Fixed ports

[Winsome]

I am in the process of replacing leaky ports.  I was able to obtain original (new) Beckson ports to replace all 5 opening ports, but I'm having trouble finding replacements for the fixed ports. Any ideas?

Rick Hendricks
S/V Winsome
Amelia Island, FL

[BlameItOnBuffett]

I am having the same issue. Has anyone tried rebedding them, and if so, where do you get the spacer seal (or did you replace yours) that goes around the inside.

Thanks
Jim Tyson
S/V Blame It On Buffett

[Randy]

I rebedded glass in silicone. Worked great. Protected all metal surfaces with tape and simply scraped the excess silicone off glass with a sharp razor blade. Will be a pain if I ever have to remove the glass. To remount port on boat, I used the same gasket material used to mount truck caps onto truck beds. Double up the gasket,  place port in the hole and tighten from the inside. You can carefully trim excess gasket with a razor blade from the outside. Been on for two years and it appears to be holding up well. NO LEAKS !!!

[EdHouston]

Try

http://www.drmarine.com

they have a bunch of OEM parts.

Ed

[BlameItOnBuffett]

I was able to reseal and rebed my leaky one over the stove. I completely removed it, cleaned the caulking between the outside face and the glass (roughly a 1/4" gap), taped a mask off, and then resealed it with GE Silicone III. That inner seal you are looking at plays no part in the watertight integrity of the portlight.

Once you have resealed the glass to the frame, you can then rebed it. This can be done with either the GE Silicone III, or with 3M -4000. Mask around bothe the outward facing part of the frame, as well as the adjoining cabin top. Then apply excess caulk. Whatever squeezes out from behind the frame when you remount it can simply be trimmed and then removed with the masking tape once it has all cured. When you remount it, remount lightly, and let it all cure hard, and then crank down on the screws. If you crank down right away, you squeeze your new gasket right back out again.

I have a couple more to do, so I will shoot a picture sequence as we are doing them. However, that is a little further down my list. For now, I am just working on what is critical to just go sailing.

[eveningebb]

Jim,

I've been told that the Aluminum Window Reseal Kit offered by Catalina Direct works for the fixed ports on the 365.  What do you think?

Dirk

[Dale Tanski]

Boy...  I sure hope one of you guys buys and tries that kit from Catalina and lets us know how it works.  Mine don't leak so to speak but the inner gasket has shrunk and pulled away from the corners and looks like heck.  I ran a bead of Silcone calk on the outside and stopped any dripping problems.
Go for it!
Dale

[BlameItOnBuffett]

The Catalina stuff looks like a good idea. I just haven;t tried it. Mine is still holding without so much as a single drip of water.

[RayNWanda]

We had one leaking- port side cabin window. We pulled it and rebedded it with silicone and put it back. It still leaked. We pulled it back out and disassembled the frame, cleaned everything up and reassembled using silicone between the frame and glass, then between the frame and cabin. Once dry it is easy to clean up with a razor blade. No leak now.

[getlostonpurpose]

i used the catalina stuff and it was an exact replacement for the original.  i had new tempered glass cut exactly to the specs of the old ones and rebed everything exactly as they were.    no leaks so far!

[Leo]

Not cheap but one of the best upgrades I did on Sol.

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee34 ... G_0237.jpg

[Bay Sailor]

Not cheap but one of the best upgrades I did on Sol.

http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee34 ... G_0237.jpg

Leo, can you tell please tell me where you found these portlights?

Thanks,

Mark

[ishmael]

Baysailor,  these are Newfoundmetal ports.  We just replaced the front 4.  They are pricey but pretty easy to install and they are really built well. 

Leo -  What sizes did you use to replace the fixed?  Expecially the oddly shaped one over the galley.

Ron

[Dale Tanski]

Ron,

The New Found Metals pricing is not expensive.  They are after all 316 vacuum cast stainless finished to a high polish.  As you mentined, they are very well built.  There are also no exterior fasteners.  As for price, they are cheaper than most of the aluminum ports out there. Compared to Beckenson plastic ports, a comparable size plastic port is $140 and the NFM stainless port is $220.  Where it seems expensive is when you order four at a time...

Dale

[ishmael]

   Yes I agree.  Price is good for the quality of what you get and are one of the best upgrades I purchased.  I am well known as a cheapskate.  And, I am just waiting and saving my nickles and dimes to replace the fixed ports with SS.

Ron