Leaking Portlight

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Shipscarver
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Leaking Portlight

Post by Shipscarver »

AQ year ago I replaced the rubber gasket that goes between the glass and the bronze port fixture. The leak continued. I replaced the gasket again. It still leaked. This time I pulled out the bronze portlight, and plastic covered the hole, power brushed the port hardware and removed the old gasket material (which was probably not the problem). That situation remains.
The new coil of round black hard rubber gasket material I had sitting in the shed turned out to be too thick. the port will not close (like a dummy I installed it and waited 3 days to be sure it was dry before trying to close the it where it is, sitting on my table).!
Does anyone have about 6 foot of of the round gasket material for a CD27 portlight so I can put it all back together without buying another big box of what will probably be the wrong stuff? ;-)
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Cathy Monaghan
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Re: Leaking Portlight

Post by Cathy Monaghan »

Also, don't forget, when installing the new gasket, that the joint where the to ends meet should be at the top of the port and never at the bottom.


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Duncan Maio
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Re: Leaking Portlight

Post by Duncan Maio »

I have some, but not sure if it is in the basement or on the boat. Should be able to check by the weekend, and will let you know.

Have you explored the possibility that the leak is from around the frame? rebedding when you reinstall it should cure that as well, if it is the problem.
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Joe Myerson
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Re: Leaking Portlight--Surgical Tubing?

Post by Joe Myerson »

FWIW, when surveyor Norm LeBlanc spoke at last Saturday's Cabin Fever Lunch in Dover, N.H., he mentioned the portlight gaskets as something to watch for in boats as old as ours. He suggested that you could use surgical tubing of the appropriate size to provide a good seal when the gasketing material had worn out.

I don't know if anybody has tried this, but the tubing is probably easier to come by.

Just a thought.

--Joe
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"What a greate matter it is to saile a shyppe or goe to sea."
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Re: Leaking Portlight--Surgical Tubing?

Post by Neil Gordon »

Joe Myerson wrote:FWIW, when surveyor Norm LeBlanc spoke at last Saturday's Cabin Fever Lunch in Dover, N.H., he mentioned the portlight gaskets as something to watch for in boats as old as ours. He suggested that you could use surgical tubing of the appropriate size to provide a good seal when the gasketing material had worn out.

I don't know if anybody has tried this, but the tubing is probably easier to come by.

Just a thought.

--Joe
Yes, and you can also experiment endlessly with sheet to tiller self steering with all the left over surgical tubing. :)

Seriously, Norm did mention this. I would think your local medical supply store would be happy to give up an inch or so of various sizes so you could test for the right fit.
Fair winds, Neil

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Joe Myerson
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Re: Leaking Portlight--Surgical Tubing?

Post by Joe Myerson »

Neil Gordon wrote: Yes, and you can also experiment endlessly with sheet to tiller self steering with all the left over surgical tubing. :)
.
Hey Neil,

Don't laugh. I've received some good ideas from another forum--and I think I can get it to work. (Yeah, you've heard that before.)

One of the secrets might be a bottle of good single malt -- not while under way of course.

--Joe
Former Commodore, CDSOA
Former Captain, Northeast Fleet
S/V Crème Brûlée, CD 25D, Hull # 80

"What a greate matter it is to saile a shyppe or goe to sea."
--Capt. John Smith, 1627
Neil Gordon
Posts: 4367
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
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Re: Leaking Portlight--Surgical Tubing?

Post by Neil Gordon »

Joe Myerson wrote:
Neil Gordon wrote: Yes, and you can also experiment endlessly with sheet to tiller self steering with all the left over surgical tubing. :)
.
Hey Neil,

Don't laugh. I've received some good ideas from another forum--and I think I can get it to work. (Yeah, you've heard that before.)

One of the secrets might be a bottle of good single malt -- not while under way of course.

--Joe
I wasn't laughing, just smiling. :wink:
Fair winds, Neil

s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA

CDSOA member #698
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