Hull Step Flair at Transom - Pics

[JohnC]

I noticed something odd with the underside of my boat. The outboard step & Panel take a downward slant in the last two fee or so just ahead of the transom. Is this normal? My stringers are cut back about 1 1/2' to 2' from the transom but I don't think anything could have moved.

In my experience on these hulls they seem to flatten out on plane more so than anything else I am familiar with. This would explain that if its normal. If it's not than I have to straighten a hull.

The pics show where the step drops lower at the stern relative to the outside corner of the hull between the red arrows - then from a slightly different angle. The bunks go to within an inch or so of the transom so I don't think is flexing the bottom much at all.

Please tell me this is normal!

[JohnC]

After looking at every profile picture of a 20' hull I could find on the web, it appears that there is definitely something wrong here. The boat sat on the trailer for a few years with the stringers cut back - including travel from Ft Lauderdale to Homosassa and back (about 9 hours round trip). I guess the time and travel without the last 2' of stringers allowed it to move some.

I guess that I will be building a carriage that caries the hull straight & true before putting the stringers back in.

If I can figure out how far forward of the transom the hull bottom starts its compound curve that would make this easier. It looks like the outboard hull bottom starts an upward curve around 8' forward of the transom. The inboard bottom stays straight a bit further forward. Does anyone know for sure?

This is going to be fun!

[Oldboat]

I have a 23 but I helped my brother in law rebuild his 20 this summer and did not see that curve in his boat? If u take a strait edge and lay it down inside the hull does it bow up there. I would think if that moved it is fixable.

[Oldboat]

Originally Posted by Oldboat

I have a 23 but I helped my brother in law rebuild his 20 this summer and did not see that curve in his boat? If u take a strait edge and lay it down inside the hull does it bow up there. I would think if that moved it is fixable.

Is the transom flat if u lay a strait edge both ways with on it. Also with that section of stringers cut out did it still have a engine on it for a while maybe pulling up bottom without stringer strength that last 2 feet

[JohnC]

Thanks for the help. There was no motor on it when the stringers were removed. When I look down the steps front to back I can see the bottom is true right up until the stringers are removed. I don't think this will be too difficult to straighten.
I spent yesterday designing a carriage from plywood that will hold the aft 8' straight and true. I can support the hull forward of that with jack stands as the stringers are still in place. Another few evenings and she will be straight again. I will post pics when I get it together.
If there is a lesson in this it is that trailers are made for hauling boats, not for properly supporting the hull when the structural components are removed.

[Oldboat]

Sounds like u have a good plan. I agree with u when I had my boat apart I had plenty of supports and a was carful not to move until I had new transom and deck in. Keep us posted.

[flyingfrizzle]

If it is splayed outwards and you have some downwards angle on the outer chine it may give you more stern lift. With the heaver outboards people always seem to want or need more stern lift and having the chine turn down will give it more lift. You may have a hard time getting the cap on if it not back on already but if you can get it all out it may not hurt you and rater help you maybe. This is just a guess as its hard to say what other negative effects may rise up from the changes but Ive seen people add wedges to the chines before to angle them down so they get more lift. Just a thought.

[NoBones]

I did not look back in your posts or recall what year your hull is...

To me that looks like the built in "hook" from the factory !
If it is not on the center out panels and only on the middle panels.

It is the hook..

That was built in for safety to keep you from to going over at WOT..
Basically keeps your bow down while under way.

I took the hook out of mine on the original rebuild..
Also why I have 24 inch Bennetts which is the only part of the boat in the water when at WOT..

[cdavisdb]

Agree with NoBones, that looks factory to me.

[NoBones]

Originally Posted by cdavisdb

Agree with NoBones, that looks factory to me.

Another post timed perfectly @ 4:42PM

Someone please explain this to me....