I need to replace the port lights in my 1995 model 336. The vertical ones that were installed in the head and above the stove. The originals are Bomar ports manufactured by Gray Enterprises. Unfortunately these ports are no longer manufactured with the drain to mount in a vertical configuration. I'm looking for anyone who may have replaced these. What did you use as a replacement and what was involved to get them installed?
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Do you need to change the entire unit?
Vincent: I am not familiar with your model but on the older horizontal ones you can just change out the lenses. These where available from Thrifty Mariner in Fl.
Vincent: I am not familiar with your model but on the older horizontal ones you can just change out the lenses. These where available from Thrifty Mariner in Fl.
Replacing port lights
Funny you should mention this because I am on the verge of having to replace some on my 78h30 and have the similar problem in that Bomar/Gray no longer manufacture the ones I have. I need to replace a portlight in the cockpit that opens into the quarter berth so maybe we can do that together and you can get some valuable ideas on how yours fit into your boat. As to more specifics regarding cost of having someone else do the work, let me recommend Casey Bergin at Mockingbird Marine there in Seabrook. He just completed a repower project for me and his work was spectacularly first rate and I know they have experience with port lights because they were doing some refit and repair on a Vagabond while I was also in the yard and they seemed to be doing a good job. Contact me at bhowie@txucom.net if I can be of more help...seeing as how we are practically neighbors.
Funny you should mention this because I am on the verge of having to replace some on my 78h30 and have the similar problem in that Bomar/Gray no longer manufacture the ones I have. I need to replace a portlight in the cockpit that opens into the quarter berth so maybe we can do that together and you can get some valuable ideas on how yours fit into your boat. As to more specifics regarding cost of having someone else do the work, let me recommend Casey Bergin at Mockingbird Marine there in Seabrook. He just completed a repower project for me and his work was spectacularly first rate and I know they have experience with port lights because they were doing some refit and repair on a Vagabond while I was also in the yard and they seemed to be doing a good job. Contact me at bhowie@txucom.net if I can be of more help...seeing as how we are practically neighbors.
Quarter berth port lite?
Bob: My friend has a '79 H'30 and he does NOT have a port lite there. Have you seen other with this one? What size are the ones you need to replace? I think that he got his this past year.
Bob: My friend has a '79 H'30 and he does NOT have a port lite there. Have you seen other with this one? What size are the ones you need to replace? I think that he got his this past year.
Gray portlights.
If the '79 H30 is like my '79 H37C the q-berth portlight is an odd size. All of my gray portlights EXCEPT that one are either in my garage or the marina dumpster. I am replacing with bronze but NFM does not make one to fit that cockpit hole. You can see this on Photo Forum, search on "portlights". There is nothing to taking them out if you do not try to save the frame. If you want the frame intact then work very carefully with a thin blade to separate the frame from the hull. It's particularly difficult around the drains. The H336 is very different because of the vertical install. And did the H336 use screws or glue for the frame? Good luck. Ed (h37skipper@aol.com) s/v Ladylove
If the '79 H30 is like my '79 H37C the q-berth portlight is an odd size. All of my gray portlights EXCEPT that one are either in my garage or the marina dumpster. I am replacing with bronze but NFM does not make one to fit that cockpit hole. You can see this on Photo Forum, search on "portlights". There is nothing to taking them out if you do not try to save the frame. If you want the frame intact then work very carefully with a thin blade to separate the frame from the hull. It's particularly difficult around the drains. The H336 is very different because of the vertical install. And did the H336 use screws or glue for the frame? Good luck. Ed (h37skipper@aol.com) s/v Ladylove
Quarter berth portlight
Steve, '78s and before I think had this feature. Hunter dumped it later, I think, because as the gasket/port wears, it's a potential source of a leak! I've done this; indavertently left it open for ventilation below while washing down the boat after a day on the Salt Water! Kinda tends to wash the bunk, too! I can sure send a photo of it, but I think it was one of those "better ideas" that later got dumped, but seems to have been revisited on some of the newer models --with better port lights, of course!! Actually, it's not a bad idea; gives you a little fresh air in a confined space that has little, if any, other ventilation and it lets a little light in down there, too. A bit of a maintenance and a memory item, but altogether, not that bad. Bob
Steve, '78s and before I think had this feature. Hunter dumped it later, I think, because as the gasket/port wears, it's a potential source of a leak! I've done this; indavertently left it open for ventilation below while washing down the boat after a day on the Salt Water! Kinda tends to wash the bunk, too! I can sure send a photo of it, but I think it was one of those "better ideas" that later got dumped, but seems to have been revisited on some of the newer models --with better port lights, of course!! Actually, it's not a bad idea; gives you a little fresh air in a confined space that has little, if any, other ventilation and it lets a little light in down there, too. A bit of a maintenance and a memory item, but altogether, not that bad. Bob
Plastic ports...bah! humbug!
I agree with Ed on the NFM ports. I lust mightly after those!! Guess you could take that goofball sized light out of the cockpit and replace it with the smallest one NFM makes. Would require a little retrofit, but shouldn't be that difficult. BTW, Ed, saw your portlight project in pix and that's a big help.
I agree with Ed on the NFM ports. I lust mightly after those!! Guess you could take that goofball sized light out of the cockpit and replace it with the smallest one NFM makes. Would require a little retrofit, but shouldn't be that difficult. BTW, Ed, saw your portlight project in pix and that's a big help.
Installation quick note
If you have to "up" the size of the hole to retrofit port lights, I like to cut a little material as possible and then use a file or a rasp to "fit" the port light in as tight as possible. Makes a good, tight joint and allows minimum "spacing" of the portlight in the hole when possible. Just my preference...for whatever it's worth.
If you have to "up" the size of the hole to retrofit port lights, I like to cut a little material as possible and then use a file or a rasp to "fit" the port light in as tight as possible. Makes a good, tight joint and allows minimum "spacing" of the portlight in the hole when possible. Just my preference...for whatever it's worth.
New Port Lights.
First thing. Ed never gave us any pictures of the finished port light project to see how nice they look. (did you hear me Ed!). Next. Most of use have had these port lights from 10-20 years. I also thought about replacing mine but then considering that I could replace all of the exiting ones for the price of ONE NFM portlights I had second thoughts. None of mine are broken. Need to replace some of the gaskets and the knobs but that is it. Ed replaced his because of someday doing an offshore passage. The boat would look better but for $1500 for NFM vs $250 for new Gray port lights I cannot justifiy it. But they sure would look nice.
First thing. Ed never gave us any pictures of the finished port light project to see how nice they look. (did you hear me Ed!). Next. Most of use have had these port lights from 10-20 years. I also thought about replacing mine but then considering that I could replace all of the exiting ones for the price of ONE NFM portlights I had second thoughts. None of mine are broken. Need to replace some of the gaskets and the knobs but that is it. Ed replaced his because of someday doing an offshore passage. The boat would look better but for $1500 for NFM vs $250 for new Gray port lights I cannot justifiy it. But they sure would look nice.
Steve, simple reason. . .
is that my H37C has eight holes with plexiglass taped over them. Ran out of weather warm enough to finish the work. The two that I finished last Spring could be photographed but I wanted to show the stages of installation. I guess I could do both. Maybe tomorrow, supposed to be 60 degrees on Lake Erie!
is that my H37C has eight holes with plexiglass taped over them. Ran out of weather warm enough to finish the work. The two that I finished last Spring could be photographed but I wanted to show the stages of installation. I guess I could do both. Maybe tomorrow, supposed to be 60 degrees on Lake Erie!
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