Better to know about (And properly fix) any problems now. Nothing is unrepairable, and its easier to do it correctly than twice.

Like I say if man built man can fix it...

Drake,
Thank you, I missed your reply earlier. Presently I'm not in a hurry, this month has me too busy with other stuff and 1st two weeks of October are a vacation . .long overdue!!! After that it's full bore so I can ski this winter and NOT work on the boat!!
You can mail it to me here:
Mario Langsten
VSR1.com
3 Robinson Rd.
Bow, NH 03304

Mario,
Besides cracking in the insert area from filling, I would bet there are issues with the coring in the deck. Around fuel fills, vents and other hardware there is a high probability of water intrusion over the years. We cut out about 4-5 areas when redoing mine. I'll check to see if any of the pieces cut out have the insert edge for reference if it helps.
- Marshall

Also, if you are considering teak, look at "NuTeak" , its a thin laminate that I am told looks quite real but I have not seen it in person.

Marshal,

I very much recall your thread on Donzi.net, and the work you put into the Starfire. My deck has no stress cracking other than the areas where the past owner did "body work" before repainting 25 years ago. His work was automotive style with bondo to seal the front edge of the Vee windshield riser, and he filled in the recessed area. As the boat was always covered nothing ever got wet. (till this past week, read below) I've drilled the deck in numerous places to install the center lifeline, and replaced the horn and perko scoops and fuel tank fill caps and all is dry.

I didn't work on the boat all summer, just left it outside with only a cockpit cover. BIG MISTAKE! This did allow the sun to bake my deck and I can now clearly see the outline of the insert. This wasn't clearly visible at the beginning of summer. The entire relief area is now cracked like the lakes in CA. It only rained a few days during this time, but one storm was a deluge, and water did run in thru the open holes from the scoops. Most of this ran into the cabin space. Some pooled in the compartments outboard of the fuel tanks, but with my lowered cockpit floor the drains for these are now sealed. Water over flowed into foam from the fuel tanks . . . cuss words word for miles!
Time to pull the tanks . . all this was dry after all these years and my own stupidity caused this additional work. My tanks are aluminum and are clean inside, but if that water freezes damage will happen. ARRGHH I'm frustrated .

Mario

Ugh Mario, sorry to hear about having to remove your tanks. I will be doing similar work this winter to replace my reserve tank which is original and began leaking. Located in between 2 bulkheads 30" apart it will be a real fight.

Perhaps your 68' has a different layup of the deck, mine has balsa coring on the outer non insert area and a very thin plywood layer in the insert.

- M

from inside the boat I can see the plywood below the outer deck insert. There is balsa core where the vents and fuel fills are and at the bow where I relocated my bow light to. Fortunately I haven't found any signs of moisture anywhere in this boat. . . YET!

Off to Italy for 2 weeks and then back at this! Done by Xmas!!!

Mario