Don't know that continuing to haul the mast down into the boat is a quick fix. The deck lamination, balsa core & inner lam is an incredibly strong, stiff and almost incompressible composit, even with the point load of the stick on its pad against the opposing post inside.
Any depression or flattening of the designed curve of the deck you can see inside has got to be a fault in the compression post support.
338 had a depression that turned out not to be rot, but just settling, old age shrinking and constant rigging pressure.
Any fix has to take place without the mast up and with the deck in its natural arch. Then like the V.C. sez: get the post fitted exactly bottom and top - with the deck up in its relaxed state.
After tapping the suspected area on the deck for hollow sounds (assuming that you don't have a trampoline effect by jumpin on it,) and finding what the probable cause for the problem is (thru holes for electrics and/or fittings) - here is a idea for a temporary fix:
Chart the suspected area with a pencil. Start drilling 5/16" holes thru the top deck only into the balsa. Stop drilling where you bring up pink wood. Space the holes maybe 1 1/2" apart. Inject low viscosity epoxy into the holes until they top out. I've found 2 ounce syringes at my local plastics emporium that work well. The idea is to create little I supports in place of the rotted stuff. Low vis epoxy will soak into and replace the rotted stuff. There may be moisture inside but if you are lucky you'll get enuf epoxy in for new support and the moisture will eventually disapate Comments anyone?
If consensus sez go for it - the deck lamination is about 5/32" on top of the 3/8" balsa and less than 1/16" on the inside (338), so watch the drill pressure, or you'll go right on thru and will have to tape alot.
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