WTB: Small opening port lights and, or, frame resource info

[carbonsoup]

In my rebuild of A97 I was planning on adding a small opening port in the cockpit to add ventilation to the under cockpit berth, however I just pulled my forward ports and they are in not so great condition, so I need some extras. Anyone?

Also, on the small opening ports, that I currently own, the outer frame are in multiple pieces. Is there a resource who sells replacements?

If not, i will be going back to SF to take care of some stuff and I would be able to water-jet cut some new ones out of sheet alum. Would anyone be interested if I cut out, say 20 units?

thanks, matt

[Bill]

Searching on opening ports, you would have found:

http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?1756-Update-on-parts-suppliers&highlight=opening+ports

There are more threads of interest . .

[carbonsoup]

yeah, i had called Bristol Bronze about purchasing the outer trim ring... still waiting to hear back. (i think they are at a boat show in Maine.)

[carbonsoup]

Bristol wont sell the outer trim, or at least wont respond back after numerous attempts to contact... so, im still looking for a source for these parts. anyone? also, i did find a guy on the plasticclassic forum that is selling all 6 opening ports from a triton (chromed bronze), but I dont want all six. Would anyone like to go half with me? he is asking 750 but we might be able to get them for a little less. even 750 for all 6 in good shape is a good deal.

[carbonsoup]

still on the hunt for the outer trim rings... no one else with this problem? Has anyone made their own?

[Bill]

Ask Historical Arts & Castings if they will produce trim rings for you.

http://www.historicalarts.com/

[bill@ariel231]

carbonsoup

i have had luck with making my own molds for a couple projects and have talked to a couple southern new england foundries (bristol bronze and mystic river foundry). small business like these are easy to work with. a lot of these smaller shops can cast you new parts using the old parts as the model. after the castings for my new bronze portlights were poured, i gave my molds to roger at bristol bronze.

if you have enough of the original left, take it with you to talk with your local foundry. you may find like i did that a wood mold or the original part(s) screwed to a backing board is all they need to make you a copy in bronze or aluminum.

cheers,
bill@ariel231


ps. here are some examples of how the folks at mystic river use a legacy part for a pattern: http://mysticriverfoundry.com/marine2-05.html

[ebb]

The small opening ports on A338 are aluminum. Took em apart, cleaned em up, did a little filling and had em powder coated a nice patina-bronze color. Look pretty good.
These ports have 26 or 28 pieces each, a lot of parts.... including tiny little FHMS (#4 - 3/16) that hold the gasket retaining ring to the cover, the glass lens. And the outside trim ring, which slips over the spigot and has six #8 FHMS that screw into matching taps inside port frame.
After powder coating, the trim ring no longer slips over the spigot (the part that sticks thru the hole in the cabin side.)

Being aluminum I can't just sand the ring larger because that would destroy the encapsulation of the aluminum and create instant bubbling disaster.
I also examined the blind tapped holes the screws go into and discovered (after the powder coating) that there is poultice in the tiny cavities
- and the threads in the aluminum are mostly gone. Also found a few chips that have come off exposing aluminum.
My ports are accidents waiting to explode..
This can be the type of worst crevis corrosion - and I'd predict they'll go to hell in a couple years if I put them in the boat.
[Could get some flat bronze plate and make the retaining rings.] I don't think these ports can be saved.

So I called Historical Arts to see if they still do the Rostand bronze #10 Port Light
After initial contact I sent the measurements of the aluminum ones to see how close the bronze ones are - viz the holes already in the cabin.
Reply:

Hi Ebb
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you I had to find the retainer ring pattern.
The dimensions seem to be very close to yours.
The prtice is $585 complete.
My only concern is that everything fits up ok with your boat.
If you want to order a pair and for some reasdon they don't work,
I will offer a full refund upon their return.
Because I have no drawings it would be nice to figure this part out,
I look forward to hearing from you!
Robert A Baird
Vice President Operations
Historical Arts & Castings, Inc
5580 West Bagley Park Road
West Jordan, UT 84081
Tel:801-280-2400
Fax:801-280-2493
www.historicalarts.com

$1200 ! ! !

Of course, the amount of time put into these gems is extrodinary.
Just looking at what I have, it's hard to imagine the work involved to come up with my own molds:
foundry cost for four castings, machining, parts, glass, gasket, toggles, hinge pins, drilling & tapping, machine & set screws and so on. TIMES TWO!
Out of the question.

So if I want real nice original opening ports -
ready to go - brand new - in working order - ready for another 50 years -
have to bleed.:(
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
These folks do archetectural castings. Ask what alloy they are using for these Rostand opening ports. Imco they should be casting bronze, not brass.

[carbonsoup]

ebb, thanks for the info. I remember seeing your powder coated parts when I visited in May. They looked great, however I understand your dilemma. Historical arts gave me the same quote. I did find a guy on the plastic classic forum that had all 6 of the original bronze Triton opening ports. He still had them in May... maybe we could split them...? I think he wanted 750 for all six.

[ebb]

Captain Soup, I'm interested!

Matt, thanks for the offer! There's a guy at my (mostly Triton) monthly Alberg Fleet Breakfast who says he's going to make these ports himself.
In a week I'll be seeing him - see where he's at, and show the guys the photos Robert sent me.

Do you know if our ports are the same extraordinary size as what the Tritons had?
I'm not sure why Triton Rob wants to go to the trouble of making new ones.
It's a daunting task. And just to regain time and materials cost would be impossible, imco.
Bronze can be fixed like aluminum can't.
But if the castings are manganese bronze (brass) and need fixing, I don't believe they can be welded, not sure.....

I'm interested in those ports, but I'm committed to the slab-on lexan dead lights already on the boat.

[carbonsoup]

from what I understand the opening ports are the same, so I would rather buy and fix up than make my own! on a related note, I have considered making some large opening ports but that is a whole different ball of wax!

[just4fun63]

I too need to replace those ports have you guys had any luck finding anything. The prices above are almost what I paid for the boat. The PO just cut lexan and bolted it in place