BoatworksToday · video

What this video covers

Andy investigates widespread stress cracks and excessive deck flex on a Bertram bridge deck that supposedly underwent a prior structural restoration.1:40 Despite the boat sitting in cold storage for two to three years, the deck exhibits new cracking and significant movement underfoot.0:32 A straightedge test reveals a gap of nearly an eighth of an inch near the windshield, suggesting the previous repair involved excessive grinding that removed too much material without adequate reinforcement.3:20 Moisture meter readings confirm the core is dry, and a tap test indicates the original plywood remains well-bonded from below.4:23 To resolve the structural instability, the plan is to build up the deck from the top side using several layers of 1708 fiberglass cloth.6:27 This approach utilizes gravity to simplify the layup process and adds sufficient thickness to prevent future cracking.6:55

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