Portlight Replacement in Owner's Projects

[bigd14]

Has anyone done Nigel Barron's portlight replacement in the Owner's Projects section?

It looks like an excellent solution. I have removed all my portlights (most of which were leaking badly) with great difficulty and in the process damaged a couple of them. For they most part they are probably repairable, but the trouble of getting the gaskets, cleaning them up and reinstalling them seems like it might not be worth it, especially if the damage causes continued leaks.

If anyone has done this, how have your portlights held up over the past few years? Did they stay dry? If you had to do it over again, would you do anything differently? Use acrylic instead of lexan? What thickness did you use?

Thanks!

Doug

E27 #195

 

[treilley]

I had custom portlights made by Bomon in Canada. They have 1/4" tempered glass. I am very happy with them. My factory portlights had some corosion on the gasket surface that would have made them impossible to seal properly.

 

[tenders]

Having done both over the years, I would suggest not using acrylic or lexan; they'll eventually scratch and/or craze and/or suffer an adverse reaction to a caulk or adhesive you use elsewhere on the boat.

Tempered glass is not much more expensive and will last a really long time.

 

[mherrcat]

Was Bomon able to make the custom units to fit the original cutouts or did the cutouts have to be modified to fit the Bomon units?

 

[treilley]

Yes and no. They made them to fit the openings but they were not able to get the turn radius as tight as the originals so I had to modify the openings a little. They appear stock though.

 

[kevin81]

Doug,
I did the same as Tim - I ordered new Bomon fixed ports. I also had to slightly modify the openings due to the tight radius. The new ports look great and most of all they don't leak!

Kevin
1989 E34

 

[lbertran]

Modifying Openings

I assume by modifying the openings, you mean making them slightly larger? Thanks.

 

[treilley]

Correct Laura.

 

[bigd14]

Thanks guys. I'll check into the Bomon's. Any ballparks of pricing per window?

Doug

 

[treilley]

I paid about $300 per.