Time to cut holes?

[BA17]

I have some issues on my 23' CC. Down in Biloxi in November we really abused the boat. Ran it way too hard in rough seas trying to make weigh-in. Now I'm trying to figure out how to put it back together. The first problem is a hole/cracking on the outside of the hull. Originally I thought that maybe we hit the starboard bow on something, like the trailer, but there is a crack in the chine on the opposite side of the boat. Here are some pics of the hull. Not sure of the next steps. I guess I'm gonna have to cut some holes somewhere topside?


You can see the mark is near the fishbox drain.




Here is the other side






Anyone got any suggestions on where to begin? We also pulled the t-top out of the floor so as soon as the layer of ice melts on the inside I will post pics. II assume that I will have to replace the floor around the console in order to get something to screw the t-top down to?

[Entourage]

You have to cut a hole from the inside in the area where that happend and work from the inside out. There is probably something loose that caused that from the inside. That most likely is a meeting point of the inner and outter hull. I had a sceptre that was cracking like that in the same area just wasn't to a point where yours is right now. Something is moving around in that area that caused that, these hulls area not known for cracking unless there is a problem inside there. Dont just fix it from the outside cause it will happen again.

[Billpotter]

On my 1986 23 CC, I had the whole liner out for deck recoring, giving me the chance to get a good look at the area where your problem is: the area of the hull bottom adjacent to the fish box drain on my hull are unsupported panels port and starboard forward of the stringer end point-Without being there to check it out in person, I'd recommend you figure out the best location to cut a suitable round hole in the fish box to initially get a look at the inside of the damage: I suspect that the port and starboard sides of the bow flexed to the point of fracturing (oil canning). If that is the case, I'd plan on cutting the fish box out in such a way as to be able to put it back if. You want to, ie, leave enough of a flange on the top of the front, back, and side areas you don't cut out- to grind back and fiberglass the cut out fish box pieces to-when you reinstall the fish box parts. You'll never really know what you have to fix until you open it all up. If it turns out to be a panel failure, I'd figure a plan to increase the strength of the panels without creating a hinge point: good Luck

[martin]

Definitley need to fix from inside first.. Dont want a "badabing "moment..his cracked on the bow keel. Almost ended real bad.. Lucky he had plenty of power to keep the bow up..his looked like the cause of scrapping the keel on a trailer while loading and unloading. Then the previous owner just did a cosmetic fix with csm on outside.. Twin 225 opti max outboards running in the ska tournys did not help either...

[BA17]

I cut a hole in the fish box and when you shine a light into the "hole" on the exterior you can see the light inside. The damaged area is in the middle of nowhere, like Bill said, an unsupported panel. When I had the boar re-done 6-7 years ago, he "fixed" the port side. He cut a hole on the fish box and laid in fiberglass on the panel. I don't see where anything has cracked or shows any sign of stress on either side. I am beginning to think this is all from hitting the trailer? The starboard side damage just doesn't look to me like it would be from flexing? I feel like we must be hitting it on the trailer somewhere. If you notice the starboard side has been patched over before. I thought that the marina had put the patch on it after they did something with the forklift. I never made the repair, it just appeared there. That was a year ago. I guess it doesn't matter how it got there, the question is how to repair it? I can get to the back side, but don't see anything that needs to be fixed. Should I go ahead and cut out the fish box? How would you repair the "hole" from the outside if it is a trailer issue? I have some other issues that I will start a new thread on. Please check it out and lend me y'all's knowledge. Thanks for all the info.

[martin]

I have my 23 tore down and my last post i was tearing out a forward bulkhead that was right around that area.. They used it to cover the stringers in the front. . A really sloppy job of glass work. Looked to me that it was there to keep the foam in. Most was intact but some parts were rotten.. Maybe it is this bulkhead that is allowing the hull to flex.. Im not sure just what i found on my boat...good luck.. I would cut out the fish box cause then you will see what i am talking about...

[martin]

Here it is

[martin]

H

[BA17]

Thanks Martin. I will try to get some pics in there once I get it cut out.