Removing Portlights and Deck Hardware

I spent the better part of a rainy 6^th of June removing Froonie’s portlights, starboard toe rail and most of the deck hardware.  The day’s first priority was to set up a new tarp, which has proved itself far superior from the former – the work area stays completely dry now! 

I also spent this June 6^th reflecting on the sacrifice so many made on this date in 1944.  One of my heroes is my grandpa, Alva Howard – parachuted into France with the 82^nd Airborne – the stories he told us were simply amazing and humbling.  Thanks grandpa!

The portlights, both starboard and port, came out with no fuss whatsoever.  The plexiglas was crazed and scratched to the point where it no longer functioned as a window –they will be scraped.  The portlights’ metal frame sat in bedding compound, and were secured with bronze wood screws affixed to 1” trim pieces on the interior.

The round portlight in the fore cabin wall was a bit more difficult to extract, as the location made it challenging to disassemble the stainless screw and nut combination.  Still, the portlight came out with ease.  The portlight itself appears to be cast iron due to its surface corrosion and weight; I am unclear if this portlight was original to the Sea Sprite design – original boat specifications due not show this portlight.  I think the addition of the portlight is fine though, and I will most likely come back with installation of an opening 5” bronze version.  

The forward hatch came off today as well.  It’s construction was teak assembled with simple butt-joints, a piece of plexiglas for its cover, and attached with a stainless piano hinge at its aft.  I am planning to replace this hatch with a teak hatch of my design, and my work.  I have limited experience in woodworking, but plan to build on that through Froonie’s restoration.

Finally, I concluded the day with removal of two bow chocks, a bow cleat, a line and chain deck tube, and a few forward sections of the starboard toe rail.