I spent time removing the old teak base and the old chain pipe for the old Ideal windlass. (A new windlass will replace the old Ideal.) Other than some coming deck destruction/rebuilding for the new chainplates, this was the last item to remove before getting serious with priming and painting. At some point over the years a little water managed to seep into some of the balsa core. Bolts for both had simply been put through the balsa core without properly sealing off those spots. Not smart.

The repair went as such:

1. Grind away the outer layer of fiberglass to expose all of the damaged balsa.
2. Dig out all of the damaged balsa (with a Dremel tool).
3. Tape the holes under the deck.
4. Fill the bottom ~ 1/8" of each hole with System Three QuickFair placed directly on the tape being careful that the filler is in contact with the edge of the lower layer of fiberglass all the way around. This seal will provide a base for the following buildup as well as ensure that none of the soaking epoxy leaks through.
5. Proceed after the QuickFair kicks.
6. Soak the exposed balsa with acetone, and let it dry.
7. Wipe down all of the exposed fiberglass with solvent. Let dry.
8. Saturate the entire area with epoxy.
9. Fill the edges of the holes that were dug into the balsa with thickened epoxy to provide a taper for the fiberglass cloth. Cloth does not do sharp corners.
10. Layer in 8 0z. fiberglass cloth circles set in epoxy until built up to an even surface almost at the original deck height. Begin with circles (albeit a bit irregular in outline) the maximum radius of the hole and step in with pieces of progressively lesser diameter.
11. Laminate a few layers of heavy cloth soaked in epoxy to the prepared underside. Preparation involves removing the tape and roughly grinding to fresh fiberglass.
12. Fill and fair and sand with long board (several times).

Repair is almost complete.

Lots of parts and paint arrived for a summer's work.

New custom bow and stern rails are ordered from Stainless Outfitters in Ontario.