255 CONQUEST Gunwale Strength

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
superbando
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:14 am

255 CONQUEST Gunwale Strength

Postby superbando » Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:23 am

[Inferred question: are the gunwales on a 255 CONQUEST sufficiently strong to hold swivel rod holders without needing to add KING StarBoard reinforcement but with using a backing plate]?

BACKSTORY
The gunwales on my 255 seem to have some sort of insert from their appearance. The gunwales are not glassed in completely to the boat. I plan to add swivel rod holders to the gunwales. I may add reinforcement using KING StarBoard. I will add a backing plate.

jimh
Posts: 11670
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
Contact:

Re: 255 CONQUEST Gunwale Strength

Postby jimh » Wed Oct 13, 2021 11:36 am

superbando wrote:The gunwales are not glassed in completely to the boat.


Boston Whaler boats are generally not molded with the gunwale cap as part of the Unibond hull. The gunwale cap and other structural elements of the boat are attached to the Unibond hull-liner one-piece assembly after the Unibond hull-liner one-piece assembly is created by molding, adding foam, and curing. This accounts for your observation that the gunwales are not "glassed in completely" to the Unibond hull.

User avatar
Phil T
Posts: 2602
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:08 pm
Location: Was Maine. Temporarily Kentucky

Re: 255 CONQUEST Gunwale Strength

Postby Phil T » Fri Oct 15, 2021 10:13 pm

Quick answer is NO.

You will need to add a backing plate to the underside of the cap and possibly a L shaped bracket to spread the load to the hull sides.
1992 Outrage 17
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003