Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Has anyone ever installed a Lewmar portlight (or the like) through the cockpit side to let a little more light in for the aft berth? I am toying with the idea.
I installed a portlight there, and I really like it. Not only does it provide much needed light in the quarterberth, it also improves the ventilation. Here's what it looks like:
I don't know what brand it is ... I bought it on eBay. 'Sorry, I can't remember the outside frame dimensions. I measured it a couple of months ago for someone on the Forum, and I emailed the measurements to him ... BUT, my hard drive crashed last week, and I no longer know what the dimensions are, or who I sent them to.
The space where I mounted it is VERY tight. In fact, I had to trim about an inch off the top of the inside frame to get it to fit there. Nevertheless, it looks good from the inside, and it works great.
The only problem I've had with it is that my size 11 foot always manages to kick the screen out. I finally removed the screen, and I stick it back in if I'm worried about bugs.
'Hope that helps ... good luck on your project!
Edit: The more I think about it, I think Dave Holtgrave is who I sent the measurements to ... you might send him an email and see if he still has the dimensions. I'd measure it for you, but, unfortunately, my boat is 80 miles away at the moment.
After replacing the forward ports a few years ago with Lemars I rebuilt the old sliding port and reinstalled it for light and ventilation in the quarter berth. Has made a huge difference.
Buzz - Your portlight looks to be installed quite close to the cockpit sole. Have you had any issues with leaks when hosing down or when heeling with rain/sea water in the cockpit?
<font color="blue">Buzz - Your portlight looks to be installed quite close to the cockpit sole. Have you had any issues with leaks when hosing down or when heeling with rain/sea water in the cockpit? - Steve</font id="blue">
Hi Steve,
It <b>is</b> close to the cockpit sole on the outside, and on the inside the top of it is really snug against the floor of the small starboard cockpit locker ... that's why I had to trim the inside frame to get it to fit.
I used generous amounts of 3M 4200 to seal around the frame, and I've had no problems with any leaks ... knock on wood.
I've only got one working scupper ('another thing I need to remedy on my to-do list), and the other day the scupper got clogged up. After a huge rain storm, I ended up with about 6" of rain water in the cockpit ... NO leaks ... thanks goodness!
I wondered about the location of your scupper. My cockpit drains through openings (2) in the transom, each about 1/2 inch above a shallow trough that runs parallel to the transom at the rear of the cockpit. There's always a little water and dirt residue laying in that trough.
Take a hole saw of handy size, about 2 to 2 1/2 inch, and cut the old cockpit drains out. Make or find a piece of tube about 1/8+ inch smaller than the holes. Put wax paper around it and lay up about 4 layers of 6 oz. cloth with enough resin to wet it out. Cut two new scuppers from the tube you have made. Epoxy them into the boat and your drain worries are over. I also have a Lewmar window in the cockpit side to vent the quarterberth. Works well. Mine is a little forward of those pictured which allows it to be higher. Its a Lewmar number 2 port. Dave
If you don't want to go to all that work (not trouble, it's a great idea), I suggest that you use FSR on the stain that inevitably shows up in the recess, clean it out completely, wax the heck out of it and keep cleaning it. Worked for us for 11 or 12 years. Once waxed well, it shouldn't get so unsightly.
My boat came with a port light already installed, It makes a big difference in ventilation, especially when sleeping back there. I do like the idea of a fan mounted in front of it. It's on my list for the year 2008 projects
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.