Posts: 271
Location: davis,IL | Welding heats the metal to a point that right at the weld it is very strong and hard (hardens the metal) but also makes it more brittle. With rivets the metal remains ductile (softer) so it is more flexible and less likely to crack than a weld. There are pluses and minuses to both, under extreme loads a rivet will work loose, and a weld will crack. The real key to keeping both of these together is the surrounding support structure. Any boats that are cracking welds or having rivets come loose under normal conditions speaks more to the internal bracing in the boat or lack there of. At one time ships were riveted together, nowadays they are all welded.
Edited by muskydope 2/7/2016 11:25 AM
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