Post your question over at the main owners' site,
www.ericsonyachts.org.
Lots of owners of sister ships there.
There are a ton of older boats (all makes and models) with deck-stepped masts that, over the decades, develop some rot in the plywood under the original step. Preventable with regular attention to re-bedding all the deck hardware, but sadly this is usually left for the 3rd or 8th owner to tackle.
If the cabin top is subsiding due to core rot, you will likely have to open it up from the top once you have the spar off. New core - use something like frp plating (aka
G10) and then rebuild the surface and match the gel coat or use a matching LPU paint.
Not too difficult for a patient amateur, but it will be a learning experience. Other owners will have very good narrative and pictures to share.
Regards,
LB
