[paulk]

Sounds like the right place for a dutchman, though without being on the scene, it''s impossible to be 100% certain. If you square off the damaged section you can replace it with a carefully matched piece. You''ll want to make sure the repair is big enough to take a few fastenings, especially since a stanchion is involved, and you may want to pay the joint with the black stuff (thiokol?) to make it look like the others. For better info from people who''ve probably done this twenty times, go to the woodenboat website (you''ll have to register) and check under the repairs section.