RAN Sailingvideo
Making Big Holes In The Hull - First Portholes! - Ep. 462 RAN Sailing
October 24, 2025 · 26 min · 97K views · Skåne
What this video covers
Johan installs three round portholes on each side of a 52-foot custom-built sailboat, using the forward cabin as a testing station to establish a standardized workflow for the rest of the hull.▶ 10:09 To maintain structural integrity, he cuts holes larger than the stainless steel flanges, allowing him to create an inner reinforcement ring of solid glass and epoxy.▶ 10:49 This design ensures that mounting bolts pass through solid laminate rather than the cedar-planked core, preventing water ingress and potential rot.▶ 11:22 He laminates custom flanges using unidirectional carbon fiber and seals the perimeter with thickened epoxy to bond the ring to the hull.▶ 17:36 The final installation features 19-millimeter thick insulated glass, consisting of an 8-millimeter hardened outer pane, an 8-millimeter argon gas gap, and an 11-millimeter laminated inner pane.▶ 19:07 By following the shear line for positioning rather than the waterline, the installation achieves a traditional aesthetic while providing thermal and acoustic insulation.▶ 24:08
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