Aluminum Boat Question

KD Fisherman · 07-16-2009, 06:58 PM

Hello fellow Ifishers! I am looking to buy a 12-14' aluminum boat. This will be my first non-inflatable boat and will be running a 9.9 Honda four stroke. I have been watching craigslist and have found many that are riveted instead of welded and have a couple of questions:
1.) Do the riveted boats have a tendency to leak?
2.) If so is it fairly easy to tighten the rivets with a hammer and dolly or is epoxy used?
3.) Any other words of advice or thoughts

for a soon to be small aluminum boat owner?

Cheers,
KD Fisherman

E4usmc0651 · 07-16-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD Fisherman

Hello fellow Ifishers! I am looking to buy a 12-14' aluminum boat. This will be my first non-inflatable boat and will be running a 9.9 Honda four stroke. I have been watching craigslist and have found many that are riveted instead of welded and have a couple of questions:
1.) Do the riveted boats have a tendency to leak?
2.) If so is it fairly easy to tighten the rivets with a hammer and dolly or is epoxy used?
3.) Any other words of advice or thoughts

for a soon to be small aluminum boat owner?

Cheers,
KD Fisherman

I have only owned 1 riveted boat the rest have all been welded BUT the one that I did have and used A LOT (more than any other boat I have owned) Was a Smoker Craft Lodge and it was a GREAT boat. It all depends on the individual and their experience as to the answer you will get. I would say thhat they are as good as you treat them. Take good care of it and it will take good care of you.

As far as how to tighten loose rivets I could not tell you as I NEVER had an issue with my Smoker Craft Lodge. Good luck.

Grant

walleyehammer · 07-16-2009, 07:50 PM

lund, alumacraft, duroboat are excellent boats, lund and alumacraft are double riveted, they do not leak, duroboat i think is welded.

Rod

wsuweston · 07-16-2009, 11:32 PM

I have had a few riveted boats and non leaked

Get Bit · 07-17-2009, 10:08 AM

Look hard and you will find lots of used welded boats(Klamath, Crestliner, Gregor, etc.) at great prices. That way, you won't have to worry about rivets leaking. Shopping hard, being picky, and not setttling will pay off in the long run.

Get Bit