To bed or not to bed?

[Shalfleet]

I found the article on bedding compounds interesting in this month's Woodenboat. I think I should use some sort of sealer to bed the Oarlock sockets in our Sand Dollar skiff, but I am concerned that they will never come out as the fit is quite tight already.

What would be the best bedding compound that would allow easy removal, or should I leave the sockets as-is? I have sealed the bare wood with epoxy so I am hoping rot will not be too much of an issue.

Thanks!

[ishmael]

I assume you've mortised the sockets into a pad? Bed them with one of the oil based bedding compounds like Dolphinite, ala the article in WB. These goops are non-adhesive. Even if you've sealed the wood underneath, the bedding is good insurance against a break in the epoxy, and will still allow you to pop the socket out. If they are mounted in a pad on an open gunwhale you can usually get underneath the socket and put pressure on the barrel with a properly sized piece of wood.

[Ed Harrow]

Oh, sorry, I thought this was about something else.

[ishmael]

:D