I could be way off on my thinking, but it seems to me, the longer the boat, the more this may be an issue. A 24FT boat, isnt subjected to the same hull stresses, a 40ft boat is.

When you get into these 40ft boats, in rough waters, many times the nose of the boat is impacting wave #2, while the mid section is unsupported, and the stern may still be on wave #1. Take a yard stick. Grab it on both ends, and watch how easy it bends. Then, cut the yardstick down to 1ft long, and see how much harder it is to bend.

This is why, when you go look at some of these old offshore boats, the main area you'll find stress cracking, is near and around the boat, midship. Most likely, near the faring/windscreen. Well at least the ones that been run in big water. Boating on a river or small inland lake, you may never see these issues.

I am a believer in, as length and weight go up, so must the quality and strength of the hull! Probably why the old 41 Apaches and other big raceboats, had so many bulkheads and massive stringer configurations. Did Team Apache glue the decks on the hull and throw in some wood screws and go racing?

Good point mild. My boat being older does not have any stress cracks but, has spent most of its life on lake st clair which gets nasty mixed chop but rarely over 4's.

If you enjoy stress cracking, you might want to look into a different manufacturer. Maybe you can rotozip your glassed deck joint, and put a line of aerospace elmers glue along the seam. I personally wish my boat had more ''wavieness" to the deck and hullsides. It really gives you that classic offshore earl sheib look.

I've already drawn up plans for next winters storage. Going to run random logs perpendicular to the length ( small in back, huge one in the middle and really small in front) so throughout the winter I can roll it back in forth (ramming it with a snowplow) to achieve the hook in the hull and hopefully stress crack the chit out of it. Give it that "classic" but still hot rodish look.

Why not just save all that work and get a Cig?

Now you went and done it .

What's a "snowplow"? Let me guess, more of your equipment that you're so proud of

Never thought of that. You always have the best advice. Thanks man.

Lol. No, I can't say I'm proud to have owned a snowplow, espeacially after this long drawn out winter! I need sun and skanks!!!!

You guys are gonna wake the kraken [ATTACH=CONFIG]520482[/ATTACH]