Casting deck rebuild 1969 20'

[JW-Tex]

The casting deck on my 20 had a major crack along the port side and sagged when you put weight on it…I finally cut out the entire casting deck last weekend. My casting deck was cored with marine plywood which is still solid has a layer of glass on the underside as well. The area that cracked was the transition from the gunnel to the deck which was just fiberglass and was probably just not thick enough to hold up. I am going to cut the deck open and add an in the floor fuel tank as well. When I rebuild the area I am extending the deck forward about 18 inches and thus the casting deck will be smaller. I am raising the casting deck about 3-4 inches and will install a baitwell underneath. My boat still has the original deck in it and it is still very solid after 37 years.