Replace windows with Ports

[An anonymous user]

Has anyone or does of anyone know of anyone who may have replaced the windows on a 26S with opening port lights?

http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/HATCHES_PORTS-Portlights_Portholes.html

 

[Hollyweirdos]

I am doing that on my 17. In florida, a window that doesnt open just makes the inside more hot. I glassed over where the old fixed windows were and got some opening ports on ebay. I will put up pictures after I install the new ports. It was not too hard to add the glass to where the old ones were. Just a lot of grinding, filling, and sanding. Just grind down the perimeter of the old windows to a 10 to 1 slope from the outside and lay in the glass. Nothing a weekend or two wont handle.

 

[Doug J]

I haven't done it but it's something I'd like to do. Quite some time ago someone posted pic's of their 26D with opening ports, they were oval. The openings were filled in and new holes cut, like what Hollyweirdos described.

I always thought it would be nice to find black ones the same width as the black plexiglass, and install them right into the plexiglass. I've seen a couple that look like they would work.

 

[Lost Parent]

Try Crusing Concepts I am just doing my Catalina now ....real great looking

 

[Doug J]

These dimensions would fit within the area of the black plexiglass, which on my boat at least is exactly 5-1/2" wide. $80 for two!!!

Outside frame overall dimensions: 5-1/2" x 12-3/8"

Frames can be painted with high quality acrylic spray paint made for plastics.

http://www.beckson.com/bronzeandsilver.html

 

[oreana123]

On my 26d I enlarged the hole in the bathroom area and installed an opening porthole. I created two openings in the cockpit footwell walls and installed two opening portholes there to ventilate the aft berth.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

^ he's got nice oval's in SS (IIRC), and I've seen someone that used an inspection port with a clear screw in cover...

the aft cabin ports had a little gap that needed to be squeezed together...

-I don't have either..

 

[prishi]

Folks, I see every other boat-owner wanting to 'mod' his boat, and the mod goods' manufacturers will always provide parts to be installed wherever on the boat. But my issue is with the bouyancy of the boat in case it capsizes. Making ports that are not sanctioned by the Boat Manufacturer is risky as it degrades the safety of the vessel. The under-deck space is enclosed in every way except the entrance from where water can enter the capsized boat. Assuming that the capsized boat rolls in a way that water does not enter from here, or minimally enters the space, the area is quite water-tight, keeping bouyancy in the boat, or, a much-needed air-pocket if capsized. If the area is modified and port-holes are created through these modifications, the boat becomes 'unsafe'. The manufacturer does know what the community wants and knows that the area becomes hot, but still has not altered the design.

The boat is designed with enough foam and watertight voids to ensure that it will not sink if capsized, but keeping the cabin space water-tight in the front is probably a good idea. A $10 fan from Walmart could alleviate the situation instead.

Just my $0.02

 

[BrokeNotBroken]

On my 26d I enlarged the hole in the bathroom area and installed an opening porthole. I created two openings in the cockpit footwell walls and installed two opening portholes there to ventilate the aft berth.

I think these look great. Did you do a write-up on the install and how difficult it was? If so, I'd love to read it. I'm thinking of doing the same thing. Did it make a significant difference with getting airflow through the boat and cooling things down below?

 

[oreana123]

I got an idea to do this after sleeping in the boat with 2 kids and wife. More ventilation without rain intrusion...

All 3 portholes were sourced used off of Ebay.

The easiest install was in the head area. Some Macs don't have any windows there, some have a 4 inch square slot. In the process of replacing the tinted plexiglass strips down the sides of the cabin, I enlarged the head window area to accept the porthole and deleted the forward strip. The inside and outside walls of the hull and liner are right next to each other, so creating a new hole was easy. Also, I found this to be a good time to enlarge the two aft galley window holes, letting in a lot more light. I reset the plexiglass strips with RTV. It worked for 30+ years from the factory, and was a bear to remove.

The portholes in the footwells of the cockpit were a little harder to do. This is because the upper outside wall is spaced away from the liner. I cut the hole with a jigsaw, and the blade wanted to wander when cutting two surfaces. If I did it again, I would have made a template and routed the edge with a handheld router. When I placed the portholes, I used a caulking gun to flow substantial sealant between the two separated surfaces, to keep them supported. Initially, I assembled the portlight, then I came back and set the final torque I wanted, compressing the inner ring of sealant.

The increase in light is a wonderful thing if you camp on your boat. The ventilation makes the aft bed a very nice place to sleep. Ventilating the head keeps the entire crew happier (I also have a solar fan above the porthole to keep things moving).

The potential for water intrusion through these three holes is there, but is made acceptable by responsible use of the openings. The benefits outweigh the risks for me. Ho wever, in a complete knockdown, on a hot day when I was below, I actually did have water come in the head portlight.

I am not sure if I am right, but I think that an opening window is a porthole, a non-opening one is a portlight. I saw a set of portlights mounted in the vee berth area that really made the area more pleasant even if no ventilation. The portlights were mounted below the rubrail and in the area of the bow that leans in, so not apt to be contacted by docks etc. I may do that too.

 

[oreana123]

Dang, I forgot about the porthole I installed during my compass delete. I installed a nice porthole in the area to the right of the companionway. I find this to be a poor place to install a compass, and my Mac is not a voyaging sailboat. Anyway, a very straight forward install using a template and a small router.

 

[BrokeNotBroken]

Dang, I forgot about the porthole I installed during my compass delete. I installed a nice porthole in the area to the right of the companionway. I find this to be a poor place to install a compass, and my Mac is not a voyaging sailboat. Anyway, a very straight forward install using a template and a small router.

I thought it might be nice to add portholes to the right and left of the cabin entryway. Do you have pics of that install? Were the inner and outer liners close together in that area?

You know, I keep hoping that you will update your website with your latest mods

thanks for the info.
-david