Portlight Polish

[skunther]

Does anyone have any tips or recommendations for restoring cloudy port lights? I also have 2 beckons that I can remove and polish (the rest are built into the deck).

 

[rgranger]

Here are some before and after pictures of me polishing a port, and the acrylic companionway hatch, for my Hunter 26.

 

[jssailem]

I've used that stuff on my car headlights. It worked as advertised.
About a year later, they needed a repeat. I suspect a UV-inhibited polish or covers might help

 

[rgranger]

.
About a year later, they needed a repeat.

Same

I suspect that part of the “ magic” is actually a wax with a similar refractive index that fills in the scratches instead of a polish that removes the scratch.

 

[Terry Cox]

If only someone would come up with a crazed lens formula.

 

[Skipper J]

I used Novus Plastic Clean and Shine on my Gray Industries portlights. They have four grades of abrasive; I think I used a little of each. There was about an 85% improvement over the the clouding in 30+ -year-old lenses. Not as good as new, but much better. Still look better after a year or two.

I have hence decided to replace the entire portlights, since I have the space and time, but now that I have removed the fasteners, I'm having trouble breaking away the epoxy or whatever is holding the portlight to the fiberglass. Suggestions, anyone?

 

[dLj]

After polishing you need to use clear spray paint that has UV resistance.

dj

 

[Skipper J]

Thanks, I had no idea/ Something like this?

Amazon.com

 

[dLj]

Thanks, I had no idea/ Something like this?

Amazon.com

That looks right.

dj

 

[skunther]

So use some headlight lens restorer followed up with clear spray acrylic UV coating?

 

[dLj]

So use some headlight lens restorer followed up with clear spray acrylic UV coating?

All of these lenses have a UV coating on them. When they degrade and you repolish, you remove (or the degradation removed) that original UV resistant coating. So after polishing to get rid of scratches, you need to apply a new UV resistant coating.

You can use headlamp restorer if you want. You can also use polishing compounds. Most headlamp restorers I've seen are just glorified polishing compounds. In any case, once you've polished the lense - you need UV protection.

dj

 

[BigEasy]

Here are some before and after pictures of me polishing a port, and the acrylic companionway hatch, for my Hunter 26.

Very nice results. Did you machine polish with foam or wool or did you hand polish? I need to work on my companionway hatch & acrylic hatch boards.

 

[rgranger]

Very nice results. Did you machine polish with foam or wool or did you hand polish? I need to work on my companionway hatch & acrylic hatch boards.

I used a cheap buffer from Auto Zone.

 

[rgranger]

When I sold the boat four years later, the ports were still clear. I did not use any UV protective spray.

 

[skunther]

When I sold the boat four years later, the ports were still clear. I did not use any UV protective spray.

Did you do any sanding? Or just use the buffer with the polish?

 

[dLj]

When I sold the boat four years later, the ports were still clear. I did not use any UV protective spray.

It can be your lenses were UV stabilized.material, not just coated with UV resistant coating - that's a more expensive lens material usually. Or your UV exposure wasn't heavy. 4 years isn't that long. Automotive head light lens material is usually coated. Boat lenses - luck of the draw I'd guess...

dj

 

[rgranger]

Did you do any sanding? Or just use the buffer with the polish?

Just the polish