I'm looking at notching my cross braces in my boat because I don't like exposed cross braces. I have seen some boats where it looks like they took 2x2x1/8 tubing and notched it so that it has just the top side exposed, so that would only put a 1/8" gap between the bottom and the brace you could make the notch less deep and have more exposed on the top like let's say a 1/4" or 1/2". I'm just wondering how much gap I need under my cross braces to prevent hooks. I also have some 1.5"x1.5"x3/16" tubing that I could use and have more gap but that tubing doesn't have the bend strength of the 2x2. My hull is1/8" thick with 2x2s on 7" centers, I'm just wondering what material to use and how much gap I'd need.