Gunwale bracing ideas?
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37001
Printed Date: November-17-2024 at 2:44am
Topic: Gunwale bracing ideas?
Posted By: RammerJammer
Subject: Gunwale bracing ideas?
Date Posted: August-10-2015 at 11:04pm
I've followed these forums for awhile and am very thankful for the amazingly unselfish and thoughtful contributions made by the pros on here.
I have a 1991 Nautique Excel with a Monster tower, and it's been getting some heavy wakeboard use. I noticed this past weekend that the gunwales aft of the rear tower support brackets have developed a couple of small spider cracks in the gel coat (near the rear seat) and there is a tiny amount of sag when I step on the gunwale there (I weigh 200lbs).
Should I be concerned about this? Has anyone ever had to brace a gunwale, or reinforce the fiberglass on the underside to prevent further damage? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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1991 Nautique Excel, PCM 351, Pro-Tec ignition
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Replies:
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-11-2015 at 7:37am
Courtney,
Was any reinforcing done under the tower legs when it was installed?
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Posted By: RammerJammer
Date Posted: August-11-2015 at 1:10pm
It seems that there is extra glassing underneath the gunwale.but no metallic support. I'm not sure how much extra glassing since mine is the only Excel I've been on. This monster tower has been on the boat for well over a decade and has stood up well considering.
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1991 Nautique Excel, PCM 351, Pro-Tec ignition
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Posted By: Morfoot
Date Posted: August-11-2015 at 1:23pm
Since the Excels weren't built to include a tower I would definately throw a few layers of glass under the gunnels where the tower is attached to and extend it fore and after a little bit since its a little soft from wear and tear from the years of added stress. Then I'd add a backing plate to the attach points for the tower.
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"Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman"
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Posted By: RammerJammer
Date Posted: August-11-2015 at 10:01pm
Tim, thank you for the advice. I wasn't sure if I needed a gunwale-to-floor brace under the aft tower mount or not. I'll add some glass and bracing like you recommend.
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1991 Nautique Excel, PCM 351, Pro-Tec ignition
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Posted By: 74Wind
Date Posted: August-12-2015 at 12:39am
Just curious, are there no braces at all under the gunwales of an excel? Southwinds have angled braces so strong that an elephant could stand there...very sturdy with no give at all 4 decades later.....
We have no tower so no need for extra support, but it's an outstanding place to loop fender lines...with the lines properly adjusted you just throw them out and they fall right into place every time.
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1974 Southwind 18
1975 Century Mark II
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Posted By: RammerJammer
Date Posted: August-12-2015 at 4:48pm
There are no gunwale-to-floor braces from the cockpit to the rear seat, but that is not a very long distance in Excels because the engine is in the back under the sundeck and the rear seat is much closer to mid-deck.
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1991 Nautique Excel, PCM 351, Pro-Tec ignition
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Posted By: 74Wind
Date Posted: August-12-2015 at 5:43pm
The SW braces don't go to the floor, they attach to the sides, you wouldn't know they were there if you didn't look. Yes you would think support wouldn't be an issue with the short gunwales on a v-drive, but I've got a 75 v-drive with no braces, gunwales on that one have also weakened a bit over time.
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1974 Southwind 18
1975 Century Mark II
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