Smoker Craft...are they welded?

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Full_Monte

Full_Monte

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Location
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I've been looking at ads for Smoker Craft. Are they all riveted or welded? Seems like a quality boat. My Gregor is welded and doesn't leak a drop (knock on wood). You Smoker Guys...do they leak?
 
Word from my Smokercraft owning friends is that they are riveted but tough as welded. Doesn't leak a drop and 10 years old.
 
That's good to hear. I have friends who have owned riveted 12-15 ft boats before and they had continuous trouble with leaks, often having to re-set the rivets to slow the leaks down.

Silver Bullets...what is the beam of the 16ft. Smoker Alaskan you have?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
smokercraft

Riveted boats can be as strong and leak free as welded. I sold my 15' grunman canoe to Mad Dog. It was built in 1975 and had a 5 hp motor on it when I bought it. Mad Dog put a 4 hp motor on it and I believe it still does not leak.
 
That's good to know. I guess I had a strong preference for welded boats after owning mine and seeing the leaks my friends had in their admittedly "cheaper" riveted aluminum boats.

Are Starcraft boats similar to Smokers in construction? Do they have the "double" rivet construction like the Smoker?

Thanks!
 
Monte

Yes, SmokerCraft are a riveted hull design. My 2000 SmokerCraft Millentia hasn't had any leaking rivets and I trailer it many more miles than it sees the water. The company advertises that riveted hulls allow more flex and use the aircraft industry as their design mentors. Crestliner boats are welded hulls and several of my friends own them and don't complain about leaks. I believe that it's all in the personal care the owner gives. Poor care when trailering will tend to pop rivets and break welds alike.

There have been times when I get back to the ramp, pull the plug and water just pours out of the hull and the only thing I can associate this with is a rough day on the water or overfilling the livewell. I believe a little lakewater flows back through the bilge port into the hull when I'm working the downriggers but I don't know if water can flow back through the water pump???
 
I hadn't heard that trailering can cause rivet leaks. Would this come from running over bumpy roads without tie-down straps, or over-inflated tires that cause a lot of bouncing?
 
Yes, that boat is a step up from mine. It's a bit longer and has split seats compared to my bench seats. My motor would fit, but I think a 40hp would probably work a little better.
 
Hi, I have a 2010 smokercraft tracer 162. It is welded .100" thick aluminum. Smoker craft's larger boat are all welded by alumiweld in their main factory. It's a very stout boat.
 
Welding Experience

lowe1648mt said:
Riveted boats can be as strong and leak free as welded. I sold my 15' grunman canoe to Mad Dog. It was built in 1975 and had a 5 hp motor on it when I bought it. Mad Dog put a 4 hp motor on it and I believe it still does not leak.
Click to expand...

I was a Union Lather, and was a certified welder in all positions up to 1 inch. I speak with knowledge when I state a riveted boat CANNOT!! be as strong as a continuously/seemless welded boat. How can a riveted boat with unsupported/bonded metal between the rivets, be as strong as a seemlessly welded boat?!....impossible!!!.....Mark
 
welded

I have seen riveted boats pop a rivet and leak. I have also seen welded boats crack on a seam and leak. If the welder uses too much or too little heat, problems can occur.
My old canoe,a 15 ftgrunman did not leak. Its seams were double riveted with what looked like tarred felt between the pieces of metal. After 35 years of use ,most of them with an outboard. If a riveted boat was going to leak ,
You might think that this one would. Maybe it's the type of rivet job that makes the difference.
 
Comparatively

All things being "Equal". Two pieces of metal being welded using the proper techniques & two pieces of metal riveted together, also utilizing "proper techinques"....Welded 100 per cent always stronger. It just comes down to manufacturing costs and trained "labor". Two pieces of metal can be riveted together by a "guy" with a drill and a pop rivet gun....quickly, cheaply and with very little "training" & "equipment".....that CANNOT be said about the "welding process".....that is why, MOST people that are looking at certain brand boat/s....their first question is.......Is it Welded or Riveted!? I understand people have "pride" in their riveted boats, but that should not come before "The Facts".......Mark
 
I had a Smoker Craft Alaskan and enjoyed the boat for 18 of the 20 years I owned it. However I am sorry to report that the last 2 years I owned it I spent chasing leaks, I's get once repaired and another one would pop up, some were major leaks other very small and hard to find but they were throughout the bottom of the hull. I used the boat in both fresh water as well as salt water. (90% fresh and 10% salt). I garaged the boat and took very good care of it and the leaks seemed to come on all at once they were all on the bottom none in the seems. As far as do they make a welded boat? they do now but don't know much about them. I purchased a 17' Alumaweld Super Vee 5 years ago and I love it and well worth the extra $$$ it took to buy it!
 

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