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DIY Sailboat Repair - Bulwark DEMOLITION - Cutting Out the ROT!
January 11, 2026 · 21 min · 10K views · on the owner's driveway
What this video covers
John continues the structural restoration of the bulwarks on his 1989 Liberty 458, Antidote, by removing rotted plywood core material along the starboard side.▶ 0:40 The construction features two layers of plywood encased in fiberglass, with chain plates and stanchions mounted directly through the bulwark structure.▶ 1:21 To access the rot, he uses a chainsaw for bulk removal, followed by a die grinder with a 10-inch long single-cut burr bit to clean the internal surfaces for bonding.▶ 8:51 He also employs an oscillating tool with inexpensive blades for tighter sections.▶ 15:51 During the process, he encountered unexpected rubber material near an aft scupper and a structural bulge near a chain plate, which he attributes to rig tension pulling the bulwark inward as the core decayed.▶ 17:30 Moisture meter readings indicate the core has dried from a 26% baseline to approximately 10%, making the area ready for new core material in the spring.▶ 18:27 He is currently evaluating options for the replacement core, including solid material or a pour-in repair compound.▶ 19:13
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