diff --git a/docs/mainnet-bootstrap.md b/docs/mainnet-bootstrap.md
index 63abafd..b8fc6f2 100644
--- a/docs/mainnet-bootstrap.md
+++ b/docs/mainnet-bootstrap.md
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export DEPLOYER_ADDRESS="$(cast wallet address --private-key $DEPLOYER_KEY)"
 
 ## Step 1 — Deploy contracts (pool init)
 
-Run the mainnet deploy script. The inline bootstrap section in `DeployBase.sol` will revert on a fresh pool — that is expected. All contract deployments that precede the bootstrap attempt will succeed and be confirmed on-chain.
+Run the mainnet deploy script. `DeployBase.sol` wraps the inline `recenter()` call in a try/catch, so if the pool is too fresh for the TWAP oracle the bootstrap is skipped with a warning and the deployment still succeeds. The deploy script then prints instructions directing you to complete the bootstrap manually.
 
 ```bash
 cd onchain
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ forge script script/DeployBaseMainnet.sol \
   --private-key $DEPLOYER_KEY
 ```
 
-> **Note:** If Forge aborts the simulation before broadcast due to the `recenter()` revert, see [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting) below for how to separate the deploy from the bootstrap.
+> **Note:** If the script still aborts during simulation (e.g., due to an older version of `DeployBase.sol` without the try/catch), see [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting) for how to separate the deploy from the bootstrap.
 
 After the broadcast completes, record the addresses from the console output:
 
@@ -155,12 +155,11 @@ cast send $WETH \
   --private-key $DEPLOYER_KEY
 
 # Step 4c — Seed buy: swap 0.005 WETH → KRAIKEN via the 1 % pool
-#   Struct fields: tokenIn, tokenOut, fee, recipient, deadline, amountIn, amountOutMinimum, sqrtPriceLimitX96
-DEADLINE=$(( $(cast block latest --rpc-url $BASE_RPC --field timestamp) + 1800 ))
-
+#   SwapRouter02 exactInputSingle struct (7 fields — no deadline):
+#   tokenIn, tokenOut, fee, recipient, amountIn, amountOutMinimum, sqrtPriceLimitX96
 cast send $SWAP_ROUTER \
-  "exactInputSingle((address,address,uint24,address,uint256,uint256,uint256,uint160))(uint256)" \
-  "($WETH,$KRAIKEN,10000,$DEPLOYER_ADDRESS,$DEADLINE,5000000000000000,0,0)" \
+  "exactInputSingle((address,address,uint24,address,uint256,uint256,uint160))(uint256)" \
+  "($WETH,$KRAIKEN,10000,$DEPLOYER_ADDRESS,5000000000000000,0,0)" \
   --rpc-url $BASE_RPC \
   --private-key $DEPLOYER_KEY
 
@@ -199,13 +198,14 @@ done
 The second `recenter()` hits the bootstrap path inside `LiquidityManager`: `cumulativeVolume == 0` and `ethFee > 0`, so it records the VWAP price anchor and sets `cumulativeVolume > 0`, permanently closing the bootstrap window.
 
 ```bash
-export LM_ADDRESS="$LM_ADDRESS"   # must be set
-
+# LM_ADDRESS must already be set from Step 1.
+# BootstrapVWAPPhase2.s.sol reads the broadcaster key from the .secret
+# seed-phrase file in onchain/ (same as DeployBase.sol). Ensure that file
+# is present; the --private-key CLI flag is NOT used by this script.
 forge script script/BootstrapVWAPPhase2.s.sol \
   --tc BootstrapVWAPPhase2 \
   --rpc-url $BASE_RPC \
-  --broadcast \
-  --private-key $DEPLOYER_KEY
+  --broadcast
 ```
 
 The script asserts `cumulativeVolume > 0` and will fail with an explicit message if the bootstrap did not succeed.
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ cast balance $LM_ADDRESS --rpc-url $BASE_RPC
 
 Foundry simulates the entire `run()` function before broadcasting anything. If the inline bootstrap in `DeployBase.sol` causes the simulation to fail, no transactions are broadcast.
 
