Sailing SV Cordelia · video

What this video covers

The crew of the 42-year-old Venus ketch SV Cordelia, currently refitting in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, replaced four deck hatches before beginning the installation of 17 new port lights.7:03 After successfully removing the old hatches and repairing the teak surrounds with epoxy and wooden plugs, the crew encountered a significant sizing error while attempting to install the first new port light.13:41 The replacement windows require a larger cutout than the existing openings, but the current hull structure lacks sufficient material to support the new frames, necessitating extensive fiberglass and epoxy buildup to create a mounting surface.14:57 The crew plans to use a laminate trimmer and router to enlarge the openings while managing the structural repairs required to accommodate the new hardware.10:26 The project, initially estimated to take two hours per window, now requires a more complex, time-consuming approach to ensure a watertight seal.16:11 Proper template alignment and structural reinforcement are essential when upgrading to larger port lights on older vessels.

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