Skateboard decks tend to develop pressure cracks around where the bolts connect the deck to the trucks.

I wonder if this might be decreased, and the lifespan of a deck extended, if an added layer of protection were added between the bolts and the wood of the deck. My concern is that for the board rider this would lead to a difference of riding experience, for there'd be a change in what force is directed where.

I now think that my ability to test this relies upon the standard diameter of holes drilled into the decks and the diameter of bolts used. When there is a gap between the diameters of either, the bolt would move around oddly, applying pressure to the deck in odd ways. For configurations with gaps, which would enable me to test it, the setup might already be dis-optimal, so my test results would be biased if I used those as a reference point (for comparison).