Crumbling opening port attachments

[hightower]

My 1984 Hunter 34 has crumbling "anchors" on the opening port's frame. The 'dogs', a threaded 1/4th inch shaft with a 4-point plastic nut on it, attaches to the opening port anchors via a 1/8th pin. The 4-point plastic nut is rotated to tightening the opening.
Most owners have fabicated metal strips with small screws to fix the problem. I'd like to make a fibreglas repair using a form to set epoxy and thickener. Has anybody done this or is there another remedy???

 

[Roger Long]

If these are Beckson ports, which they sound like, see my web site for how I dealt with my 1980 ports.

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/09Portlights.htm

 

[Stu Jackson]

If they're Becksons

We replaced the frames, see pictures here: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3241.0.html

The lower right dog piece had disintegrated if you look closely, so I replaced the whole frame.

 

[Steve Dion]

They are Bomar/Gray ports. The replacements can be found on this website.

I would suggest replacing the entire units with original equipment or look at something like the NewFound Metals products.

 

[RikHall]

When I was last in Bacons in Annapolis in May there was a jar of those white fasteners on sale for $10 for the jar.

Rik

 

[Ross in Tampa]

Might be time for new ports... I had to replace my 2 opening ports last year. They had become brittle and were leaking. I was fortunate to find my size port at Beckson in their close out area. I paid 40.00 apiece for the ports and they look great. The only downside is that you do not get to choose the color. The ports in my size were silver as opposed to the white that were factory. They look great and do not leak. But, be prepared to pay handsomely for the barrel bolts.

Good luck.