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Mtown,
yes when I jump on the back the crack will open at the gunwale. Maybe because the sides support the front of the boat. I just had fuel tanks out and decks up. everything was solid like a rock. Strange how a force from under the boat would cause it to break in the other direction. I could imagine a crack like this being from a drop on a point in mid section of the boat. But not from regular use? The whaler drive must put same type of force as a set back bracket. So i don't see why the bracket would be a issue. but if the boat has a week point i guess that would break first. I really do not push the old boat that hard, so i am perplexed it this crack, wondering where did i go wrong?