Opening portlight for after cabin

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pcatterall

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Partly connected with my recent thread on 'keeping cool' we are considering an opening 'window' of some kind at the rear of the after cabin. This should aid the air flow, provide more light and give a view astern.
There is not a good place on the coachroof to the rear of the cabin for a vent.
The rear of the cabin is around 18" high an 4 feet wide, it slopes and has a slight curve across.
Will I be able to fit an opening window here or possibly two circular portlights would be better.
We are not likely to take significant water over this area but would generally sail with them closed in any case.
 
I too have a curved surface where I'd like to fit a couple of opening portlights but have only found anything designed for a flat surface. I guess if they're small enough the curvature might not be an issue but you'd end up with not much ventilation. The smallest I've come across are here (scroll down). Could also try Trinity Portholes. Then there's Gebo, Lewmar, etc. ones from regular chandlers. Might be worth having a chat with Eagle boat windows or other marine glazing people?
 
Stu Jackson said:
I'd stay away from Lewmar, they leak, leak, leak.

Have you considered one from the rear cabin into the cockpit?
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I have 7 oval shaped opening portlights of different sizes by Lewmar on a five year old boat and so far (crossed fingers etc.) none of them leak, the ones in the galley, head and aft cabin are opened and closed frequently so my experience (in a different boat, not a Catalina but a Finngulf) is that they are good.
 
Stu Jackson said:
I'd stay away from Lewmar, they leak, leak, leak.

Have you considered one from the rear cabin into the cockpit?
Click to expand...

I think we have 14 opening Lewmars on our boat. They only leak if we forget to close them.

The seal is formed by the plastic pressing against a rubber gasket. We open them regularly to let the gasket decompress and make sure both gasket and plastic are clean.

Having said that, I should imagine that the sort of windows you can dog down and screw tighten would be better for taking on large mounts of water, but the OP doesn't seem to need that.

Lots of choices in the Lewmar catalogue and good service from their UK agent.
 
Quandary said:
I have 7 oval shaped opening portlights of different sizes by Lewmar on a five year old boat and so far (crossed fingers etc.) none of them leak, the ones in the galley, head and aft cabin are opened and closed frequently so my experience (in a different boat, not a Catalina but a Finngulf) is that they are good.
Click to expand...

+1. Have full suite of lewmar windows, some fixed, some opening, in 19 year old boat, never leaked yet
 
2743.jpg

If this is your boat I would think that a couple (or perhaps just one) of rectangular portlights in that rear "slab" would be ideal. I have fitted Lewmar portlights to three boats over 35 years and never had one leak. The slight curvature would easily be taken up by the mastic bedding. Pick the right ones and site them in line and you will have a very smart addition to the boat.Do the ones in the sides of the stern cabin open? If so, you should get a very nice cross breeze. Rainfall will be a problem but that can be easily sorted by creative use of an inverted inflatable! Don't of course fit a Deck Hatch as these really do need to be on a horizontal surface. Isn't there already one in the roof?

product-8757-0-0.jpg


Chas
 
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I fitted a Lewmar portlight in the cockpit in 1997. It is located in the vertical bulkhead between the galley and cockpit, and looks like the one in Chas' post. It has never leaked a drop, despite regular heavy hosing.
 
Thanks guys. Yes Chas that is Coral wind! nice pic!!
The curvature accross is quite large, the back portion is about 4 feet across and I measured 4" due to the 'curve' at each end. the radius was consistant across. This implies that there would be up to an inch at each side of a 12" window so I can't see this as being a mastic job!!?
I think, though, that I could possibly make a hardwood pad look reasonable.
No there are no opening ports in the cabin and the only vents are towards the front so no through breeze.
I could of course fit openers to the existing side lights but would either have to make them bigger or accept less light due to the internal frame.
Thanks all again.
 
Have a look on the Coastal Rides website. They have high quality portlights at knock-down prices. You can easily make a curved to flat bed using Isopon P40 (the one with the matting in it!) Grease the portlight, Slap on the P40, press the portlight into it, leave to cure for ten minutes remove port light, sand down and fair with body filler. Then paint.
 
PCUK said:
Have a look on the Coastal Rides website. They have high quality portlights at knock-down prices. You can easily make a curved to flat bed using Isopon P40 (the one with the matting in it!) Grease the portlight, Slap on the P40, press the portlight into it, leave to cure for ten minutes remove port light, sand down and fair with body filler. Then paint.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. I had considered using filler but thought that finishing would be an issue.
I guess I could uese your method but grease ( or use a film barrier) betwean the GRP and the Isopon and between the Isopon and the portlight; rough shape with a scrapper; remove all for a final fill/fair; stick it back on ( sealant or bond) ;Paint;fit portlight??
 
Looking at that picture, perhaps two small opening ones would work better. The smaller they are, the less the curvature comes into play.
 
Rather than using hardwood to get a flat surface, I'd be inclined to build it up using something like Isopon P40, the stuff with the fibreglass in it, and finish with some gelcoat repair or ordinary filler to give a good finish.
 
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