Its biggest drawback is that it is not too easy to make waterproof lap joints.
Washington Post(Aug 09, 2016)
The ends of belts are joined by two principal methods, the butt and the lap joint.
Rose, Joshua, Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volum...(2012)
Exercise 4: Double Riveted Lap Joint.—Draw, full size, the two views of the double riveted lap joint shown in fig.
Low, David Allan, An Introduction to Machine Drawing...(2012)