[flyingfrizzle]

Most step downs like this I have fixed (non-seacrafts) have cracked in the bottom area or flexed bad when you stepped in them because of the coring being rotten. If it is like others I have seen there should be coring on the bottom area only under the liner. It is hard to cut it out and glass it from the bottom so I usually drop a new core in from the top side and then glass it in place coming up 2" on the sides of the hole leaving a nice radius in the corner. You will loose 3/4" of height like this but beats trying to cut it out and replace it sometimes. I would Not attach any thing to the bottom and tie it into the hull bottom or stringers because this would cause hard spots. I think if you tied it to the hull bottom or supported it from underneath it would crack it even more as the hull shell flexed it would transfer into the drop area.