Siskiwit has six opening ports and four large rings. The original ports were pulled in 1989 and replaced with ABI stainless steel ports adding 3/8″ solid teak to the outside of the fiberglass cabinside and replacing the interior cabinside with 4mm Burmese teak veneer. After 22 years, it was time to revisit this work, and it is now underway in Charleston, SC. Jonathon Joseph, the shipwright assigned this project, figures it will take a little over 45 hours of time. Hopefully the pictures and notes along the way will encourage other Cheoy Lee owners and perhaps you can learn some time-saving tips.
Scope of Project
The scope of the project includes replacing the glass in the ports. The glass is 1/4″ laminated bonded into the frame then an additional stamped piece which also forms the groove that the sealing gasket lies in, is bonded on top. While removing the old gaskets, Jonathon wisely advised that if I ever replaced the glass, I would need to remove the gaskets again, which means destroying them. Sure that the UV lamination of the glass would deteriorate in the next ten years, we should also replace the glass while we have the port lights removed. With new glass, they would essentially be as good as new.
In addition, a new interior veneer for the cabin side and replacement of the Lexan. For the Lexan, we will use xl-10, which has a UV-resistant coating and a ten-year warranty on color/clarity. In addition, we have pulled one section of handrail from the head where it had become loose. It was attached with machine screws in fiberglass pockets, so quite an easy repair.
Below are pictures of the ports and rings pulled and on the shop table: a condition example, pulled off the boat, buffed and polished and buffed.
A photo from the starboard port in the V-birth after veneer and port have been removed. There was some significant moisture penetration into the fiberglass around the port due to leaking in the past two years. Jonathan will allow this to dry out well before putting them back. On some boats, this would be a concern, but the good old hand-laid glass was fine.
