So, you want to install an inspection port (also called a deck plate) in your Sunfish deck? They can help you dry out the hull and also make interior repairs such as fixing loose backing blocks for your halyard cleat or other hardware. Sometimes there aren't backing blocks if they fell off or the previous owner added hardware without doing a proper backing. Without backing, the screws could pull out of the fiberglass and damage your hull (and lead to disaster on the water!). It also gives you access to properly install a hiking strap if your sunfish is too old to have one already. These instructions show installation of the port fore of the footwell, but if you are upgrading your very old sunfish from the old rudder style to the new one, you can add a port near the transom to help with that upgrade. On one of these boats, we added a total of 3 ports because it needed repairs in several places!

I have helped a few friends put ports in their sunfish/minifish and we took pictures along the way to help show you what to do. This instructable has photos from 3 different boats to show you how it might vary, but don't worry that the boat color or port locations change a little between steps, we did all of them the same way.

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