WEsail · video

What this video covers

The owners of a Fontaine Pajot catamaran replace two failing Goiot emergency escape hatches while the vessel remains in the water. The hatches suffer from a design flaw where the top corners rely solely on adhesive, which can fail and cause the entire window to detach, potentially sinking the boat.1:26 Although the manufacturer issued a recall and provided replacement hatches, they did not cover the labor or haul-out costs, which typically exceed $1,000.11:23 To avoid these expenses, the crew performs the replacement from a paddleboard while the boat is moored in a calm marina.2:19 The process requires one person to work from the exterior on the paddleboard while the other assists from inside the cabin.4:31 The primary challenge involves removing seized rubber hinge pins, which eventually requires cutting through the hardware to extract the old units.9:51 The removed hatches reveal significant degradation of the adhesive seals, confirming the high risk of failure.25:03 Replacing the hatches in the water is possible with careful coordination and the right tools, though it remains a difficult, labor-intensive process.

More from WEsail

13 Knots, Big Seas & Dolphins at Sunset | Sailing Back to Fiji's MainlandAug 2026We Don't Know Where We're Going Next | Leaving Fulaga, Fiji & Sailing SomewhereAug 2026We Ran Out of Gas Saying Goodbye | Our Last Days in Fulaga, FijiJul 2026Nobody Mentioned the Cave of Bones | Three Weeks in Fulaga, FijiJul 2026

From WEsail — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.