2001 Launch - crack at bow eye, gelcoat or structural? Need a straight answer.

[Nate33]

2001 Supra Launch, direct drive, original bow (trailering) eye. Photos attached. Trying to get honest eyes on this before I trust it.

ThereÂ’s a crack running through the glass right at the base of the bow eye, and the surface around it looks torn, like exposed fiber, not a clean gelcoat line. A few people have told me itÂ’s superficial. IÂ’m not sold, because that torn fiber looks like more than gelcoat to me.

Context so nobodyÂ’s guessing:

• Boat’s in the water now on Lake Wallenpaupack. At the dock in a decent chop, the eye held with zero visible movement.
• BoatMate trailer.
• My ramp is up a hill, so the eye takes a real winch load coming out. That’s why I want to know what I’ve got before I pull it.

Questions:

1. From the photos, gelcoat crazing only, or laminate damage? What should I scrape or poke to know for sure?
2. WhatÂ’s behind the bow eye on a 2001 Launch, a wood block, foam, or solid glass? What should a healthy backing look like from inside the bow?
3. Anyone had the bow eye crack or pull on a Launch? What did the fix involve, and what did it run?
4. BoatMate: if the bow stop sits too high and the boatÂ’s been hanging back on the eye every haul-out, could that have cracked it? WhatÂ’s the right bow stop adjustment to take the load off?
5. Getting it out up a hill ramp without trusting the eye, IÂ’m thinking float it on deep, drop the bow stop, and run a backup line off the cleat. Right approach, or is there a better one?

I can do glass work, but it’s the tow eye so I’m not guessing on it. Straight talk welcome, including “you’re overthinking it” if that’s the truth.IMG_8966.jpgIMG_8966.jpg

[h2o-ski]

My question is why is the keel the entire length down to the laminate? I would like for closer and bigger pictures of the area to be sure.

As long as the fiberglass was laid correctly, you should not have to dig into the glass. The most likely backing for the bow eye is some form of composite. The repair depends on the damage, you will need to get a look at the interior as you need to see the if the nuts are pulling through. The bow stop should be above the bow eye, not below it.