Wayne,

Good info. I'm glad you said what you did about "root cause". I really
should know by now that there is no use trying something that will probably
turn out to be a band-aid...it usually just makes a mess and the problem
harder to solve. Thanks for remiding me to do the research on this
before goofing with it.

Now that I think about it I have briefly met two different pro boat
restorers
and I'll bet if I took the boat to them on the trailer they'd sped a half
hour
telling me what they think. That would probably be well worth the expense
of the trip and a case of beer and/or some $$ for their time.

Thanks!