The compromise: (see total removal) previous

I attempted to cut away my deck similar to the Fairlies, but because my boat was a Southern California boat,  my core was in very good condition in most places, and therefore that core was firmly attached to both the top and the bottom layers of deck glass, when I attempted to pull the glass away from the balsa I felt I was destroying more than rebuilding. I could have carved the balsa out but when I started to go in from the toe rail I was carving out perfectly good dry balsa. So I took the advice of several sailors and:

1.Carved out the core from the rot affected areas.

2. Drill holes upstream from the area.

3. Fill the holes with epoxy.

As you can see you get pretty nice results taping the edges and filling it in with epoxy.

Conclusion:

I don't think this method is any easier, in fact it might be messier and more difficult.

It is less intrusive.

Depending on the level of rot it might be faster, more rot and it might not be.

Epoxy is nice but is heavier than balsa.  

It's not as bullet proof, I know somewhere deep in there lies some rot ...... somewhere.

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