OK Don......we now have a few more things to consider
............so based upon
1. it is a static display model only
2. the planking strips being uniform and not thinned by shinkage
3. there is ZERO access under the fore deck
4. it is not a French Polished surface
5. you do not wish a complete strip down and replacement of the foredeck planking.....[and associated
]
You haven't much choice
On OZ we have a product called Mastertouch Carnuabra Wax.......probably a synthetic spreadable version of Bees Wax with a few modern day chemicals mixed in......[I am sure in the Land of the Free an equivalent product would be available]
Procedure 1. place the hull in the sunlight for 30 minutes
2. take a small 1" square of 800 Wet & dry paper......fold in half.....insert fully into the depth of the crack & with gentle rubbing motion, loosen/remove those flaking thread sections on either sider of the crack
3. blow out the dust [won't be much] with a plastic drinking straw aimed into the crack
4. with a clean soft cotton rag, wipe the Mastertouch Wax into the crack....leaving a slight excess over the length of the crack
5. place the hull in the sun again for 30 minutes.....softly brush the clean cotton cloth along the length of the crack
6. any excess wax can be easily wiped off the adjoining planks as they will be unaffected by some simple wax
Outcome The Mastertouch Wax will penetrate to the lower level where the planks join the foredeck timber. This will do what the label says...it will
Nourish the timbers
which I suspect means adding natural oils back to the substrate of the timbers and hence preventing further drying out of the timber
If you found that the Wax literally disappeared after the 30 minutes in the sun I would not be concerned.......it's just gone to
Nourish additional timbers in the foredcek
Be interesting to see what other members suggest
Derek