Accident with boat

[Split_Shot Wi]

The boat has a gash below the boweye and its through the gelcoat would I still be able to use it?

[s.f.]

sounds like you will be okay as long as you can't see daylight through the hull and bow stem isn't cracked lower. there is a lot of glass under the gel coat.

i can still see parsons and kavajecz running up river with big chunks of glass flooping in the breeze from the bow and front left of their boat, after hitting a navigation can wide-open while they waved at the wives and the cameras. they could have netted a fish through the hole in the bow and side. they went on to win the event in that boat.

[Eyewitness]

With no disrespect for Keith or Gary, I would absolutely love to see the film of that! It had to have been pretty darn funny......I'm sure they had some good laughs about it later on........

[Robertp]

I wouldn't say "don't use it" but I would certainly advise having it looked at SOON. If you are that deep then you could be into the roving which will eventually permit water intrusion into the hull and could result in hull delamination. Get it checked.