Well we spent the first stormy night and day on our Hunter 37.5 and 3 of the 6 portlights leak. Only one is leaking badly. I'm sure this topic has been covered before but since I'm new to the site and could not find anything in the achieves, I'll have to ask. I cleaned all the port gaskets and windows to see if that might be the cause. It helped but still got leaks. It appears to be coming from the between the glass and the rubber seal. I tightened the scews on the latches but that did not seem to help. The water seems to drip and then dump as if it is building up somewhere. The rubber seals seem to be in good condition so I'm not sure what the problem is. Any help?
Leaking Lewmar Portlights
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Bill O'Donovan
Easy fix
50-50 chance this will do it, and even if it doesn't work you will have reduced the list of possibles. Using clear LifeCaulk, run a tiny bead around the port rims and use your pinky to minimize the bead. Use acetone as you go to keep things tidy, because once it hardens it's tough to get off. Use clear instead of black or white because it's comparatively indistinguishable.
50-50 chance this will do it, and even if it doesn't work you will have reduced the list of possibles. Using clear LifeCaulk, run a tiny bead around the port rims and use your pinky to minimize the bead. Use acetone as you go to keep things tidy, because once it hardens it's tough to get off. Use clear instead of black or white because it's comparatively indistinguishable.
check the latch for wear
if the latches are worn, or if one is worn more than the other one, you won't get an even seal. also consider it could be leaking inside the top of the portlight frame and traveling downward. you could be seeing where the leak ends up, but not where it began.
if the latches are worn, or if one is worn more than the other one, you won't get an even seal. also consider it could be leaking inside the top of the portlight frame and traveling downward. you could be seeing where the leak ends up, but not where it began.
How I fixed our leaks
I had leaky Lewmar ports on a 1995 H37.5, easily fixed once I figured out the exact source of the leak. The water collected in the dog latches, then would drip from there. If you look carefully on the outside (exterior), you will see the portlight is made of 2 extrusions, a top half and a bottom half (assumes your ports are the same). Where those 2 exterior pieces join is some gasket material, or caulking, about an inch long and 1/8" wide. That is where water was getting in on mine because the caulk was cracked up. Fix is to pull out the old gasket/caulk with an awl or small screwdriver and recaulk. Fixed all my leaks. I used 3M 4000 adhesive sealant (not 4200) to recaulk. If that doesn't work, your next leak sources: --The small o-ring that seals each dog where it goes thru the glass. Try adding some teflon grease to those and tighten the dog a bit more. Replace rings as last resort. --The gasket. --Elsewhere in the bedding of the portlight. Remove and rebed entire portlight. Save that for last!
I had leaky Lewmar ports on a 1995 H37.5, easily fixed once I figured out the exact source of the leak. The water collected in the dog latches, then would drip from there. If you look carefully on the outside (exterior), you will see the portlight is made of 2 extrusions, a top half and a bottom half (assumes your ports are the same). Where those 2 exterior pieces join is some gasket material, or caulking, about an inch long and 1/8" wide. That is where water was getting in on mine because the caulk was cracked up. Fix is to pull out the old gasket/caulk with an awl or small screwdriver and recaulk. Fixed all my leaks. I used 3M 4000 adhesive sealant (not 4200) to recaulk. If that doesn't work, your next leak sources: --The small o-ring that seals each dog where it goes thru the glass. Try adding some teflon grease to those and tighten the dog a bit more. Replace rings as last resort. --The gasket. --Elsewhere in the bedding of the portlight. Remove and rebed entire portlight. Save that for last!
I think you found my problem
Brian, It sounds like your problem is my problem. It does just what you descibed. Water collects around the dogs and then pours into the boat. I'll try re-caulking and see if that fixes the problem. Thanks for the information, this site is very helpful.
Brian, It sounds like your problem is my problem. It does just what you descibed. Water collects around the dogs and then pours into the boat. I'll try re-caulking and see if that fixes the problem. Thanks for the information, this site is very helpful.
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