Anyone ever under brace/knee the gunnels?

fishhuntNC · #1 11-09-2009, 10:39 PM

Sounds like a good idea.Also backing plates under the gunnels wouldn't hurt.If you think about a 500 pound fish and 25+ pounds of drag on a bentbutt staight up and down for an hour or who knows how long thats alot of stress on a few bolts in some wood.The plates help spread the load instead of popping the rod holder out of the gunnel.

joshmon71 · #2 11-10-2009, 12:28 AM

I do have backing plates on the swivels now, just when test the bent but rods it has me worried since there is no bracing and way more flex in the gunnels than like. it is limiting reel drag which sort of defeats having this setup . I as well bought the u bolt clamps, and observed another seacraft that was for sale had thru bolted out the hull side with ss finishing countersinks (screwhead on hull outside). Not wanting to mar the hull prettyness think am going to brace/knee then. although i like the idea of glassing wood to the hull and screwing into that for the u clamps as an alternative worth exploring. I may do both in the spirit of structural integrity now better than a torn up gunnel later.

The winter boat work-list grows

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thanks guys...

rockdoc · #3 11-10-2009, 03:52 AM

Josh, let's ask around, between us we know a bunch of commercial tuna guys here on the cape with seacrafts and 130s. One thing I've noticed is alot of them have the swivel holders up in the bow

Steve

Seacraft84 · #4 11-13-2009, 01:04 PM

The bow is definatly the place to put the rod holders. Then just glass some 3/4 plywood on its edge underneath the gunnel to help with the flexing. Make it in strips about 3"-4" tall and run the width of the gunnel on each side of the holder. Definaltly put a backing plate on the holder too.

Snookerd · #5 11-13-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Not wanting to mar the hull prettyness think am going to brace/knee then. although i like the idea of glassing wood to the hull and screwing into that for the u clamps as an alternative worth exploring. I may do both in the spirit of structural integrity now better than a torn up gunnel later.

The winter boat work-list grows

.

thanks guys...

Josh-

I have taken pictures of my 23SF's knees and brackets.
I didn't install them, and they look bad, but they work. FYI - The bolts are screwed into the liner not all the way thru the hull to the outside. The original owner was a charter captain with similar issues probably with heavy gear putting pressure outboard of the boat. And/or just to beef up the the cap with normal wear and tear of a 1979 Jackshafted diesel that was used daily!

Here are the oversized pictures(sorry for the large size!):