weld VS Revits

didn't think of the airplane thing that makes sense

 

[dad's boat]

Re: Weld VS Revits

A good welded one will probaly cost an arm and a leg for the same price I think I can get a great riveted boat.

 

[Maps]

Re: Weld VS Revits

Very interresting debate ,

It all depends on how you look at it. Riveting a structure together will endure more stress cause it will be more flexible opposed to welding it.

Welding parts together creates a chemical fusion wich is more rigid than cold working it thus is less flexible and cannot support fatigue stress compared to rivets.

Just take a look at a fuselage from an airplane , all rivets and NO weldings.
http://forumst.free.fr/image.php?im...%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN&frame=small
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Fuselage-747.jpg/450px-Fuselage-747.jpg

 

[dad's boat]

Re: Weld VS Revits

the welded idea is going further away from my sight, rivets may mean you have to pay closer atention to the but you shoud pay closer atention to your boat.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Weld VS Revits

the welded idea is going further away from my sight, rivets may mean you have to pay closer atention to the but you shoud pay closer atention to your boat.

Not necessarily. My old 1964 Sea King 12' boat is riveted (hundreds of them) and it doesn't leak a drop. All the rivets are original, and it has dents and dings in it, but it doesn't leak a drop.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with riveted aluminum boats. I've seen lots of cracks in welded boats. I've seen lots of seeping rivets. If your boat seeps at the rivets, carry a big sponge. That's about all you'll need for bailing.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Weld VS Revits

If a riveted boat has a couple of leaking rivets, go on line and Google the term "rivet bucking". You need a buddy (or very long arms) to buck rivets but the process will stop the leak. It is a process whereby the rivet is simply reset or tightened.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Weld VS Revits

Aircraft are rivetted because it's a simpler, faster, and cheaper process than welding and produces a lighter product that's more easily monitored for quality control during assembly. A major reason why rivetting aircraft together is even viable at all is due to their tubular structures, something boat hulls can't take advantage of (toons excepted).

The bonded structures themselves are still very susceptible to fatigue cracking and much effort has gone into developing the non-destructive inspection processes that are critical to keeping us all safe down here from regular rainstorms of fractured aluminum, salted peanuts, and luggage.

Having reassured you all with that, my 35 year-old rivetted Springbok tinny has only just started leaking the last year or two and it's had a very hard life. How I managed to crack two aluminum ribs I'm not even sure...

 

[Boatist]

Re: Weld VS Revits

I have two aluminum boats one with rivets and one welded. Both boats I have had since brand new. The one with rivets leaks in about 15 places, over the years I have tightened about 20 more to stop leaks. That is simple if you can get to both sides of the rivets but the problem is there are many under seats and other place where you can only get to one side. This boat is a 1967 Klamath 16 foot in about 1975 Klamath switched to welded boats and that all they make now.

The other boat a 1980 Crestliner 21 foot runabout has never leaked a drop but it is all welded. The way it put together is the chimes have a heavy two layer channel the bottom hull slipes in between the two layers and it welded inside and out side. The gunnels also mount the same way into the chimes and again welded inside and outside. For it to leak and least two welds have to fail to get one drop in the boat.

One other fact out here on the west coast about 50 percent of the aluminum boats have switched from rivets to all welded. Most of the newer design welded aluminum boats have ribs molded into the hull from bow to stern and are deeper V but dry riding. This helps the boat to get on plane faster with less power and a better ride.

Lund makes a great riveted boat but it almost as heavy as fiberglass.

For me I will never buy another boat with Rivets.

 

[KCook]

Re: Weld VS Revits

As a very general rule expect welded construction on large boats, or boats for saltwater, or high speed boats. Which still leaves rivets predominate on economical boats. In most cases I would be more concerned about the actual workmanship than rivet vs weld. There are good and not-so-good in both types.

Kelly Cook