Provided that Crestliner isn't providing the same USELESS lifetime warranty that Tracker does when it comes to guaranteing (sp) their "welded hulls". Tracker only guarantees the weld it self.. so when it cracks right beside it (where ANY weld does aluminum or steel) they tell you to go pound salt.
Mike.. Dave covered my reply... welding weakens the material beside the weld, and there is no way of knowing it happened, well..until it cracks open. Lew had a GREAT life out of his Crestliner and now Jim and the boys are enjoying it as well. Haven't heard any real horror stories on Crestliners but I could write a book on Trackers.. so maybe Crestliner/Brunswick have put a little more thought into how things are formed, welded and where things are braced to take the loads.
Welding of aluminum itself... I have no issues on things OVER .100 thickness.. like Stanley's with nothing thinner than .125 in their construction.
BTW.. we're riveting boats in Temagami.. starting next week !