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Albemarle sound damage

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Cavofficer6

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Feb 20, 2022
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  1. OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
Hatteras Model
43' DOUBLE CABIN (1970 - 1984)
I came across Albemarle sound yesterday in my 43 DC, wind really picked up, so did the seas. Caught a couple of complex waves off the starboard bow, and one of them blew the entire starboard portlight into the v-birth. Looked like a grenade went off. I have it patched but I wonder if you can still buy whole new units to replace? BTW, we're holed up in a marina for the next couple of days, because the weather in North Carolina is garbage for the next few days. Taking the Hatteras to Louisville KY, what a trip so far!
 
Odd. Which portholes do you have ? The early bronze model or the later plastic fuller brush? How did it blow in? The screws striped or did the frame fail?

My 1970 53 has the solid bronze portholes and one was pushed in by a piling during hurricane Irma a few years ago. Found it in the VIP stateroom floor. After repairing the open 20 feet of toe rail, we put it right back in…
 
sams marine sells the complete port light if you have the plastic ones
 
They still sell them but get ready they're like $800 apiece.
 
I have the plastic ones. The plastic which holds the pins for the hinges and the butterfly screws just burst into a bunch of pieces. I'll try to take some pictures when I get some time.
 
Don’t throw away those wing nuts. Kind of hard to find if they’re in good shape.
 
Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. :)

Try finding the bronze ones. If not, check out Spartan Marine. US made, in Maine. Quality stuff. That’s what I installed on the classic 26’ gaff rigged sloop I built a few years ago. Quality stuff.

https://www.spartanmarine.com/ports-screens
 
The quality of the Fuller Brush ports is not that of the earlier bronze ones, but to be fair, most of the Fuller ports have lasted for 40 years+ before they need replacement. You really can't expect much more out of a plastic port light. And why not replace with same? You probably won't even own the boat in another 40 years.
 
What size is it? I may have one.
 
Same thing happened to us on Lake Michigan. Switched all of them over to New Found Metals during restore. A big process but I found all of the old were very brittle. Definitely would have happened again.
20220508_105114.webp20220508_105219.webp
 
The same thing happened to me a few years ago in Lake Ontario
a big wave smashed 2 port lite windows port side v berth, 58 MY
I replaced with Fuller brush products still good, the plastic hinges
snapped and a lot of water came in for the next 2 hours
 
For a 50 year old boat, I think they've done a fine job. Here's a Pic of what spalled outwards. The hinges came off too, but the plastic remained around the pins. I used epoxy to glue them back in place, and two tabs of marine epoxy paste on the bottom. Backed out some of the screws holding the perimeter to the hull, and replaced with same threads and diameter, but longer stainless screws. Attached stainless wire to the top of the screws and tightened them down. It should last until I get home. Definitely going to look at replacing all with metal if possible.
 

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For a 50 year old boat, I think they've done a fine job. Here's a Pic of what spalled outwards. The hinges came off too, but the plastic remained around the pins. I used epoxy to glue them back in place, and two tabs of marine epoxy paste on the bottom. Backed out some of the screws holding the perimeter to the hull, and replaced with same threads and diameter, but longer stainless screws. Attached stainless wire to the top of the screws and tightened them down. It should last until I get home. Definitely going to look at replacing all with metal if possible.

Very similar failure mode as what happened to mine....
 
Very similar failure mode as what happened to mine....

That's impressive. There was a 58 LRC that was my dock neighbor on J dock at Halifax Harbor for awhile, the bow of that boat towered over my head, I'm 6'4" and the dock was at least 1-2' off the water, I couldn't have touched the pulpit if I tried. For that much water to hit that hard in that spot must have been something to see.
 

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