Bronze nails vs Ring Shank Nails

[SJ K]

I am restoring a 1948 Thompson 12' Runabout and noticed that the bow was put together with regular bronze and not ringshank nail like other parts on the boat. Wouldn't the bow be stronger with the ring nails? They must have a good reason. The outside was stipped when I got the boat so I don't know the colors or best practice of botton paint to use.

Thanks
SJ

[oakman]

Well, Thorne usually chimes in right about now so I will save him the trouble this time. . .

Some questions that will help the crew here:
Will you trailer this boat or will she live in the water?
Fresh or saltwater?
Shaken or stirred?

Some pics will also help if you have the ability to post them. In general ring shank will hold better but for repairability I like screws if you have room in the stem.

[donald branscom]

Have you ever tried to pull out a ring shank nail ?

If you have then you would know not to put them in an area
that is likely to need periodic maintenience.

[Nicholas Carey]

Have you ever tried to pull out a ring shank nail ?

If you have then you would know not to put them in an area
that is likely to need periodic maintenience.Of course, the curmudgeon/cynic is me sez that if you like the boat, the fasteners of choice would be copper rivets/roves or silicone bronze screws. Every try to "pull out" a corroded boat nail? :eek:

[Gold Rock]

If the boat was built by a thoughtful builder, then it's probably to do with servicability. Ring shank nails are forever, they do not come out. Ever. Not, that is, without seriously damaging the surrounding wood.

[Vince Brennan]

Elisha Webb in Philadelphia has a stock of interesting bronze nails... all with an anchor embossed on the head. Not being a boatbuilder myself, I have no idea if this has any significance, just thought I'd drop a rock in the well.

[Thorne]

Hey hey hey, am I really that predictable?

;0 )

Someone else will chime in on this, but your best bet is to contact the various Thompson associations/groups for this type of info. They have the specific answers to most questions on these boats.

I'll second the above thumbs-down on ring-shank nails, as every one that I've encountered really damaged things when forced out of the wood.