twist knobs for Beckson ports are causing problem

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Rick

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
Has anybody else found that the twist knobs for Beckson ports on Hunter 27s place so much pleasure when fully tightened that they've broken off the base of the port. When this happens you can't fully tighten the knob any longer because it doesn't have anythign to grab against - leaving a poor seal and of course rainwater comes through. Even with a rain-shield port lense, I'm still getting leakage -- I've had to leave a tupperware bowl on the salon beneath the port to catch rainwater. Does anybody have a solution or fix short of spending $90 on a new Beckson port??? Thanks
 
J

Jim Wasko Jr.

not sure

But on my H79_27, I have the twist lock portholes in the forward and don't know who made them either. From experience, if your having to tighten them up that much to stop the rainwater that causes the plastic spline to strip on the nut, then you probably have a bad window glass gasket that needs replacement. I replaced the gasket with some screen door replacement rubber from homedepot and founnd that I only need to lightly tighten the middle of the 3 screws (leaving the outer ones completely off) and I have no rainwater leaks at all. (imho) Fixing the plastic nuts for less than $90 can't be that hard unless your replacing the whole kittle kaboodle (whole porthole assembly) Ask the local yard/s, they might have those things laying around from other peoples replacement ports. But if you have water leaking through the water sheilds (something I don't have and I assume to be on the outside of the boat) then I would look into other things such as the porthole gaskets, meaning the one on the outside of the boat and the one on the the inside. Hope that helps some.
 
Ward Niffenegger

Ward Niffenegger

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Dec 6, 2003
57
Hunter 27_89-94 Kalona, Iowa
Go to Beckson.com

Beckson makes parts for all their ports new gaskets are about $6.00 Converting the knobs to cam lock bolts for about $12.00 per pair. Also, read their instructions and tips. Most gaskets leak because they have been overtightened. If you leave the port loose for a few days the gasket will go back to original shape. Twist knobs were still used on my 1993 Hunter. ALSO, I noticed Phil sells Beckson on this site. You might check to see if he carries parts Ward
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Hold on Ward,

You're not saying your boat has Beckson are you? You have Grays then, right? Beckson invented the cam knob about the time my boat was new.(86) I replace all of my dogs with them in '87. Now I replaced all of those Gray ports with Beckson Rain Drains.
 
T

Tim Welsh

I have 18 old gray ports

I have 18 Old Gray ports and about half of the knobs are still good. Email me at sail060468@aol.com if you are interested in them.
 
Ward Niffenegger

Ward Niffenegger

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Dec 6, 2003
57
Hunter 27_89-94 Kalona, Iowa
99.999999% sure Fred

I am not at my boat, but all the part numbers matched when I was going to get new gaskets for them. When I read that maybe they were just too tight, I tried that and it fixed my drip... drip... drip. I don't think they made that many Hunter 27 in the 89-94 version. Maybe.... they just used some Beckson's they had left over. Seriously, I have beckson knobs except in the head which is cam. All work great if not overtightened. Ward
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
OK Ward. Anything is possible with production

boats. We all know that. It's part of the compromise we have to make to get on the water because we are not RICH! And Tim, isn't that an oxymoron, about the Gray knobs still being good? :)
 
D

Daryl

Old Ports

Rather than but my old Gray ports in the dumpster I put them on ebay for twenty bucks. Bidding went up to $140 for six of them and they were 17 years old. Recycling is great!
 
Rick

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
yes, they are Beckson, Fred

Fred, Ward is right ... all the ports on my 1990 H-27 are Beckson. I was told by Crazy Dave that Hunter made only about 120 H-27s between '89 and '93. What's broken on mine is the plastic portion of the bottom side of the port which holds in place the metal t-shaped hinge onto which the knob twists. Without this little plastic part of the port, the knob has nothing to grab and hold. Is what you all are saying that the new cam system of latches by Beckson means I won't need to worry about that broken plastic piece of the port because the cam grabs hold tightly somewhere else on the port?
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Rick, I don't know.

I do know that when I installed the Beckson cams on my Grays, that the orientation of the stud in the plastic base was critical, if you wanted the cams to point in the same direction and also prevent leaks. That is because the Gray gasket SUCKS. (maybe even literally) It is too hard and thin, so it has a limited range of tension that can be applied. If your old Becksons are built that way,,, well,, same problem. My new Beckson Rain Drains have a very thick gasket. Not only does that mean easy adjustment of the cams, but also rapid operation. They only have two dogs per port. Too cool.
 
M

Mike Webster

Fred . . .

My 89 Hunter Vision 32 came with Beckson rain drain ports with the twist knobs. I quickly changed them out to the cam lock style. They are much easier to operate. Overall, I think the Beckson ports are a very good design. The only leaks I've had are from overtightening the gasket. Even though they are all plastic, I think they are much better than the Lumar opening ports I also have on my boat. Has ANYONE figured out how to replace the gasket in those puppies?
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Mike

I've sent email to Beckson about this. I'll post a reply here as soon as/if it comes in. We'll at least try and get their side of this.
 
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