Y'all should have seen that chuck of deck just fly off! In this case the port holes arent a factor. When you cut them in just seal the thickness of the deck(I used silicon). The failure started from stress cracks that led from the steel rod at the stay, fore and aft, in the lip of the deck. I checked the other hull and the same thing is happening! So that hull will be retired also. At the forward end of the failure, the port hole aft of the forward crossbar gave the deck a place to break instead of going all the way to the cross bar! Which may have been a good thing that it was there- not damaging the crossbar insert mold, and allowing her to hold together. Aft of the failure looks like the deck stoped pealing up at the dagger board well. The only real everyday problem with the port hulls is that the deck does becomes a 'no step' spot around it. I am not surprised at all this happened. Ocean sailing is a hobie killer but worth it, you know!