gunnel ?

[Dwight]

I am new to this board and I find it very informative. I have a ? about my boat.
I cut the gunnel to install recessed cupholders and I found that there is a gap between the fiberglass and the balsa coring. It is about a 1/4 inch gap. Does this represent a problem? thanks for the help. Dwight

That is a common problem, with boats that have some age on them. Sometimes decks are also filled with it. Very seldom it is more than a nuisance when either walking on the wider ones, or mounting stuff on them, that requires a good throughbolting, for strength . You may have it along some other areas. Check for stress cracks, in heavy use areas. This is a sign of fatigue, most of the time. When mounitng angled rod holders, through the boards, it is very close for backing plates, for throughbolting, but you can use some hardwood and some number 12 oval head screws, and pilot drill the wood blocks, for a better grab. BUt most of the time, unless you are using large fishing rods, it will not bother you. Just bed them so to keep the water working any further into the balsa core.

[Dwight]

thanks for the reply. I was concerned that I had a major structoral problem.