Lewmar Opening Port Seals

[Steve Day]

We have an Oceanis 400 with the rectangular Lewmar opening ports. We have had a terrible time trying to get these things to seal. We would like the water that is outside to stay outside - not drip onto all of the cushions and crew.We have tried everything we can think of, including new gaskets, to no avail. The local marina is little or no help. The Beneteau factory gave me an excellent protocol to bed the port frame into the hole, but no help on sealing the "glass" against the seal and frame.Anybody have any ideas or had any success in this area? It's a shame to own a high quality boat like this and not be able to seal the ports.

 

[Jim Hurster]

Same here....First 285 with Lewmar Hatches

I am tracking this question, as we replaced the larger black gasket for the deck seal, but our leak is not the seating of the glass, and we are tackling this critical problem this weekend....We are considering the use of a black 'refrigerator' flexible putty, like regular window putty (the grey stuff), but we are considering rolling this up in skinny string like pieces, and laying it in on top of the glass 'seat' rubber gasket that the Lewmar glass sits on. Will let you know how this works out.

 

[Larry W.]

Lewmar hatches

Steve; I have an Oceanis 400, hull no. 035. Once a year I apply a little petroleum jelly to the gaskets. It seems to soften them up a little, and also put a dab on the dogs where they meet the frame to lube the bearing surface so the dogs close all the way. How do you like your Bene?

 

[Steve Day]

A Little Grease Goes a Long Way

Larry,We absolutely love our 400! She is in Mobile Bay and we live in Nebraska, so we don't get to sail her as much as we would like. We have her out to charter with Nautica Ltd. and are doing quite well with that. John is about as finicky with her condition as I am (a necessary ingredient with a charter operation). My e-mail sday@neb.rr.comHit the related link for Nautica's web site.Steve