Ply deck under tank

[dcobbett]

Regarding the plywood deck/floor under the fuel tank; how far does it extend forward and aft of the actual tank area? On my hull, it seems to go right up under the blocks of foam on either end of the tank cavity.

I’m asking because I just drilled 6 or 8, 7/8” dia. holes through the plywood, and the shaving/chips were damp, but the deck itself wasn’t flexing under my 200#+ weight. Any alternatives or suggestions to replacing the whole piece? I'm asking 'cause I'm working outside in New England and the weather (sooner or later) is going to hurt my progress/schedule.

My hull (1976 20'SF) also has a bundle of 6 to 8 wires that seem to exit the tank coffin area at 90^ to the hull’s center line, pass between the top of the starboard main stringer and the bottom of the deck, and somehow wind up under the gunnel, right in front of the starboard side exterior air grill. I can’t get them to pull through or out from either direction. Anybody seen this before, and are they there to stay? Also, why that routing rather than using the main control chase?