Replacing opening ports with New Found Metal

[mjscottinnc]

I'm replacing all the opening ports with New Found Metal 414 SS ports, has anyone accomplished this? Any advice? This will be my next task next weekend.

[Dolce_Vita]

I haven't done this (yet!) but I know someone who has.

Ed & Lesa Smith own P-323 hull number 136 "Sheets-n-Giggles".  Ed replaced their ports with Newfound Metals ones a couple of years ago.  He's not a member here, but their blog address is http://www.sheets-n-giggles.blogspot.com/

I'll pm you with his e-mail address.

[selene]

Any updates on this?  I think I may be going down the same path, as another Bomar falls apart....NFM are my favored supplier.  Will be doing some preliminary measurements tomorrow.

[Impetuous]

I’m getting ready to replace all ports with NFM opening ports on my 36-2. I’m considering
 replacing non-opening ports (with angled fronts) with opening ports. Any thoughts?

[selene]

I am half way through replacing the 4 ports with NFM. I opted for the bronze.  2 in, 2 in progress - I did the port pair first, doing them at the same time to ensure good alignment.

I am intending to do a writeup, but would be happy to answer any questions.

p

[Dolce_Vita]

Photos!

[selene]

Okay, you asked for it....

1) Porthole and spacer. The P323 cabin wall thickness is 1/4"-1/2", so a teak spacer is required. And before I get flamed, this is layer 1 of about 6 of the varnish on the spacer!  Also note that the teak spacers needed to be trimmed to fit, as there is not sufficient height for them to be installed otherwise. Easy job - some measuring, a few minutes with a plane.

2) As in other projects, there is a void between the liner and the deck, which IMHO needs to be filled. I opted for fiberglass cloth and thickened epoxy.

3) This gives you some idea of how they look installed

4) And an exterior view. I expect the exterior to go green fairly quickly; I intend to keep the interior shiny.

[Alma]

Fine work. Now you can remove the big ones and install more like this very special 323 that had opening ports from the factory-

[Jammin]

Hi there. I have a P39 yawl and I'm looking at replacing my oval opening ports with SS option from NFM. Slightly larger than existing, but that shouldn't be an issue.  The question I have is whether anyone has considered replacing the fixed main cabin ports with opening ports? They would be the same overall dimensions, but rectangular, so would lose the distinctive curved shape of existing openings. Any thoughts on this welcomed!

[Jammin]

This is what the boat looks like currently (original portlights):

[Jammin]

And this is what it would look like with the New Found Metal portlights (rectangular + larger oval):

[T_schlueter]

Wow! That will be a nice improvement. Neat how you created that view. Awesome boat.