How to fit Lewmar replacement PortLight lens

[MagicalArmchair]

Mirage came with replacement portlights for all the crazed old ones. Whats the process to fit the little suckers?

 

[pvb]

I think you'll get the answer on the bavaria.info forum.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thanks PVB - I thought this would be a more generic question, rather than a Bav specific thing, hence I posted here rather than the awesome Bavaria forums.

 

[pvb]

Thanks PVB - I thought this would be a more generic question, rather than a Bav specific thing, hence I posted here rather than the awesome Bavaria forums.

I think it needs advice from someone who's done it. Or you could always try asking Clipper.

The problem with Lewmar is that their website is severely lacking in information! It's a triumph of design over usability. Even the huge PDF of spare parts diagrams (once you've found it) doesn't seem to cover all the products.

 

[ithet]

I've got one to do on a Beneteau, same as your picture but in the special green tint. But it came with instructions, I could scan if you need.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I've got one to do on a Beneteau, same as your picture but in the special green tint. But it came with instructions, I could scan if you need.

Thank you, if you have them to hand. The last owner didn't leave the instructions - glad to have the lens though as it will smarten her right up. I'll try Lewmar directly as well, see if there is anything they can send my way.

 

[ithet]

Here you are, maybe a bit sketch. Mine also came with all the fixed hinge parts and fittings. I bought through Ocean Chandlery, they said that the original hinge parts might need replacing as there were new hole sizes. They are hatch/portlight specialists and possibly a better source of knowledge than Lewmar.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Super, exactly what I was looking for, thank you ithet

 

[MagicalArmchair]

I fitted the window (s) over the weekend. I started by thinking it would be a ten minute job, however, they supply you with a full kit including the hinge and clasp assembly (so you need to follow the full PDF). The latch and hinge furthest aft had some corrosion around it - it looked like moisture at some stage had got in there - and so were quite hard to extract. On refitting, I cleaned the openings that the hinge and clasp bedded in to , however, once the whole thing was back together, the aft most clasp was reasonably tight. I closed the latch after fitting, and thought it was probably a little tight for the first mate, so I opened it and closed it again, considering what the issue might be. A third time I opened it, closed it, and BANG, the latch came off the window! I am not super strong (in fact, all this lockdown sitting around has probably had some pretty dramatic negatives in that respect!), and I was applying a little more pressure than usual, but not enough, I would have thought, to break the window apart (These clasps have to keep the SEA out the boat too!)!

It's almost as though the glue had not adhered to the latch whatsoever. Thankfully, I had a second window on board, as the previous owner had purchased a job lot to replace more of the windows, so I swapped it out with one of those.

That aft latch still remains tighter than the rest. I wonder if the corrosion is making the top hinge stand slightly prouder than the rest?

If that hinge assembly wasn't able to bed all the way down into its recess (due to remaining corrosion I had failed to clean off) at the top, that would require extra force at the bottom as the angle would greater. Hmm. Any other thoughts why that end is so tight? I took the clasp off the bottom and cleaned that recess out with my much loved and abused Dremel.

ithet, When you come to fit these, fit the window with all the hinge and clasp screws loose, else you can't get the whole thing lined up - they leave that out of the instructions.

Guess I'll be taking it apart next time I go down. Will Lewmar replace that defective window you think? It was purchased by the previous owner last year at Ocean Chandlery?

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Guess I'll be taking it apart next time I go down. Will Lewmar replace that defective window you think? It was purchased by the previous owner last year at Ocean Chandlery?

It's worth adding here that both Lewmar and Ocean Chandlery were very helpful indeed. The new unit will arrive with me tomorrow.