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can I walk on the front bow or not???

S

stlcheckmate

Member
Hello all, bored out of my mind in the dead of winter..so decided to post some questions..I own a 88 enchanter and I was wondering if I can walk on the bow? Its a closed bow 20 footer..Its black and red and white, so thats what Im worried about is if its stong enough to walk on or will it cause spider cracking??

Thanks
Chris

oh and im not a small guy about 250lbs..:shakehead::shakehead:
 
Walking on closed bow Checkmate

I bought my 235 last year and the first thing I was told was "don't walk on the bow". If you must get up there walk the edges.

I have crawled up to the front twice but you can feel the fiberglass flex (and that CAN'T be good). I weigh 220.

I'd stay off it if you value the gelcoat and fiberglass.
 
not recommended

It may not be recommended, but mine is an 82', I have jumped on it for 20+ years, and have had people stand on it/lay on it - not 1 spider crack. Again, it is not recommended - but I have yet to hear of a mate on this site or anywhere else report problems with the bow of the boat (besides the gel fading!)
 
I recently bought an 87 starflite.

The boat has spider cracks all over the cockpit area, but I have yet to find one on the front, and it appears as though the front is bowed in a little (like a heavy weight was on it:))....
 
Had an 85 Enchanter and I have been on the center of the bow numerous times as well as guests on the boat. You can feel the flex from the weight, but never any sign of cracks. There were very small cracks along the 'seam' where the bow and deck meet, but I attribute that to flexing of the boat during rough rides and not from anyone on the bow itself.

Don't know if I would jump on it, but I was never afraid to get up on it.
 
I am on the bow of my 251 regularly - never does it flex
or show signs of having done so - and I am 205 lbs. There
were 3 or 4 of us standing on it during the fireworks show
a couple years back and I had no worries-probably 500 lbs
standing on it with no problems - a solidly built boat!
(its an '89)
 
Mine has been walked on a good bit. The previous owner noticed cracking in the gel and added some supports underneath to aid the problem. I have been on it a few times, but avoid it if possible. I don't want to crack anything that hasn't already been cracked in 30+ years. (Yes, the Tach has been changed and matches now;))
underdash1sm.jpg
 
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To each there own, But after 14 seasons of as having as much as 4 adults on the bow I don't or ever had a proplem.I've even designed a nice little bow blanket to incurage the party to move to the bow.


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After 14 seasons of me beating on mine out on the big water of St. Clair, Erie, and the Detroit River.Lets just say,Resale value is not one of my worries.I say go for it.:thumb:
 
same here, i encourage people on the bow of my boat, with a blanket of course, and have been up there, walked there and i am a big guy 240 lbs and no problems just tread lightly no jumping jacks. the support beam runs right down the center on my starflite, i imagine its the same on an enchanter and the strongest spot. it flexes a little when walking but when i am flying through the rough water the deck really flexes, you can watch it bounce up and down and when I first bought the boat it kinda freaked me out but it's normal and I don't have a single crack either.
 
Ive had my gf and her two freinds:bigthumb: on the bow dancing after a few drinks.Mine did not show any signs of damage at all(I personaly am willing to risk it for that). I know my buddy and I sure enjoyed the show though.
 
Now, now boys! there'll be none of that behavior! if it continues I'll have to send the checkmate school marm..... w/ ruler .......

sm-2.jpg

........to clear the deck and straighten you boys out!:thumb:
 
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