When we took over the boat, all the ports were leaking with enthusiasm. This had caused  serious damage to the interior cabintop panelling. Some of the leaks where around the window frame. Others were around the screws that fixed the other teak frame, which were screwed straight through the GRP cabin top. In addition, the drainage from the frames of the original opening ports were through a small pipe through the GRP and outer teak planking, and around these water had also found a way to enter the cabin.

In addition to leakage problems, removing the portlights also revealed a safety issue. It turned out that the only thing that had kept the portlights from being pressed into the cabin by a huge breaking wave all these years had beed luck (absence of huge wave) and the tiny wood screews holding the internal steal frames to the wall! Shuddering in my belt and braces, I therefore concluded that  the windows not only needed re-bedding; we needed a better design.