Riveted Boat

[BG RTR]

Looking at a 96 bass tracker that is riveted. I've been warned by some to stick to welded only. Any thoughts on this brand and leaking?

[slonezp]

Fill it up with water and see if it leaks. Riveted boats do not inherently leak like some people think. Rivets can get sheared off and can loosen although I've not seen it. If you look at welded hull boats, you need to check for cracked welds and warping.

[S Hovanec]

Actually it's the welded Trackers that have been problematic.  A quick google search should yield you hours or reading about the nightmares people had getting cracked boats warranted.

[200racing]

rivets have been trusted on bridges,planes and many other important things for decades.

 

i have a 1975 monark jonboat with a riveted hull. no leaks ,zero! 38 years of hard use and if i forget the plug is in it will fill with rain water till it flows over the gunnels.

 

 solid rivets can be rebucked or replaced in your garage with a few tools

[Bladesmith,]

I have a 1974 model Mirro Craft riveted aluminum boat. It has been used hard but cared for. Never had a leak for any reason. Riveted boats are just like anything else; buy quality and you don't have to worry. Besides, a leaky rivet is a simple repair.

[BG RTR]

Thx. Would u consider bass tracker a quality boat?

[slonezp]

Tracker is the #1 boat brand on the water. If they were garbage, people wouldn't buy them. All brands have their good and bad points. I have heard of weld issues and poor customer service. I have seen a warped hull on a Tracker.  

[BG RTR]

Thx. U hear so many opinions that it can get confusing. This is my first boat so I'm most afraid of what I don't know. Prices also vary greatly. A 20 yr old boat may be listed for the same price as a 15 yr old and really no difference between them.

[tomustang]

Thx. U hear so many opinions that it can get confusing. This is my first boat so I'm most afraid of what I don't know. Prices also vary greatly. A 20 yr old boat may be listed for the same price as a 15 yr old and really no difference between them.

It all depends how well they took care of that boat. And well you can't really go on by what the seller says just because they want to get rid of it. Around my part we have the delaware river, the depth can go from feet to inches anywhere. Most people selling their rivet boats beat them up there and sell their leak jobs without telling you there's more epoxy that rivers left. So be very careful and look over everything, try to find the history of where its been.

[Long Mike]

I had an 86 17' riveted hull Tracker that leaked like a sieve.  On the other hand, I now have a 2004 welded hull Tracker that is completely water tight.

[3dees]

riveted or welded. each can be great and each can have it's problems. I see some really old riveted Lunds on the water that are still going strong. the thing with Tracker is'nt that they make bad boats. there are many people completely happy with them. the problem I see over and over is Trackers unwillinness to fix any problems in a timely matter if at all. I know it's a problem in my area, which is why I went with Crestliner instead.

[Maggiesmaster]

I've owned many boats, all of them riveted, and none of them ever leaked at a rivet.  In my younger and crazier days I fished the Mississippi river in a 14 ft. riveted jon boat.  We knocked so many holes in the thing that the aluminum welds make it look like Frankenstein's face--but it never leaked at a rivet.  Not saying all welded boats are bad, but I'm not afraid at all of buying riveted boats. 

[BG RTR]

Does anyone know if any warranty is extended to the owner of a used boat by tracker or any others?