[Rhodes22-list] Re-Seating Portlight

[Bryan Childs]

Well, as preparation for my trip to the Keys I  wanted to re-seat the
forward starboard portlight. (Remember my boat was build in 84) I found that
the instructions were good for removal using the putty knife except that my
portlight is mounted from the inside.  It's section protrudes through two
layers of fiberglass (one the ceiling and the other the deck) and above the
deck.  It has a frame around the portion that protrudes through the deck.
There are no screws in the exterior frame. It uses the sealant to keep the
frame in place. The main sealing for water is the gap from the portion that
protruded through the deck and the deck.  All was heavily sealed with
silicon sealer.   

 

I am debating two changes to the published instructions:  First I want to
seal the inner portion to the ceiling and fully tighten the screws.  My
thinking is that I do not want this of move with respect to the deck. This
area is not the prime sealing spot.  Second,  I was thinking of adding some
screws to the outer frame to hold it down and also hold the critical sealant
to the deck. Of course the original frame did not have screws and lasted 20
years and additional holes will add more spots to leak.  

 

I have not re-installed it yet and any ideas are welcome.

 

PS: it took me 5 hours to get it out and 8 hours to clean up all the old
sealant using a needle nose pliers.