[Bushwacker]

Connor,

Thanks for the EXCELLENT summary. I think you've nailed the root cause - if the stringers aren't stabilized with bulkheads to prevent lateral deflection, they'll tend to buckle and you'll definitely have cracking problems in the outer skin. Terry's 21 had similar problems where the PO just cut through a bulkhead, with no compensating reinforcement, to install a bigger fuel tank!

Good advice on the fuel tank too! My boat was only 3 years old when I got it, but fortunately I pulled the fuel tank right after I got it. Someone at the factory had evidently dropped a brass nut into the bilge before they installed the tank, and there was a nice deep pit where the bare aluminum tank was resting on that nut! It would have been leaking a couple of years later! I repaired it, painted the tank with epoxy, and it was still in good shape 31 years later when I pulled the tank to clean it out before I repowered.

At least SeaCraft didn't foam in the tank and provided a hatch so you can easily pull the tank for inspection. That ought to be high on the TO-DO list for anyone that buys one of these boats! And if someone subsequently foamed in the tank, get rid of that foam so it doesn't let water contact the tank all the time!