Currently looking to buy an aluminum bass boat and I thought all welded was the only way to go these days. I saw a polar kraft and thought this must be a cheap boat... why are they still using a riveted hull.
THEN I saw a Lund Renegade and I know Lund knows a thing or two about Aluminium boats. The Lund was riveted.

So I did a little research last night and it seems Lund believes riveting is actually stronger and many many people swear by rivets and won’t own an all welded boat.

What are your thoughts?

I think it depends more on the size of the boat and horse powers.

Seems as if the War eagle are 20 ft long and come with 200 hp engines, and they are welded and I have seen them need to be rewelded.

I have never owned an aluminum boat so I can't answer that question

I guess the argument from some Lund people is the all welded boats flex less and crack at the welds more. I’m looking at 18-19’ boats with 115.

To me, it would depend on what your intended purposes are and thickness of the hull. If I were running open water just chasing crappie, sand bass, etc, I wouldn’t hesitate to look at either. If planning on running creeks, rivers, stumps, etc I would go with a thicker hull and therefore a welded boat. Also, the bigger the boat, the more I’d lean towards welded.

The boat behind me was riveted. It belongs to my friend. It started leaking. The friend turned it over onto 2 sawhorses. I crawled under it with a small anvil. I held the anvil to each rivet as my friend hammered each rivet. It stopped the leaks but never again.

17.5 ft bass tracker that we beat the hell out of has held up well for a welded boat, it’s a 2013 model.

I’ve had both. Won’t do riveted again.

Flex Seal came out with Flex Paste. Soooo... no need to worry about leaks any more. Just carry some in the boat.

Has anyone owned a Lund riveted? I’ve also owned riveted but it was like a 1956 model similar to the one bill posted. I also wouldn’t own one like that again.

https://www.fishandski.com/default....&s=Year&d=D&fr=xallinventory

I had a 19' lowe deckboat that was riveted. I was the second owner, never leaked with me. sold it to a friend who still has it and still no leaks. 1996 model

We have a riveted 50 something model startcraft that finally started leaking around 2000 when a friend decided it was a bass boat and wanted to drive it on the trailer, and jump stumps, etc. fixed it ourselves and it’s still going today.

Boatwright and Scandy make good welded tin boats, the rest are a carp shoot. I can tell you I have personally welded cracks and broken welds on boats made by Lowe, Xpress, Alumacraft and Tracker. If I were to buy one of those, and not a Scandy or a Boatwright, the Xpress would be the one or possibly a Crestliner. I don't know what kind of fishing you do or if you run up in a rocky river, but those modified V aluminum boats will rattle you teeth loose in any chop.

This is my first, and probably my last boat. Old '89 tracker that I bought from a striper fisherman up in Keller. I've put it through mine fields and she still holds together somehow. She has some small leaks, but can stay the day out on any body of water all day and not have to worry about it. I guess it's like tohe old saying, "Don't make them like they used to." And although I've thought the welded would be better, I've heard lots of stories about the welds splitting or breaking and people being unhappy with them. Just put the plug in, go fishing and be happy!