many questions about repairing/replacing stringers

[tartuffe]

My eyes are not so great that I can get an idea of why the gelcoat is coming off in chunks if I am seeing that correctly.

Regarding the foam, people will say it leads to rot, absorbs water.......If not built properly it, sure it could lead to rot. Question is do you want the boat to last 30 more years full of flotation or 100 years and you are one piece of debris in the water away from having your family in the water awaiting rescue?

If you put drains in your rod holders and consider how water gets under the deck, you can figure out how minimize water intrusion. My boat was 30 years old when I ripped it apart and the only place i found water saturated foam was under the fuel tank. It got there from the bulkheads rotting out.