Hi all, on my list of projects I should do this off season is to get at the heart of some possible damage to the deck under the mast that seems to translate all the way down to the cabin floor of my M-23. The deck under the mast step is a bit depressed and you can see looking at the bulkhead (https://picasaweb.google.com/110938325409185510143/M23#5944278538823853202) that the ceiling of the cabin under the mast step is depressed as is the cabin floor (photo in album). The whole area has been this way since the boat came to me from CA and I found this summer that the area was leaking quite a bit so I feel that for a couple reasons I need to see what the situation is in the deck itself in this area and at the base of the compression post. My question is does anyone know whether: 1.) is the deck under the mast step plywood core? 2.) what does the compression post or what should it rest on (I am guessing the keel but the keel is a vague concept for me at this point not knowing what is under the molded floor). Thanks! Robbin M-23