Very few of the damaged boats I have seen on Ebay are worthwhile. When
they say "slight easily repairable damage", it seems to mean the glass
has been crushed in such a way that the layers have delaminated over
the entire side.

Thomas,
I somewhat disagree with the previous posts, in that if you do have a
strut, it is common to call the incorporated bushing/bearing the strut
bearing,there is still another (cutlass bearing) in the exterior or
both ends of the shaft log...a strut is only present when there is a
fair distance from the cutlass bearing to the end of the shaft,
creating a need for additional support...
Regards,
markvictor