Well Bob.... it's a standard method of checking for dry rot. But don't let
the fact that I've worked with boat builders and fisherman

According to informed folk, my friend was right. It's a good idea to change the
wedges after 5-10 years. Removing them means redoing the boot, so might as well
put new wedges in. As for using her knife, you've made a total idiot of
yourself suggesting that she was pushing the blade into the end grain.
Yikes. I'll let you figure out what she was doing...think hard!

RB