[C320-list] Port light replacement

Mon Mar 7 08:46:28 PST 2022

Sad to say that the Marinehowto dot com website (original source of Bed-it
tape) is on hold for the time being due to sudden medical issues with the
owner Rod Collins (RC).  You can read details on their homepage.

RC was very free with his considerable marine knowledge as shown on his
website as well as his many postings on a variety of boating forums.  He
was a huge help to me (along with many others on this C320 forum) when I
made considerable upgrades to my electrical system a few years back.

I certainly wish RC well!

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206

On Mon, Mar 7, 2022 at 11:31 AM Joe Luciano <jnluciano at comcast.net> wrote:

> Defender sells Butyl tape in 20’ rolls for $25.99.  It looks like they
> have some in stock….
>
> Joe Luciano
> #1044
>
> > On Mar 7, 2022, at 8:22 AM, Greg Arnold <1gregoryarnold at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >   A couple weeks ago I found it at Marine Outfitters in Canada, and I
> >   bought a 50' roll.
> >   However, at that time they only had a dozen rolls in stock, and looking
> >   now at their site this product has disappeared.
> >   Afraid I can't help you with the best alternative product.
> >
> >   On 3/7/2022 3:18 AM, [1]wdoc1 at aol.com <mailto:wdoc1 at aol.com> wrote:
> >
> > Shipmates-
> > In the process of replacing the four opening portlights in my 2000 C320
> and cann
> > ot find "Bed-It" butyl tape recommended in previous postings. It appears
> the com
> > pany has gone out of business. What is best alternative product?
> > Thanks,
> > Bill McConnellDiversion #714
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Troy Dunn [2]<troutwarrior at gmail.com <mailto:
> troutwarrior at gmail.com>>
> > To: [3]C320-List at catalina320.com <mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > Sent: Sat, May 8, 2021 7:44 am
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Port light replacement
> >
> > This link will take you to a search result for all the threads on the
> > C320-List for opening portlights.  It's definitely worth spending some
> time
> > reading through a few of these.  I can't recall anyone turning these into
> > a great article.  The readers digest version of many of these articles
> > would go like this... 1) Hey my opening portlights are leaking 2) Bunch
> of
> > suggestions on how to fix without replacing 3) Either success or failure
> > with recommended fixes 4) if failure...replace with new portlights
> > which turn out to be far superior and less likely to cause premature
> > arthritis from snugging down the dogs.
> >
> > [4]https://groups.google.com/g/c320-list/search?q=opening%20portlights <
> https://groups.google.com/g/c320-list/search?q=opening%20portlights>
> >
> > Assuming your original portlights have a butyl seal still, replacement is
> > as simple as removing the old portlight (use plastic scrapers to get
> under
> > the outside trim ring), removing the butyl tape (easy cleanup with
> mineral
> > spirits), clean up the gelcoat (perhaps a little rubbing compound and
> then
> > acetone), install new portlight with bed-it tape.  Tons of articles out
> > there on using bed-it. (Rebedding Deck Hardware With Bed-It Butyl Tape -
> > Marine How To [5]<https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/ <
> https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/>>)  The key is to snug
> > down the bolts and then come back to it every few hours or so and then
> give
> > the bolts a final snug a few days later.  Do not overtighten.
> >
> >
> > Cheers-
> >
> > Troy
> >
> > On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 5:57 PM P.F. Ross [6]<pfrstl at gmail.com <mailto:
> pfrstl at gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Rene,
> >
> > Not sure if you are replacing the (opening) portlights with new, or
> simply
> > rebedding your existing portlights.  In either case, I assume you are
> going
> > after leaks.
> >
> > If you search for "leaking portlights" you will find much written on the
> > C320 archives.  Seems like there a few areas that caused leaks in the
> "old"
> > style Lemary portlights including 1) the gasket or sealant in the joint
> > between the upper and lower aluminum frames, 2) the gasket that is
> captured
> > in the frame that seals against the plastic lens, 3) the orings that seal
> > the rotating locking dogs, 4) the bedding sealant between the frame and
> > cabin gelcoat, and 5) more that I forgot about.
> >
> > Over the years, I tried fixes on all of these areas with mixed results.
> > However, I did see several success stories of others.  I finally got fed
> up
> > and replaced all seven of my "old" portlights with the newer Lewmar
> design
> > that is much superior to the old as far as possible leak paths and
> latching
> > (e.g., [7]https://www.defender.com/search.html?q=900365-1-WHI&x=0&y=0 <
> https://www.defender.com/search.html?q=900365-1-WHI&x=0&y=0>).
