[Shawn Braquet]

Originally Posted by CajunChristian

2 years ago, I visited with Gaylen, the owner and manufacturer of SouthFork Boats. That same week I visited with the owner and manufacturer of WeldBilt boats.
The question came up while talking with Gaylen about whether I should rivet or screw the flooring material I bought from him. His explanation made sense to me.
He said that when you insert a screw into a rib, the screw exerts pressure outward from the screw and holds by exerting that outward pressure. A rivet uses downward pressure to hold the material down and does not exert outward forces on the ribs. He claims you are more likely to crack a rib where you have drilled and inserted the screw because of the outward forces. He has been SUCCESSFULLY building hulls for nearly 30 years, so I tend to believe him. It sounded like a perfectly plausible explanation.
I posed the same question to Bill at WeldBilt, he gave the exact same answer. Those guy have made their living building aluminum boats for decades, I figure they know more than I do so I listen to their advice.
D

Makes since I suppose