The Latest Project - New Portlights

[Maine Sail]

Hi All,I've not been around as much lately because it's "work on the boat time".. For my latest project I installed eight New Found Metals stainless steel portlights. The transformation from the old plastic Beckson portlights to the NFM portlights is even better than I expected. They are not cheap but when the price is compared against their plastic counterparts they actually become quite a bargain. The NFM portlights are very, very well built and made from solid cast & polished 316 stainless steel. These are not cheaply made stamped frames! The thing I really like about them is no visible fasteners on the exterior of the portlight.. The biggest benefit I had never counted on is the additional light in our cabin. It's like someone flipped the light switch. I guess there is a visible difference between real glass and tinted plastic..If you're interested in how to do this install you can read my latest "how to" here: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/nfm_port_lights

 

[Taylor]

New Found Metals - Tri-matrix?

What a great upgrade! I've seen the NFM products at the boat show, and they are really nice. Did you consider at all their Tri-matrix port? BTW - You have an out of place photo of your deck hatch on page 2. But I like that too, looks like you did some polishing on the plexiglass.

 

[Maine Sail]

No I did not..

I did not want the tri-matrix ports and felt the solid stainless ones would be both better looking and longer lasting. I was not necessarily looking for a rock bottom price and was looking for an upgrade and bullet proof ports..BTW the photo on page two is there to show the before and after between the port and starboard cabin sides after polishing them while the ports were out..

 

[Fred Ficarra7897]

Main Sail, do you have the link for NFM?

Mine doesn't work anymore.

 

[tcbro]

Very thorough...

...as usual, Maine Sail. Thanks for documenting this for us.

 

[NautiDuck]

I'll buy the ticket

if you'll come out to Oregon and work on my boat! What a great piece of workmanship. Sweet looking boat. You rule.

 

[Maine Sail]

NFM Link

Here's the NFM link: http://www.newfoundmetals.com/

 

[Rich (P303)]

Very nice...

is Tim putting in the same portlights?

 

[Brian D]

Thanks, Maine

I need to reseal my port lights and I was wondering what caulk to use. I see you used 3M 101. Excellent writeup.

 

[Fred Ficarra7897]

Thanks too for the link, Maine.

But nothing has changed with NFM. Even the same street address. Their computers power plug must have fallen out of the socket.

 

[Scott]

Maine Sail, I made a call ...

to Bomon. It appears that the only replacement I can find for my ports will have to be a custom fit because of the shape of the windows and the thickness of the wall. Measuring as you demonstrated with a caliper, I found that the thickness is about 75/64" (estimating that the thickness of the window is 1/8").I am going to have to cut the holes a little larger (extend it in length) because the corner radii (as it is now) is only about 1/2" and the corner radii of the windows to be made will be a minimum of 2".Your tutorial will be a big help! I am not sure this is a job I can do with the boat in the water where a steady hand is difficult even on calm mornings. I might have to wait. It will take about 7 weeks to have the ports made and we are finally in the water for the season (as of last Thursday).