> > Expensive at about $200 each but I won't have to mess with them again.
> >
> > Continuing on my quest for a leak-free boat,
> >
> > Frank Ross
> > Beta Wave #206
> >
> > On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 4:08 PM Rene [8]<rthruston88 at gmail.com <mailto:
> rthruston88 at gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Thanks everyone.  That was very helpful.  Any trips and tricks to the
> > replacement?  These are the portlights that open.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Rene'
> > #545
> > Little Wing
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: C320-list [9]<c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com <mailto:
> c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com>> On Behalf Of
> > Karl Krueger
> > Sent: Friday, May 7, 2021 1:41 PM
> > To: [10]C320-List at catalina320.com <mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Port light replacement
> >
> > I just replaced four port light hatches, the cabin ones the open.
> >
> > I was extremely happy using butyl tape.
> >
> > Karl Krueger
> > Kindred Spirit #282
> > Milwaukee WI
> >
> > On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 12:15 PM Troy Dunn [11]<troutwarrior at gmail.com
> <mailto:troutwarrior at gmail.com>>
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > Which portlights?  Fixed, opening, or "deadlights"?  It matters...
> >
> > For the opening portlights on the cabintop use bed-it butyl tape from
> > compass marine.
> > For the dead lights on the cabin top you need to use a good adhesive
> > sealant that is compatible with your replacement material of choice
> > (polycarbonate or cast acrylic) For the fixed portlights (on the hull)
> > pretty sure butyl tape is the way to go there, but you might want to
> > get some more opinions on that one...
> >
> > Good luck!
> > Troy Dunn
> > Hull #514
> >
> > On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 12:14 PM John Morrison
> > [12]<sail-ability at sympatico.ca <mailto:sail-ability at sympatico.ca>>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> > I have used 3M4200. Don’t use 5200 or they’ll never come off!!
> > JohnM
> > 1999#574
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >
> > On May 7, 2021, at 11:08 AM, P.F. Ross [13]<pfrstl at gmail.com <mailto:
> pfrstl at gmail.com>> wrote:
> >
> > Rene,
> >
> > My guess is that you will get various opinions on this, but I used
> > "Bed
> >
> > It"
> >
> > butyl tape as found on Marinehowto.com <http://marinehowto.com/>
> >
> > [14]https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/ <
> https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/>
> >
> > I like this tape best (I have tried others) because it is so
> > stretchy
> >
> > and
> >
> > sticky (almost too much so).
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Frank Ross
> > Beta Wave #206
> >
> >
> > On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 9:33 AM Rene [15]<rthruston88 at gmail.com <mailto:
> rthruston88 at gmail.com>>
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > Does anyone have any recommendations for a sealant to replace the
> > port lights?
> > Thanks,
> > Rene'
> > #545
> > Little Wing
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > [image: CRS-Designation-Logo_Horizontal_Color (1)]
> >
> >
> > Karl W Krueger - ABR, CRS, GRI,
> > RE/MAX Realty 100
> > Phone - 414-322-6541
> > Fax - 414-327-6870
> >
> > Have a smooth sailing day.................................
> >
> > References
> >
> >   1. mailto:wdoc1 at aol.com <mailto:wdoc1 at aol.com>
> >   2. mailto:troutwarrior at gmail.com <mailto:troutwarrior at gmail.com>
> >   3. mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com <mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com>
> >   4. https://groups.google.com/g/c320-list/search?q=opening <
> https://groups.google.com/g/c320-list/search?q=opening> portlights
> >   5. https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/ <
> https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/>
> >   6. mailto:pfrstl at gmail.com <mailto:pfrstl at gmail.com>
> >   7. https://www.defender.com/search.html?q=900365-1-WHI&x=0&y=0 <
> https://www.defender.com/search.html?q=900365-1-WHI&x=0&y=0>
> >   8. mailto:rthruston88 at gmail.com <mailto:rthruston88 at gmail.com>
> >   9. mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com <mailto:
> c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com>
> >  10. mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com <mailto:C320-List at catalina320.com>
> >  11. mailto:troutwarrior at gmail.com <mailto:troutwarrior at gmail.com>
> >  12. mailto:sail-ability at sympatico.ca <mailto:sail-ability at sympatico.ca>
> >  13. mailto:pfrstl at gmail.com <mailto:pfrstl at gmail.com>
> >  14. https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/ <
> https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/>
> >  15. mailto:rthruston88 at gmail.com <mailto:rthruston88 at gmail.com>
>