[C320-list] LEAKING CABIN PORTLIGHTS

[JonVez at comcast.net]

Yes, outside the frame. They are actually not plastic inserts, but appear this way when they have hardened and shrunk. You can fix these without removing the port. I used a hobby knife and dental pick to remove the old putty--it appears to be the same stuff used to bed the Ports themselves. Once you get a piece started, you can remove most of it by hand. Make sure not to accidently cut the gasket when you're removing the putty. Other than that, it's very straight forward. 



Once you've done this, tape up the back of the slots (inside the boat) with blue painters tape as well as the edges on the front. I used 3M 4000UV-black. Unfortunately this doesn't come in a 3 oz size so I had to work with a cartridge. It's much easier if you use a syringe from West Systems (normally used for epoxy work) to fill the slots with the bedding.... 



They came out looking as if they were done at the factory... 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: sail-ability at sympatico.ca 
To: c320-list at catalina320.com 
Sent: Thursday, June 3, 2010 11:52:03 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [C320-list] LEAKING CABIN PORTLIGHTS 


Jon; 

 By horizontal slots I'm assuming you mean the ones on the outside frame? Evidently 
some of these had a plastic insert which deteriorated over time. Mine seem to be filled with a butyl gray putty. Do you remove the  frame to do the slots or just remove the old material and then fill in the slots? 

Thanks very much for you help and interest. 

Cheers 

JohnM 
> Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2010 15:08:10 +0000 
> From: JonVez at comcast.net 
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] LEAKING CABIN PORTLIGHTS 
> 
> 
> 
> John, 
> 
> 
> 
> I literally just went through this. I have hull #582. All four were leaking. I had planned to change everything on all four ports just to address any possible issue. I ended up doing an entire upgrade to 2 of the ports (re-bedding, changing the gaskets and redoing the horizontal slots. After doing 2, that way it was becoming obvious to me that the horizontal slots were in fact the problem. So on the last two I tried just redoing those before going through the hassle of doing everything--it worked! Redoing those slots takes about 30 minutes, including taping and it solves the problem. 
> 
> Doing the whole portlight took me about 3 days each. The thing I struggled with was the gasket replacement. Getting the old silicone out and fitting the new gaskets turned out to be much more difficult for me than others have experienced--so I'm elated I don't have to do this for the other two. Hope this helps and if you need more info., just let me know... 
> 
> 
> 
> Regards, 
> 
> 
> 
> Jon Vez 
> 
> Solstice #582 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: sail-ability at sympatico.ca 
> To: c320-list at catalina320.com 
> Sent: Thursday, June 3, 2010 8:27:41 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
> Subject: [C320-list] LEAKING CABIN PORTLIGHTS 
> 
> 
> I have hull number 574 and have 4 Lewmar portlights (forward in the main cabin) which won't stop leaking. I've cleaned the gaskets and replaced the O ring seals on the dog latches. 
> 
>  Water gathers and drips out from the dog slots. It has been suggested to me that the water is coming in where the outside portlight frames join in the middle; I've checked this and there is a butyl putty there which seems intact. I've not changed it. 
> 
> Help please. 
> 
> JohnM 
>