GIS repair recommendations
Howdy,
I bought a GIS thirdhand, and love the boat. It is lightly used, fits all my needs, and is kind on the eyes. I took it sailing in the ocean out of Oceanside Harbor in northern San Diego the other day. The conditions were a bit choppy with long swells in the 2-3 foot range. We did a bit of pounding working upwind. When I had brought the boat home, I noticed a dark area along the seam where the side panels meet, on both sides of the boat close to the bottom of the hull. On closer inspection, I noticed that the paint in that area had a fine crack along the seam. The darkness was I assume water that had worked in through the crack. I also assume that the crack formed from flexing the hull when working through the waves. When looking at the inside part of the seam, I noticed that the overlapping piece of plywood does not extend down all the way to the bracing wood (see photos to make up for my lack of correct terminology). I wonder if it should for maximum strength.
I sealed the crack with urethane, but I'd prefer a more sturdy long term solution, as I like ocean sailing! Any ideas would help, and thanks in advance. I have attached a picture of the inside, and outside of the area where the cracks are.