So I lifted the mast step and drilled 3 holes in the deck area underneath the step. There appears to be a void after I go through the deck skin and then I pull up gritty wood fiber. So my assumption is that I have water incursion in this area and rotten balsa core. As soon as I tap outside the step area the deck sounds solid instead of the dull thump I get where I drilled.

So the area seems to be restricted. Will thinned resin or Git Rot work well. One of the fellows I have breakfast with used Git Rot on his Ensign and it has remained solid.

John