Opening ports for a Catalina 27?

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Jul 16, 2012
9
Catalina 27 Point Lookout
Hello All...
I just got a 27 Cat a month ago, and with this summer heat, I was wondering if anyone knew of any after market opening ports. Seems that there are enough Cat's out there that someone would come up with one.
Tnx
 

jrowan

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Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
There are lots of different opening ports available for the C 27.
There are made by Bekson, Lewmar, Grey etc. The Beckson are cheaper
because they are made of plastic. They come as original equipment on Catalinas
after 1985 or so. I have a C 30 that didn't have operating forward ports,
but I installed Lewmar #2 Ocean series. I like 'em but they are a little more expensive because they have brushed S.S. metal frames which are a lil more durable. Check around online as prices & quality vary greatly.
 
Jul 16, 2012
9
Catalina 27 Point Lookout
thanks

Thanks for the info JR.....
I checked them out, and quite frankly.... way too expensive for me. I got the boat for a song and a dance, as it was slowly sinking at the dock, and in dire need of love and attention.
I've noticed your name from other comments, so here's one for you... have you heard of anyone lengthening the boom by adding to it? I have a problem with the sun, and the bimini is really inadequate, so I was thinking of adding two feet to the boom, and hooking up the main sheet to it. Then make the bimini two feet longer.... am I sounding insane?
There are lots of different opening ports available for the C 27.
There are made by Bekson, Lewmar, Grey etc. The Beckson are cheaper
because they are made of plastic. They come as original equipment on Catalinas
after 1985 or so. I have a C 30 that didn't have operating forward ports,
but I installed Lewmar #2 Ocean series. I like 'em but they are a little more expensive because they have brushed S.S. metal frames which are a lil more durable. Check around online as prices & quality vary greatly.
 

jrowan

.
Mar 5, 2011
1,294
O'Day 35 Severn River, Mobjack Bay, Va.
Well I think if you need more shade in the cockpit you should extend or modify your bimini, but don't alter your boom. Remember that the boom is only meant to support the foot of the mainsail. It would be difficult to add to it. If it were altered to lengthen it, the boom would likely have to be replaced. But that is not necessary. Focus on the shade that a good bimini provides, which is invaluable. The only issue you will have with extending your bimini with a stainless steel type tubing is working around your backstay. Most larger biminis have a leather lined hole cut out for the backstay to run throught the bimini. It is tensioned & secured on the aft side with a heavy duty zipper. Biminis are expensive. Custom canvas is outrageously expensive. I'm a DIY kinda sailor, so we bought a heavy duty sewing machine to make our own canvas covers, etc. If U can't afford to make one, then scope out old dock yards for boats that look to be growing roots & abandoned. Most of the time the marina / yard owns them by default for non payment of rent. Many times they'll let you buy bits & pieces off of their golden oldies for next to nothing. There may be good canvas laying around inside the cabin of an old hulk that might still be good. Just don't do what a fella in my marina does & collect old run down boats! Good luck.
ps. You can also buy used port holes from marine chandleries who have bought suff from parted out boats. Used ports should cost no more then $50 bucks a piece, unless they're bronze.
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,205
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
have you heard of anyone lengthening the boom by adding to it? I have a problem with the sun, and the bimini is really inadequate, so I was thinking of adding two feet to the boom, and hooking up the main sheet to it. Then make the bimini two feet longer.... am I sounding insane?
That's way more work than needed, besides the backstay may interfere.......no, simply purchase a large market umbrella and tie it to the pushpit rail.
 

hewebb

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Oct 8, 2011
329
Catalina Catalina 25 Joe Pool Lake
You can go to mid boom sheeting and move the bimini back and long enough to shade the cockpit. Back stay will go though the bimini. That is the way my 25 is set up and I prefer it to stern travelers which require the bimini to be forward.
 
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