[C320-list] Portlight Replacement/Repair?

Wed Apr 27 12:19:16 PDT 2022

Thanks for this update David. I’m about to do all six port in the next month or so, so this was inspiring!
Rob Miller
Alchemy, #571
Sidney, BC

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 25, 2022, at 4:17 PM, David Wellerstein <dwellers at mac.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
> >>> 
> >>> 
> >> 
> >> 
> 
> 