Lewmar old standard portlight hinge spare parts

[syvictoria]

Hi. I'm trying to source some replacement 'butterfly' springs from inside the hinges of our old (1987 vintage) Lewmar standard portlights (see pic). I've been in contact with Lewmar tech support and they inform me that they no longer stock or supply these as spare parts. Seemingly they expect me to replace my seven portlights with new just for the sake of a few small broken bits of plastic! Does anyone know of a source of any non-OEM replacements? Many thanks.



(P.S. I have already tried my local Lewmar dealer and they asked me to come back midweek because they'd never seen the required item before and they too would need to contact Lewmar to pursue any further!)

 

[cobolt]

Just seen your postscript, I don't recognise that piece as being from a Lewmar product....Do you have a picture of the Portlight itself?

Or at the least, does it look like this : https://www.lewmar.com/cms-assets/oldstd~2.jpg

 

[syvictoria]

Hi. Thanks for your reply. Yes, that's definitely the same type of portlight.

 

[pvb]

The parts seem to be in stock here - https://hatchmasters.com/product/lewmar-old-standard-portlight-hinge-kit/

 

[cobolt]

Hi. Thanks for your reply. Yes, that's definitely the same type of portlight.

OK, it is Old Standard Portlight then...I confess I never dismantled one of those.
Butterfly Spring - part number 360716099

Looks like this is what you're after to me? : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEWMAR-S...rom-menu-location-Portlight-box-/222206888455

Make sure you select "hinge spring" from the drop down list.

 

[syvictoria]

Thanks very much for the replies. Ouch.... GBP 5.50 for a 4cm piece of plastic! And I need about 9 of them... Perhaps I should try an epoxy repair on the old ones first! It's the 'horns' that have snapped. Otherwise, I wonder if they could perhaps be fabricated out of something stronger if I'm looking at outlaying GBP 50 or so to fix them all?

 

[PaulRainbow]

The Ebay price of £5.50 includes post and Ebay ripoff fees. Contact the seller and ask him how much to post several to you, outside of Ebay.

Yacht Parts
Andy Salomonson
82 Billacombe Road
Plymstock
Plymouth
Devon
PL9 7EZ
United Kingdom


Phone:7970108712

Email:andysalomonson at gmail.com

 

[syvictoria]

The Ebay price of £5.50 includes post and Ebay ripoff fees. Contact the seller and ask him how much to post several to you, outside of Ebay.

Yacht Parts
Andy Salomonson
82 Billacombe Road
Plymstock
Plymouth
Devon
PL9 7EZ
United Kingdom


Phone:7970108712

Email:andysalomonson at gmail.com

That's a good idea... will do! Thank you.

 

[cobolt]

I doubt an epoxy repair will work...If I'm not mistaken, the ears are designed to be flexible, and they click through the various opening positions...I think an epoxy repair would be too stiff and or brittle.

To be honest, I'm not shocked by that price at all. In fact it's quite reasonable and good that you can order this part individually and not have to purchase a full hinge kit. I'd grab them while you can, because for sure no more will be run off, if the tooling even exists still.

The problem in the marine industry is that it is very costly for the original manufacturers to support such old products (let's not forget these port lights are over 30 years old) with spare parts.

I worked there 8 years and had requests for old standard Portlight hinge-kits maybe 4 or 5 times in that period. Once any residual stock runs out, it's simply not cost-effective to order in more....the minimum order quantities from the injection moulders would be far too high, plus often the tool will need expensive remedial work having sat for so long unused.

In the auto world, manufacturers themselves would have given up providing spares decades ago for something made in the 80's.

Also In the auto-world, the after-market / pattern parts industry takes over...but in the marine world sadly demand is not sufficient....and they'd cost even more than £5.50 if someone had to make tooling and demand tiny MOQs relatively speaking (and then amortise the tooling cost over a small number of units).

I know "marine tax" is often bandied about, but in many cases it's simply a symptom of the specialised and low-volume nature of the sport we partake in.

Sorry for the rant, but it did and does irritate me sometimes

Thanks very much for the replies. Ouch.... GBP 5.50 for a 4cm piece of plastic! And I need about 9 of them... Perhaps I should try an epoxy repair on the old ones first! It's the 'horns' that have snapped. Otherwise, I wonder if they could perhaps be fabricated out of something stronger if I'm looking at outlaying GBP 50 or so to fix them all?

 

[syvictoria]

Sorry for the rant, but it did and does irritate me sometimes

Not a problem at all - I love a good rant myself! It's interesting to hear an insider's view. It can be all too easy to just blame profiteerism (not sure that's actually a word!) when you seem to get so little, physically speaking, for your money, but you're right, there's often more to it. (It's still a bit ouchy though!!!! )

 

[Caladh]

Had the same issue on my own Vic.34 - instead of paying silly pricess I found some semi flexible plastic and cut my own "new" ones out from a pattern of an existing good one.

 

[GeorgeTina]

Had the same problem and replaced the broken off parts by using "rubber" from a O Ring. No problem now with the port lights staying open at the various settings - cost a few pence, expected to last for years !