-**Workaround:** Comment out the bootstrap block (lines marked `VWAP Bootstrap`) in `DeployBase.sol` locally before running the deploy script, then restore it afterward. The bootstrap is then performed manually using Steps 3–6 above.
+**Workaround:** Comment out the bootstrap block in `DeployBase.sol` locally (lines 101–145, from `// =====================================================================` through `seedSwapper.executeSeedBuy{ value: SEED_SWAP_ETH }(sender);`) before running the deploy script, then restore it afterward. The bootstrap is then performed manually using Steps 3–6 above.
 
 ### `recenter()` reverts with "price deviated from oracle"
 
diff --git a/onchain/script/DeployBase.sol b/onchain/script/DeployBase.sol
index 15c58fd..8f66cdf 100644
--- a/onchain/script/DeployBase.sol
+++ b/onchain/script/DeployBase.sol
@@ -128,17 +128,24 @@ contract DeployBase is Script {
         console.log("feeDestination set to", feeDest);
 
         // Step 2: Fund LM and place initial bootstrap positions.
-        //   NOTE: recenter() requires TWAP history (>= 300s since pool init).
-        //         On Base mainnet this call will revert if the pool is too fresh.
+        //   recenter() requires TWAP history (>= 300s since pool init).
+        //   On a fresh mainnet pool this will revert; the try/catch allows the
+        //   deploy to succeed and the operator completes the bootstrap manually
+        //   by following docs/mainnet-bootstrap.md.
         (bool funded,) = address(liquidityManager).call{ value: SEED_LM_ETH }("");
         require(funded, "Failed to fund LM for seed bootstrap");
-        liquidityManager.recenter();
-        console.log("First recenter complete -> positions placed, cumulativeVolume still 0");
+        try liquidityManager.recenter() {
+            console.log("First recenter complete -> positions placed, cumulativeVolume still 0");
 
-        // Step 3: Seed buy -> generates a non-zero fee in the anchor position.
-        SeedSwapper seedSwapper = new SeedSwapper(weth, address(pool), token0isWeth);
-        seedSwapper.executeSeedBuy{ value: SEED_SWAP_ETH }(sender);
-        console.log("Seed buy executed -> fee generated in anchor position");
+            // Step 3: Seed buy -> generates a non-zero fee in the anchor position.
+            SeedSwapper seedSwapper = new SeedSwapper(weth, address(pool), token0isWeth);
+            seedSwapper.executeSeedBuy{ value: SEED_SWAP_ETH }(sender);
+            console.log("Seed buy executed -> fee generated in anchor position");
+        } catch {
+            console.log("WARNING: recenter() reverted - inline bootstrap skipped.");
+            console.log("  Pool likely has < 300 s of TWAP history.");
+            console.log("  Follow docs/mainnet-bootstrap.md (Phase 2 steps) to complete.");
+        }
 
         // Step 4: Second recenter records VWAP (bootstrap path + ethFee > 0).
         //   Cannot be called in the same Forge broadcast as Step 2 — recenter() enforces a
@@ -153,7 +160,7 @@ contract DeployBase is Script {
         console.log("Optimizer:", optimizerAddress);
         console.log("\nPost-deploy steps:");
         console.log("  1. Wait >= 60 s after this script finishes.");
-        console.log("  2. Run: forge script script/BootstrapVWAPPhase2.s.sol --tc BootstrapVWAPPhase2 --fork-url <RPC> --broadcast");
+        console.log("  2. Run: forge script script/BootstrapVWAPPhase2.s.sol --tc BootstrapVWAPPhase2 --rpc-url <RPC> --broadcast");
         console.log("     This performs the second recenter that records cumulativeVolume > 0.");
         console.log("  3. Fund LiquidityManager with operational ETH.");
         console.log("  4. recenter() is permissionless - any address (e.g. txnBot) can call it.");