Riveted or welded boat??

[Ksam1234]

So my other post asked about buying a new boat and now I have come across the issue of either welded or riveted .. one person says welded is bad bc it cracks and others say rivets are bad bc it leaks around the rivet. Let’s say I’m trying to find a boat to hold up to Lake Erie which would be best, riveted or welded ? And my choice of boat is either going to be a Lund or a tracker both deep V. Have two big marina close to me that sell tracker company boats or Lund boats like Lund, Starcraft, polarkraft. 

[Tennessee Boy]

My aluminum Ranger has a welded hull.  The welds are warranted for the life of the first owner and I think five years for the second owner.  I've only owned if for six months but no problems so far.

 

I owned a riveted Tracker in the 90s.  It leaked after about 10 years.

[tander]

Had both, go welded.

[J Francho]

I've had both, and neither had issues.  I would be looking at build quality and layout over whether welded or not.   Right now, a riveted Lund tickles my fancy the most.  In pretty much any instance, A Lund is far better a boat than a Tracker.

[jbmaine]

Some will say welds will crack, some will say rivets will leak. Both can be true if their not built right. You can get both riveted, welded boats that have no problems. I think the key to getting a trouble free boat is getting one from a " higher end" manufacturer. You may pay more, but a lot of the extra you are paying for is for the quality of build.

 My local boat dealer ( whom I trust) is a Lund dealer ( riveted boat ). I'm on my second Lund and couldn't be happier. However if my local dealer sold high quality welded boats instead of Lunds , I'd probably own a welded boat.

[KickingFish]

1 hour ago, Ksam1234 said:

So my other post asked about buying a new boat and now I have come across the issue of either welded or riveted .. one person says welded is bad bc it cracks and others say rivets are bad bc it leaks around the rivet. Let’s say I’m trying to find a boat to hold up to Lake Erie which would be best, riveted or welded ? And my choice of boat is either going to be a Lund or a tracker both deep V. Have two big marina close to me that sell tracker company boats or Lund boats like Lund, Starcraft, polarkraft. 

If you want a good boat get a lund, and riveted in my opinion is better than welded for the great lakes. Look at any boat company that makes boats for walleye fishing and they are all riveted. Riveted boats have issues as well though. The lund will be a much better boat but will also be more expensive. Good Luck!

[Catt]

I've ran various Xpress boats since 1966, never had a weld crack. I've ran quite a few Alweld boats over the last 30 years without a single weld cracking.

 

I've been known to jump levees, logs, sand bars, & a few gators!

 

For me the key to a quality aluminum boat is material thickness, I would never go below 0.100 gauge.

[NHBull]

You know where I stand.  Have owned both and I believe quality material craftsmanship trump Weld vs rivet. I do believe there is a reason you see so many old Lunds still on the water.....not so much tracker 

[Ksam1234]

Sounds like I’m going with the Lund, and the Lund dealership is very respected , it’s probbsly the biggest boat dealership out this way also. Can’t wsit ! Will probably be getting it this spring early March ! Right before pre spawn 

[slonezp]

If you plan on spring, and you are not buying it off the showroom floor, build time for a Lund is 3-4 months. Lund has a new model for 2019 called the Adventure. It appears to be a great option for under $25k

 

[Ksam1234]

55 minutes ago, slonezp said:

If you plan on spring, and you are not buying it off the showroom floor, build time for a Lund is 3-4 months. Lund has a new model for 2019 called the Adventure. It appears to be a great option for under $25k

 

Yeah this is the exact one I was looking at ! The marina close to me had a 1675 model for 19,000$ probably 21,000$ after tax 

[Catt]

 

[Ksam1234]

50 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

WHAT do those run and I like having a Lund dealer close for repairs if needed .

[Vilas15]

5 hours ago, NHBull said:

You know where I stand.  Have owned both and I believe quality material craftsmanship trump Weld vs rivet. I do believe there is a reason you see so many old Lunds still on the water.....not so much tracker 

I'd agree with this. Lund or Alumacraft for riveted, if you want welded maybe look at Crestliner.

[slonezp]

8 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

WHAT do those run and I like having a Lund dealer close for repairs if needed .

That boat is probably double your budget

[Catt]

14 hours ago, Ksam1234 said:

WHAT do those run and I like having a Lund dealer close for repairs if needed .

 

For the life of me I can't remember ?

[the reel ess]

We had a riveted boat back in the 80's and 90's. We spent as much time fixing leaks as we did fishing. We would put it on the trailer, crawl under it and find the loose rivets and drill them out. Then we would replace them with pop rivets with some silicone around them. It was a losing battle. But I understand that heavier gauge aluminium would have performed much better. Riveted boats are probably light years from that nowadays. My pops was always taking the cheap way out.

[slonezp]

On 11/2/2018 at 11:58 AM, Catt said:

 

For the life of me I can't remember ?

Base price is $32k with a 150. and an 80lb Fortrex Wouldn't be difficult to rig that boat to $50k 

[Catt]

15 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Base price is $32k with a 150. and an 80lb Fortrex Wouldn't be difficult to rig that boat to $50k 

 

I got a quote of $37.5k with Humminbirds 

 

If there were dealerships closer ?

[Spankey]

I have a 19 ft. Tracker. 90 HP. Welded hull with no cracking issue. Holds up just fine on the Big “D”, Susky, on and around the Cheasy. I’m not a deep v but that would not be an issue for sure. I would/will buy another Tracker in a few years. No hesitation. Actually may go to a deeper v. Have thought about it. 

[Ksam1234]

I think I’m going with the Lund ! We have a huge boat show every year around the end of February and everything is on sale.  So I’ll save up till then! Expect some pics next year if my newboat ! @Catt @slonezp @jbmaine @the reel ess

[slonezp]

On 11/1/2018 at 3:12 PM, Catt said:

I've ran various Xpress boats since 1966, never had a weld crack. I've ran quite a few Alweld boats over the last 30 years without a single weld cracking.

 

I've been known to jump levees, logs, sand bars, & a few gators!

 

For me the key to a quality aluminum boat is material thickness, I would never go below 0.100 gauge.

I was rereading this tread. I don't think gators will be a problem for the OP in NY. Secondly, and more importantly, is the boats you mentioned are not cookie cutter tins like most. You wouldn't be jumping levees in a Vexus just as I don't in a Lund. I would, however in a SeaArk, possibly in a Xpress and I know nothing about Alweld except you run one. Were I jumping gators for a living, I would probably opt for a custom build.

 

The cookie cutter welded tins are all similar, brand to brand. When it comes to the Great Lakes, the majority of the guys who run aluminum are running riveted hulls. 

 

 

[Catt]

23 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Were I jumping gators for a living, I would probably opt for a custom build.

 

I'm very some of the Florida guys can attest to having gators surface right in front of you, it kinda lifts your boat & kicks your outboard up.

 

The bigger the gator the higher the pucker power ?

[slonezp]

5 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I'm very some of the Florida guys can attest to having gators surface right in front of you, it kinda lifts your boat & kicks your outboard up.

 

The bigger the gator the higher the pucker power ?

A number of years ago I towed my 17ft Mirrocraft down to Santee Cooper in late March. While fishing we motored upon some monster gators that were sunning themselves on the bank. We spooked them and into the water they went causing my little boat to rock back and forth something fierce. It was the first time I had ever fished near gators, and I quickly learned to respect them. I ran into gators on Lake Toho as well, but they were already in the water, I assume, guarding their nesting area. I didn't even bother getting close to them.   

[kjfishman]

I have a 2001 Fisher Marine Marshhawk 165 deep V welded hull. Hasn't leak a drop of water or developed any cracks.