Deck step repair, glass, wood and "moisture wick?"

[seitzinger]

I have cut through the gelocoat, glass, pulled off an aluminum plate, cut through more glass and epoxy, and reached the rotted wood directly under the step. Pulled out the rotted wood and will replace with white oak which I will epoxy before inserting.The issue I found, is that I see what appears to be a moisture wick running own the starboard side of the crossbeam (like what is used in brick laying) - but not on the port side where the VHF cable runs, which appears to be pretty much open!a) Has anyone seen this wick before?b) If I epoxy in the replacement wood, should I make a special effort to keep the wick from getting epoxy on it?c) Should I also run wick on the port side and if so where would it go???The web page has several photos of the "progress" and hopefully illustrates the wick I am speaking about.Thanks,Marty

 

[Paul I]

I think I saw that "wick" in mine as well

When I had to run some wiring for wind instumentation I had to open the compression post area (incedently, no water damage at all with mine). What you believe to be a "moisture wick", I thought was a messenger line. I found similar lines in other places in the boat, mosty notably the arch on either side of the compression post.

 

[seitzinger]

I would think it was a messenger, but when I look to the starb side, I see that there is no gap at all, and it is solidly sandwhiched into the glass channel in which the crossbeam resides.