[Mike Peters]

There is an old thread here that describes using flexible plastic strips cut to size and tapped into the curvature of the top bow where the wood had rotted out. Unfortunately, I can't find that thread. Maybe someone else can find it? I made some plastic strips from an old plastic truck mud flap and it worked. I nailed a new top on our Phaeton last August and the plastic held nails well.

You will need to remove all the old filler material from you top bow first. If your top bow broke at the curve, it must be rusted to the point of being weak?