portlight replacement

[sise2333]

I am replacing 4 portlights on a 38' Willis Beal down east cruiser. Having removed the old port holes I realized the 3/8 balsa core is wet. I dug out as much as I could and currently have heat lamps on the inside to dry the core. Will this work or do I have to cut away the core and replace? I was planning on drying then filling with thickened epoxy.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by sise2333

I am replacing 4 portlights on a 38' Willis Beal down east cruiser. Having removed the old port holes I realized the 3/8 balsa core is wet. I dug out as much as I could and currently have heat lamps on the inside to dry the core. Will this work or do I have to cut away the core and replace? I was planning on drying then filling with thickened epoxy.

Are you referring to the cabin sides or you actually mean hatches rather than portlights?

[tkeithlu]

Hmmm. On the one hand, if the water has taken over a significant part of your core, you are not going to be able to dig it out. Could you try a few small holes into the core from the inside, below the port, noting whether the drill bit comes out with wet balsa or dry?

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

Hmmm. On the one hand, if the water has taken over a significant part of your core, you are not going to be able to dig it out. Could you try a few small holes into the core from the inside, below the port, noting whether the drill bit comes out with wet balsa or dry?

Not sure what kind of boat it is or perhaps it is a cat, but I find it odd to have core in the cabin sides.

[tkeithlu]

Good point, SVTatia. I can't think of a load that would require it. You think possibly his ports are in the side of the hull?

Welcome to the forum, Sise2333.

Just where are these ports? Inquiring minds want to know.

[sise2333]

Port lights are located in cabin sole.

[sise2333]

Good point with drill. Boat is basically a lobster boat with a solid fiberglass hull with cored decks and cabin sole I imagine for less weight

[sise2333]

Thanks for welcome. Glad I joined

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by sise2333

Port lights are located in cabin sole.

Sorry but I'm confused. By cabin sole you mean the floor inside the boat?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by sise2333

Port lights are located in cabin sole.

I Hoping we’re having a terminology problem here, otherwise portlights in your cabinsole is utterly bizarre!


The cabin sole is what you walk on while inside the boat.

The deck is what you walk on while aboard the boat, but not inside of it.
—-the deck houses hatches and deck prism usually.

The cabin sides are there vertical surfaces where you would normally find portholes and portlights. Although these can both also be in the hull topsides.
——topsides are the area of the hull between the water and the deck.

[sise2333]

Sorry about the confusion. I mean the side of the cabin. I'm an idiot!

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by sise2333

Sorry about the confusion. I mean the side of the cabin. I'm an idiot!

Ok, yes, your initial plan to pull as much wet core as possible and then backfill with thickened epoxy is sound.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by sise2333

Sorry about the confusion. I mean the side of the cabin. I'm an idiot!

I thought owning a boat by definition makes us all idiots.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Ok, yes, your initial plan to pull as much wet core as possible and then backfill with thickened epoxy is sound.

Agree.

Just make sure you get all the soft and rotten stuff. If it gets too deep and it's just damp but not delaminated or rotten I've left sections like that open to let it dry, then filled with thickened epoxy.

[sise2333]

Thanks everyone. I think what I spend on this boat I could put a kid thru college but it keeps me out of the bars. I checked at lunch today and nothing is delaminating and balsa is drying with the heat lamps. I am replacing plastic port holes with stainless. Cant wait till done.