Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Aluminum Boats- Riveted or Welded?

Welded!!

Welded. Most village folk along the Tanana, Koyukuk and Yukon Rivers run Alwelds. I imagine is pretty much the same along the river systems in other regions too. Out here on the AKPEN you won't find a riveted skiff in fresh or saltwater. They are either welded aluminum or custom-built fiberglass.

I'm 62 now and not wouldn't appreciate a rough water ride. On the other hand, I'd not likely be too adventurous in rough weather anyway.

I have leaned towards crestliner V-hulls for a long time.My buddy who owns one loves his and it's his second.
Trouble is that I have heard and seen enough in printed articles and online reviews that leads me to believe that at least some years/models of Crestliners have had failure issues with the transoms.
That and some detailed first hand advice from another poster here about his Crestliner with the same issue tells me that the issue is real.

Which affordable mass manufacturer makes a roomy, wide, welded and bomb-proof V-hull?

Seems like this thread has probably made it clear to you, but welded. My Alumaweld supervee had zero issues, and my Duckwater is a tank. But if I couldn’t afford a welded boat and rivets got me on the water it’d be fine...until I could afford a welded...

BAM...

I can be guilty of overthinking...

Not drinking just reading like a second grader,while eating dinner! Thanks for keeping me in line, as i stray easily!

What is your definition of affordable?

Like I said earlier. Used boats get cheap real fast. And actually, every boat on the water is used.

Craigslist and boat trader are your friends.

A used heavy welded aluminum will hold it's value much better than any other boat. I bought a used Hewescraft riverunner 19 ft , used it for 5 yrs and sold it for what I paid.

New , you will lose a bit but not as much as you think

I would not and do not hesitate to run my G3 in very skinny and stumpy water. With an 8’ beam and sponsons on the back, it’s doesn’t take much water to float her. I really like her a lot.

I've looked at used boats by Gregor, Allweld, Hanko and other semi-custom makers. They'll likely never be affordable in my way of thinking.

My definition of affordable is around 25k for a new boat/motor/trailer combo. Used is another story, and I prefer to buy used.
I just backed off on a riveted 2008 G3 V167 combo that the owner needed 10K for. I believe his rig is worth $10,000 dollars, but it is both shorter and narrower than I really want.
Might need to reconsider it as I will mostly fish alone and on sheltered waters.

I have an Alumaweld Intruder, purchased new in 2004. There selling used today for what i paid new! Inflation and the explosion of expensive welded boats, has kept the price up at least here in the northwest!

Welded weigh more but are less likely to leak.

Leaks also depend on how much you'll use the boat. I've had my Lowe since 1999 and the rivets don't leak or at least not enough for me to notice but I don't use my boat enough...

True, I was in the market last year and the used prices were so high I went new and got exactly what I wanted

Post pics
And a price!!!

John you have been starting boat threads every couple of days now..... time to schit or get off the pot....

In 24 years of ocean service, crabbing in December also, my old riveted Starcraft has never had a loose rivet. The Pacific Coast north of Cape Mendocino and south of Coos Head is not very pacific. The access to open ocean is over bars. The Rogue River bar at Gold Beach is legendary. The Starcrafts are the proven boats, I believe of the Walleye fisherman on the Great Lakes which I believe blows up as steep and quick as any water in North America.
The technology of tig welding has improved over the years, but I am not aware of any welded aircraft, I personally have ridden tens of thousands of miles in Alaska and the Aleutians in my company's DC-3, it was 50 years old when they bought it.

I agree in general terms, but you gotta admit that a good boat thread does alleviate some of the symptoms of Viral Panic...

Seem to remember a thread where you said you were looking to fish Mississippi and Wisconsin river....if that is the case and you aren't looking to play Bassmasters I cannot imagine a 16 footer with a 40/50 horse tiller not being enough boat for you, especially solo. One thing you may or may not have thought of is you'll be launching and loading this thing solo - some guys lack the gene for getting a boat back on the trailer, it's exasperated when they start to get into 20 footers and 8 foot beams.

Cool website, Lennie. They make some nice looking boats.

Indeed John, I am not complaining... just trying to help you spend $.... what are friends for?