[Public-List] Opening Ports

[Wes Gardner]

Hi Darcy,

If you're speaking of the small oval ports up front, my boat came with
them. There's been some discussion on whether or not they were "factory"
options.  I think they were.  I believe what's available now is through
Spartan Marine...get ready for a bit of sticker shock.  I wrote an article
for the club paper a while ago regarding replacing the gaskets on mine.
You may get lucky and find some of the old Wilcox-Crittenden ports in
someone's stash.

Good luck with your search!

My boat, #196 came to me with three opening and one fixed oval ports.  I
can't say for sure, but it appears as if they are original. The exterior
trim matches the larger fixed ports in both profile, material and means of
fastening, using small slotted bolts with acorn nuts on the inside. One of
the opening ports started to leak at the rubber gasket. It also has one
“leg” of the hinge broken off. None of them leak where they are fitted to
the cabin house sides. The one that leaked is over my wife's bunk. (Photo
“Opening Port”)



Other folks have reported that mine are oversized and not original...could
be, while yet others have reported that they have some that are exactly
like mine ... while still others have said they believe our boats didn't
come with opening ports. Truth be told, I don't know. I DO know that over
the entire production run, there are many variations, some subtle, some not
so on the overall fit and finish of our sturdy little boats.



My education on ports for the A30 began by reading what has been posted on
the website regarding ports in general...mostly dealing with rebedding and
reglazing the large ones. Good stuff, that! However, I thought I had read
somewhere about gasket material for the opening ports but I couldn't find
anything when I went looking. I then contacted the good folks at Spartan
Marine who got back to me in a prompt and professional manner.
Unfortunately, they were unable to identify the manufacturer of my ports.
Spartan does make a beautifully crafted bronze opening oval port that will
fit nicely and with that level of craftsmanship comes a significant price.
I also did a search on EBay for Wilcox-Crittenden oval ports. I pretty much
came up blank. By the way, mine do not have the stylized WC logo anywhere
on them. My assumption is mine are cast aluminum as a magnet does not
stick. (Photo “Opening Port Outside”)



And why was I writing this? Oh yes, the leak over my wife's bunk. The
portlight in question leaked at the rubber gasket which might also be
original. The rubber was compressed out of shape and had lost its
elasticity. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining! If the new one lasts
half that long, I'll be a happy boat owner. (Photo “Old Gasket”)



 My first query was to Taco Marine, they have a lot of good stuff but alas,
not quite what I was looking for. I stumbled on a product by Wefco that has
proven to be just the thing. It is 1/4" square in section with a
cylindrical hollow core.  Isn't it funny how once you know what you're
looking for, it seems to turn up most everywhere. I ordered it by the foot
from Defender. The replacement of the old with the new was simple - the old
came right out of the channel that's cast into the frame of the port and
the new gasket material was press-fitted in dry sort of pushing back on
itself a little so as not to stretch it. The joint is a simple butt joint
at the top. Could you mitre-cut the joint? Sure. Could you set the gasket
material in rubber cement or similar? Sure. My wife says it doesn't leak so
far the way it is.


On Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 8:24 AM, Darcy Haldeman -MDH- via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> Has anyone installed opening ports?
>
> --
> Darcy Haldeman
> Administrative Specialist
> Somerset County Health Department
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> 410-651-3189 FAX
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