Westerly wood

[Humblebee]

For filling holes there is a trick of using the sanding dust with a light coloured glue like Tightbond to form a stiff paste filler which is sanded back you can even use superglue but I have found that is darker than the original wood. It won't give you an invisible repair but it can be made very close. You won't have the dust from scraping the panels so you are going to have to find a piece of wood that's a good match and sand it to get the dust then experiment a bit.

"In glue and dust
We put our trust.
If that won't serve
Then putty must."

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

Can you post some more contextual pictures please.
I have a Griffon mk1 and may be able to help.
If you are talking about the main bulk head attachment to the compression post below the mast then it is fixed with double sided stickey tape (to hold it in place I assume) and self tapping screws.
Mine came away one day when the table flopped down coming out of Chichester against the tide.
Re fixed it with m8 ss machine screws with dome nuts. Looks very pretty and saved having to hide the screw heads.

 

[MJWB]

I would be reluctant to take that panel off as I suspect it is glued on in addition to the fastenings. If there is no sign of leaking nor visible water then the water damage may be old. It takes a long time to dry out and suggest you try running a dehumidifier and possibly a fan heater on a low setting for a few days and monitor the moisture readings. I repaired a leak in the wooden cabin top on my boat last September and the damp sound ply is still not fully dry.

The area to the left of the post maybe needs a bit more investigation. What is on the other side of the bulkhead at the point where the varnish is discoloured? Is that area also higher moisture content?

There was a bit of water under the cabin deck board when I lifted it a couple of weeks ago. Appeared to have tracked from the limber hole at the foot of the post. No more has appeared in the last few weeks.
On the other side of the bulkhead is the heads but that has a plastic moulded section and there is no sign of water there. Boat has been out of the water since November. Yes the dark bit has high moisture readings. I'm mystified. Wondering about condensation.

 

[MJWB]

Can you post some more contextual pictures please.
I have a Griffon mk1 and may be able to help.
If you are talking about the main bulk head attachment to the compression post below the mast then it is fixed with double sided stickey tape (to hold it in place I assume) and self tapping screws.
Mine came away one day when the table flopped down coming out of Chichester against the tide.
Re fixed it with m8 ss machine screws with dome nuts. Looks very pretty and saved having to hide the screw heads.

Andrew not sure what more contextual pics might help. It is that bulkhead to whhich you refer. There is damp in the horizontal patch as shown. Makes me think moisture is running along something horizontal behind. There was/are high moisture readings in the very base of that wooden post. I thought there would be a metal compression post behind that but dont know. There is also a bit sticking up to the right of that post.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

On my boat there is just a substantial length of hard wood. No metal...
I suspect that any water has come through the connection for the steaming light through the deck.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

There was a bit of water under the cabin deck board when I lifted it a couple of weeks ago. Appeared to have tracked from the limber hole at the foot of the post. No more has appeared in the last few weeks.
On the other side of the bulkhead is the heads but that has a plastic moulded section and there is no sign of water there. Boat has been out of the water since November. Yes the dark bit has high moisture readings. I'm mystified. Wondering about condensation.

That water could have come from a long way away...
My boat went back in the water at the beginning of April and first day out I found a lot of water in the heads bilge.
After a minor panic I realised it was fresh. Tracked back the leak to the cockpit locker!
PM if you want to talk it though..

 

[Concerto]

MJWB had his out of the water, so it will not be sitting the same as in the water, plus the hull will flex slightly as well. This could cause water to run in a different way and cause the damp patch. From what has been said you are lucky that it should have been fresh water not salt.