My Port Holes are leaking

[Brian D]

Been that way for some time. I looked at the port holes and could not see any identifying markings. Then, I guess by accident, I found the manufacture. They are made by Vetus. So I went to their web site looking for replacement gaskets. They don't list them.

My question to the general forum population is: Is there away to obtain a water tight seal with an old gasket? Someone once recommended vasoline on the gasket would help. I never noticed if it did or not.

Suggestions?

 

[kczach]

Hi Brian,

Are you sure it is the gaskets that are leaking? I thought the same with my cat. 270. After replacing the gaskets there was still some leakage. It was coming from where the window fits into the fiberglass. I had to take out the entire window and reseal them. Make sure you don't tighten the screws too tight until the caulk has set up and then not to tight after that. good luck.

 

[Franklin]

My 5x12 side port/hatch had been leaking for a couple of years. The gasket was a special order thing that had to be done in person. I tried a generic gasket and that didn't work. During the hurricane it loosened up the caulk so I decided to order a new port...actually, I ordered two. This weekend I just put them in. No leaks and the new glass looks beautiful. So glad I fixed that. Now that I know what a new hatch looks like on my boat, I'm ordering new hatches all the way around in a month.

Note: If you're port opens like mine and you go to install a new one, don't just make sure they fix in the hole, but also open up. I had to re-install one as I had to grid out the hole bigger because the clamps changed.

 

[rardiH36]

Maybe Apply New Gasket Material Over Old?

The port gaskets on my 1980 Hunter were leaking when I bought the boat 1.5 years ago. An inexpensive fix stopped the leaking and the fix looks like it will last. The plexiglass window ports on my boat are the type that swing open to the inside, hinging at the top. The original gaskets on the frame had become hard and compressed. What I did was:

- The original gaskets were glued into a channel all around the perimeter of the port frame against the which the plexiglass is dogged tight against. I left the old gaskets in the channel, but with a razor-sharp box cutter knife, I shaved the original gaskets flush with the outside of the channel.
- I then wiped the shaved original gaskets with lacquer thinner to clean off any dirt/grim/soap/wax and to "reactivate" the hard foam.
- Finally I applied high quality stick-on gasket tape made by MD directly over the old shaved/cleaned gasket. Make sure that the two ends of the new gasket tape around the perimeter meet on the top side. Make sure not to stretch the stick-on gasket as it is applied.

This solution might be worth a look-see for your situation. However suggest that you do only one port first to check if it works .... before doing the others.

regards,
rardi

 

[John Howitt]

After trying in vain, to aquire the correct replacement gasket for my 1995 Hunter, I very carefully pulled the old gasket out ,cleaned everything really well, and put the gaskets back in upside down. ( important) I have not had a leak in over two yrs.touch wood.

 

[Rich (P303)]

Brian...

Like kczach says...make absolutely sure where leak is originating. I thought I had a gasket leak... it was (and still is) a portlight leak. I need to remove and rebed.

 

[Roger Long]

I put new gaskets in my Beckson ports which worked for a while. I've discovered that it takes remarkably little dirt or grit (plenty of which blows over from Portland) on the gasket to cause leaking. Carefully wiping the port and gaskets before closing makes a big difference.

 

[Maine Sail]

Vetus gaskets?

I put new gaskets in my Beckson ports which worked for a while. I've discovered that it takes remarkably little dirt or grit (plenty of which blows over from Portland) on the gasket to cause leaking. Carefully wiping the port and gaskets before closing makes a big difference.

While I have never worked with the Vetus ports the Beckson's are famous for trapping dirt in the groove/slot that holds the gasket in place. If you periodically remove the gasket, clean it, and wipe it down with 303 Aerospace Protectant it can greatly lengthen the life and stop or slow leaks.

One trick I've used on old worn out gaskets is to apply silicone dielectric grease to the face of the gasket then close the port. Once closed clean up any that squeezed out. The trick is to not keep opening and closing them once you stop the leak.

I am also in agreement with other posts that you need to absolutely figure out where they are leaking from. If it's between the ports frame and the hull that is a different fix that requires removal of the port itself than if it's the windows gasket.


Vetus has two US distribution centers they might be able to get you replacement gaskets:

Merritt Island, FL = 877-783-8873

Morehead City, NC = 888-468-3887

 

[BobM]

Try some creative use of a dry erase marker, if it is a slow leak and you are having trouble identifying the source. I forget where I found that trick, but it is quite effective.

 

[Brian D]

Thanks all for your advise. I will take everything into consideration. I thought about rebeding the ports and that should be done. I am very positive it is a gasket because of drip trail. Plus, I used electrical tape on the outside were the window meets the frame. Sprayed water and there was no leak. So my confidence level is high in that regard.

Thanks again.