Wellcraft 17

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by Redloon

I'm looking at a 1974 Wellcraft 17. The topsides and floor look good and are solid. The hull has several cracks along the chines on the bottom. Does anyone know if the top cap seperates from the hull and how big of a job would it be to seperate the two?

My '74 V20's cap popped right off after removing all the fasteners...cap over hull was a typical construction method then..I haven't personally separated a 17, but am confident it won't be difficult...when you say chine and bottom cracks...gel coat spider cracks or structural water intrusion cracks?...

[Redloon]

It looks to be more than spider cracks. The owner siid it doesn't leak water but I would have to get it on the lake to see for myself.

[Steplift 72']

If that's the 17 I'm thinking of it's a great looking boat with the same Step-lift hull as the V20. 2 fishing buddies had them and kept them for years. One had a 115 Evinrude and ran over 40, after 30 years of use it had the same cracks you describe and he landfilled it. I think it could have been saved. Probably was ran too long and too hard with soft stringers.