Front portlight choice

[ksanders]

After years of fighting the OEM bomar portlights in my boat I am looking for a replacement.

Here is the challenge...,

The front two portlights on each side take an incredible pounding in rough waters.
These are mounted in the hull, below the rub rail.

Yes, I could remove the existing ones, and have the holes fiberglassed over, forever solving the problem.

But... these are the only sources of cross ventilation in my berth so I would really like to keep opening portlights.

What experience with portlights in this area do people have? This looks like CE Area 2A from what I can find. The Lewmar portlights are rated for CE area 2 but...

What I do not want to do is replace the bomars with something else and find out we exceeding the design ratings on ther new units and they leak as well.

What works in real world applications in this area?

 

[Comodave]

Check out New Found Metals. I put 11 of them in our last boat and found them to be bery solid and very good quality. The owner is somewhat of a curmudgeon but the quality of the ports made dealing with him worth it. They aren’t cheap but cast 316 is what makes then a good value.

 

[Insequent]

I installed 10 of the New Found Metals ones in 2013. They are great, no issues at all. You need to know thickness of cabin to determine spigot size. Mine were a custom size, so a little wait for delivery. They are made in China.

However, the insect screens they supplied, at least way back then, are an absolute PITA to fit. Not sure if they have a better design for the screens now.

 

[ksanders]

Check out New Found Metals. I put 11 of them in our last boat and found them to be bery solid and very good quality. The owner is somewhat of a curmudgeon but the quality of the ports made dealing with him worth it. They aren’t cheap but cast 316 is what makes then a good value.

Thats too funny Dave!

I was reading the Newfound metals site, when my friend who is helping run my boat up ther Baja with me right now woke up and came up to take over the watch.

I told him my problem in that we need a super stout portlight and he said I need newfound metals portlights. He said they are a world of difference from the bomars that are OEM and leaking.

He has them on his sailboat and says they are so tough, and so overbuilt to be perfect for replacing the ones up front on my boat.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[Comodave]

I added the screens to mine. You do have to adjust the hinges to fit but once you do they worked fine and were also 316S/S. A really big bonus in my mind.

 

[Insequent]

One of the issues with the screens, other than the actual fitting of them, is that you can get some rust, just on the surface and easily removed, where the rubber on the SS screens covers the outside of the portlight.

Its an oxygen starvation effect combined with salt spray. Perhaps a high quality wax on the portlight before fitting the screens would delay the rust development, I need to do that next time I polish.....

 

[Comodave]

That is a good idea and also rinse them with freshwater regularly.