Adding ports?

How hard is it to add ports to the hulls? I'd like to put them in the front and rear of the hulls...I've got a small soft spot in front of the forward pylon in one hull, right on the textured area. Can I put them there? Is it possible to fix the soft spot while I have the holes open? My thought is to put the ports in instead of drilling a bunch of hloes in the grip area.

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=1156

Ports can also weaken the structure. Repair is easiest without a port in place.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Hey Matt, you're the expert, man, but I don't quite understand what you said - with holes cut out for ports I was able to apply more layers of glass, and or epoxy or whatever and clamp everthing down tight from the top and inside the hull. Including strengthening the stanchions and repairing stress fracture leaks. My OLD 16 is still sailing and the deck is rock hard. It isn't easy working through a five inch hole, but if you glass before you add the trim ring you have a little more space and less chance of gumminig up the threads.

Besides, without ports how can you carry a fat cat bag full of beverages?

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The fact that this windy world is largely covered in water obviously means that man was meant to sail.