Do I need a rebuild (1977 19'6)?

[jcook90]

In the few times I've used my 19'6 I noticed that the gunwales flex outward in the middle of the boat, next to the console.  Today I was taking a closer look at this flexing, and noticed that it is actually starting to develop a small crack coming up from the rub rail



The crack separates when I pull the side outward.

Is this flex normal in these boats?  I'm worried it could be the stringers, but if that's the case I wouldn't mind rebuilding the hull and adding a few new features (livewell, storage, etc).  The transom might also need work, but for now it's not really a big issue.

[RickK]

Welcome aboard jcook90 :!:  :!:
That doesn't look good and is certainly not normal.  Can't imagine how that would happen unless it is where everyone steps to get in the boat and the support under the cap was lacking  

[kyle19kenyon]

I agree, on mine I noticed that the gunnals are cored with 1/2 plywood and it was begging to rot. I am currently removing the cap of the boat and doing the undersides of the gunnals with fresh coring and glass.

The gunnals are semi flexible to begin with, so and rot can make them really start to flex.

Just my .02 cents.

[jcook90]

Thanks, I was wondering how they had been constructed.  I'll probably end up doing the same with mine sometime this winter