Sunrader Metal Edging Where Two Fiberglass Shells Meet

[RudyH]

Not sure what it's called but I'm thinking of removing the metal bumper strip that is over the seam where the two fiberglass shells (top and bottom) meet up. Doing some painting of some fiberglass repairs and thought it might be nice to get rid of the metal and just sand the fiberglass seam a little and paint. Does anyone know if the metal bumper strip actually does anything structural as far as holding together the two halves? It looks to me like it was put on to hold the fiberglass shells in place and then the seam was actually fiberglassed over from the inside meaning that the fiberglass is the structural support and the metal trim is just cosmetic trim over the seam. Thoughts...?

[snail powered]

Not sure what it's called but I'm thinking of removing the metal bumper strip that is over the seam where the two fiberglass shells (top and bottom) meet up. Doing some painting of some fiberglass repairs and thought it might be nice to get rid of the metal and just sand the fiberglass seam a little and paint. Does anyone know if the metal bumper strip actually does anything structural as far as holding together the two halves? It looks to me like it was put on to hold the fiberglass shells in place and then the seam was actually fiberglassed over from the inside meaning that the fiberglass is the structural support and the metal trim is just cosmetic trim over the seam. Thoughts...?

I have investigated the situation. It is not a structural component it is just a decorative trim strip to cover up what is underneath it, a fairly rough and ugly joint line that does not have a smooth transition between halves of the shell. The joint is fiberglassed together on the inside of the shell.