[C320-list] Portlight Replacement/Repair?

Mon Apr 25 16:17:32 PDT 2022

So, I went to install four new Lewmar portlights thinking I’d get through one since I was starting at around 2:00 in the afternoon.

To my complete surprise, it was really quite easy and I did all four in about 3 hours!

The hardest part was removing the two or three fasteners per light that had become seized in place.  Fortunately a YouTube video showed using a Vise Grip which worked great.  The port lights were bedded with what looked like butyl tape but it was a very thin bead at best.  I took the collective advice, used gray Dicro butyl tape and doubled it along the seam.  Was easy though by the fourth install the tape was sticking to my fingers as I positioned it on the light.  The only other hiccup was not knowing if I had the backing (inside) aluminum frame the right way around.  I decided that the beveled edge had to be flush with the cabin, not the other which would have created a large lip between the frame and the cabin wall. 

The only other thing was that the inside plastic trim piece needs to be trimmed and I didn’t have tin snips on the boat.  But it looks good so far and I immediately sprayed water on all four — no leaks!  I am almost looking forward to some rain!

OK…question:  the forward trapezoidal hatch (Bowman) leaks.  I noticed that there are no screws/fasteners under the hatch along the rim.  This can’t be correct?  Are the screws just buried?  I can’t find them.  Is re-bedding the forward hatch a monster job? 

Thanks again for all the feedback!  The plastic scraper works great since it is so easy to scratch the fiberglass with a putty knife (I did that).  Also, I used Goof Off to get the residue off and it worked great.  Followed that with Collimate 920 and it was just beautiful.

Fair winds!

—David

> On Apr 13, 2022, at 11:39 AM, P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Greg, bunch of info here on the Lewmar website:
> 
> https://www.lewmar.com/node/11265?v=24318
> 
> Frank Ross
> 
> On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 10:33 AM GREG SUTTON <sutt47 at msn.com> wrote:
> 
>> I have to redo my ports also.  Just wondering if anyone knows if there is
>> a diagram available showing how they are put together and where I can find
>> it?
>> Greg Sutton
>> Liberty
>> #128
>> 
>> Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
>> ________________________________
>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of
>> Dave Hupe <hoopdtwo at yahoo.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 8:38:33 PM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Portlight Replacement/Repair?
>> 
>> I purchased 1inch wide x 30 feet long white butyl tape from SailRite in
>> preparation to rebed my genoa track when the weather offers me a several
>> day dry and warm window opportunity.  The price was maybe $12. It seems
>> good quality but I haven't yet put it to practice.  So, time will tell
>> (soon).
>> Dave Hupe
>> 1994 C320 #32
>> Holland, MI
>> 
>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
>> 
>>  On Tue, Apr 12, 2022 at 8:18 PM, P.F. Ross<pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi David,
>> 
>> I used butyl tape on all seven of my replacement portlights.  But as Jeff
>> said, the "Bed-it" butyl tape that I really liked is not currently
>> available from marinehowto.com due to RC's medical situation.
>> 
>> Also along the lines of Jeff's comment, I used two layers of tape but I did
>> this by simply folding the tape over on itself along its length as I stuck
>> it to the frame.  I stuck it to the angled edge of the frame that would
>> contact the hull first and not to the flat, somewhat recessed portion of
>> the frame that looks like it was made for sealant.  I slowly tightened the
>> frame over a couple of days and would trim off excess using a plastic razor
>> blade (this is a real and handy thing, look it up on Amazon) and then clean
>> up with some mineral spirits.  All are now leak-tight.
>> 
>> Good luck, please let us know if you find a good stretchy, sticky butyl
>> tape.
>> 
>> Frank Ross
>> Beta Wave #206
>> Naples, FL
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Apr 12, 2022 at 7:51 PM Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> David,
>>> 
>>> If *I* were rebedding side portlights, I would be using Butyl Tape. While
>>> I use Bed-It brand from Marine How-to, he's very unfortunately recovering
>>> from a tragedy and his store is offline (maybe for good). Butyl Tape is
>> far
>>> less messy and easier to get right than polysulfide, Sikka or similar
>>> adhesives in my opinion. I would be likely to use more than one layer.
>>> Dicor BT-1834 is a butyl tape that might be a good option but I haven't
>>> researched it much. If you go this route, look into applying the tape to
>>> the window frame in a couple layers to be sure that it will conform and
>> not
>>> leave any voids.
>>> 
>>> Clean the surface well first. Colinite 920 does a good job.  Best to
>>> tighten the frame gradually on a warm day so that the butyl can properly
>>> fill out all the space. Remove any squeeze-out as soon as you can.
>>> 
>>> That's what I believe I would be doing if I had a hatch to rebed. I did
>>> the center salon overhead hatch like this years ago when I swapped the
>> Aft
>>> Cabin emergency hatch with the main salon center hatch. The center had
>>> become crazed, so I swapped them. You don't have that option since your
>>> hull doesn't have the escape hatch in the aft cabin. That was an addition
>>> on hulls somewhere around 2000 or so.
>>> 
>>> -Jeff H.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of
>>> David Wellerstein
>>> Sent: Monday, April 11, 2022 12:39 PM
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Portlight Replacement/Repair?
>>> 
>>> So I broke down and bought four new Lewmar portlights for the cabin.
>>> We’ll tackle the others later but for now I’m excited to get these done.
>>> 
>>> Looks like removal is the toughest part of the job so I’ll do one at a
>>> time and see how it goes.
>>> 
>>> Big question is what material to use to bed the ports?  It seems 4000 or
>>> (the variant from Pettit which I got for free at a local boat show) are
>>> right for a caulk-type.  But I’m reading a lot about butyl tape.  I would
>>> love for the C320 hive and to weigh in here.  I’d love to hear from
>> anyone
>>> who’s done both and what you’ve landed on as the best choice.  Seems that
>>> since fasteners are holding the inner and outer frames together that
>>> adhesion is not the issue.  It’s really about waterproofing and the butyl
>>> tape looks like it works fine.  Add to that the ease of working with it
>> and
>>> the ease of removal…seems like the right choice.
>>> 
>>> Thanks as always!
>>> 
>>> —David
>>> C320 #118, Dream Catcher
>>> 
>>>> On Mar 27, 2022, at 1:32 PM, Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Some folks have had success just replacing the gasket on the Bomar
>> hatch.
>>>> I had no such luck.  The problem is that the sealant (Dow795) that
>> seals
>>>> the lens to the frame needs to make a tight seal against the gasket
>> too,
>>>> mine kept leaking no matter what I did.  Since my hatch lens was over
>> 20
>>>> years old it was EOL anyhow.  I ended up making a new lens  and
>>>> refurbishing the hatch.  Worked out well.  You can search the emails
>>> for
>>>> the write up.  Pictures in my gallery.
>>>> 
>>>> Troy Dunn
>>>> Wonky Dog
>>>> Hull#514
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> 