How to make traditional looking port holes/windows

by Stuart Warden
(Cape Town, South Africa)

I am now completing a wooden cabin top conversion and now need to consider installing port holes.

Traditional port holes are not available or affordable.

In the photograph I have given a section of a traditional Norfolk sailing boat and that is the look I require - although my boat looks nothing like this.

My options are:

1) Try to manufacture brass cover plates

2) Manufacture wooden rings and ovals

3) I read somewhere someone making rings from casting fibreglass rings and adding a copper pigment.

The last option seems the simplest, could look quite authentic and would not need maintenance.

I would welcome any comments, ideas or suggestions.

Thank you

Comments for How to make traditional looking port holes/windows

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Nov 17, 2011
 Traditional Looking Portholes
by: Mike

Hi Stuart,
Your fiberglass rings idea sound intriguing.

But I'm not sure how they would look.

I can't help thinking that it would be difficult to make them so that they didn't look artificial.

I suppose it would depend on what sort of pigment was used.

If you do try making some please let us know how they turn out.

Personally, I would have thought that wooden ones would be easiest to make and look best, made from solid wood with bronze through bolts.




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