Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Strut Pad

Posted By: Charlie Haws
Date: Sunday, 17 April 2005, at 8:34 p.m.

I have been helping a friend redo a couple of 28 Bertram Strut Pads. His strut bolts were leaking and it seem like a good idea to rip into it. Much to my suprise there was no bond to the wood on either the hull side or the fiberglass cloth side. Yes the wood was wet; but in good shape. It was 1 inch solid mahogany; wet but not rotten. I was suprised the polyester had not bonded even a little. I have one layup done using 1/2 inch marine plywood glass cloth sandwich we increased the size of the pad; and will get a good bond this time using West Epoxy.