Re: Replacing rotten wood
I just recovered some pieces just like you're talking about. You'll need to see if they are bolted or screwed to the hull or gunnels. If bolted, you'll definately need to be careful when removing so that you can use the old wood as a template. After stripping off the vinyl and foam, I used the old wood as a pattern on some 1/2" exterior ply. After cutting, I carefull marked and drilled the holes for the new bolts. I then inserted stainless machine screws thru the ply and used a nut on the hull side to hold them in place. I then applied several coats of polyurethane to seal the wood. Since the vinyl and foam padding were in good shape, I was able to reapply and staple them with 3/8" staples. I then used a vinly cleaner/restorer to bring the color back to the vinyl. There are quite a few trim pieces that are similar so I went ahead and bought a box of the stainless screws, nuts, and washers since I can see I'll be using quite a few as the rebuild on boat takes shape.
Once you start taking thing apart, you'll notice that it starts to make sense.