Another question (I really appreciate everyone's help!!) Where the driver and passenger seat pedestals mounted to the floor, there was a black plastic ring with nuts embedded in it, which the seat pedestals bolted in. There were oversized holes drilled through the floor to allow access to the nuts in the ring. None of this was sealed, and I'm sure was a significant source of water entry. (Those areas of the floor under the seats were super squishy!)
I'd like to avoid repeating this design flaw. Two thoughts some to mind:
1. Do the same thing but seal the heck out of the wood, then epoxy the ring to the underside of the floor (to prevent water intrusion around the ring), and 4200 the pedestal bolts when they go back in, to prevent water entry through the nuts in the ring. (Probably also goop a bunch of 4200 in the holes through the wood, as well, to try to keep water out (water will find its way in, I have no doubt...)
2. Laminate a hunk of 3/4" ply to the *top* of the floor, with embedded t-nuts (and with that hunk of ply also sealed), so that there are no holes in the floor itself. If/when that hunk of ply finally rots (for whoever the owner might be at that point...), at least they'd only need to replace that hunk of wood, vs the whole stinking floor. This would, however, complicate laying of floor covering, as there'd be extra material in those spots needed to cover the raised/laminated pedestal blocks. (So, I could see this leading to wrinkles in the carpet in that vicinity, as extra material would be needed to go over those plates, but wouldn't be needed in the area between the seats...)
Other thoughts/suggestions? (I realize this is a long way off, but I'm just trying to think ahead a bit.)
Got home late again tonight, so still haven't drilled into the transom. Tomorrow evening, for sure!!