Hatches & Ports - Quality, Price, Dependability

[vacendak]

being in need of buying a set of (15 pcs) hatches & ports for new sailboat,
spend 2 evenings in deep market research

Have re-invented the wheel ! : there is a direct dependence between item's price and it's reputation (not always so, but in this case YES !)

This same set prices increased as follows:

- GEBO (VERY cheap)
- VETUS
- BSI Moonlights
- MAXWELL
- ATKINS HOYLE (Hi, Benjamaphone :cubalibre )
- BOMAR cast (can't afford )

no wonder GEBO has so bad reputation between sailors (ask Gideon,
if you don't trust me ); and BOMARs are highly evaluated - but expensive, too.

I wonder where is the golden mean ?

[Christian Van H]

Ports: NEW FOUND METALS!!!!! Boy these things are pretty!

[Christian Van H]

Oh, and hatches: Mariners Hardware...sweet stainless!

[vacendak]

Originally Posted by Christian Van H

Oh, and hatches: Mariners Hardware...sweet stainless!

there are serious doubts about this product's quality

[harryrezz]

Yup - went with 7 cast stainless ports from Newfound Metals when I replaced the ports in my aft cabin. Excellent quality at an affordable price.
All my hatches are proprietary by the builder, but if I had to replace would probably go with Bomar or Lewmar. Expensive, yes - but not as expensive as a boat full of water from a failed hatch in a storm!

[stillbuilding]

Originally Posted by harryrezz

Yup - went with 7 cast stainless ports from Newfound Metals when I replaced the ports in my aft cabin. Excellent quality at an affordable price.
All my hatches are proprietary by the builder, but if I had to replace would probably go with Bomar or Lewmar. Expensive, yes - but not as expensive as a boat full of water from a failed hatch in a storm!

I would second this. Found the company straight forward to deal with and ports of excellent quality.

[Evan]

If you aren't in a hurry, you can get factory seconds direct from Pompanette (Bomar parent company). Find the customer service number on their website and give them a call. I bought 4 19"x19" hatches for around $120 each. Most had little cosmetic scrapes in the aluminum frame that I didn't care about.

[stoupidmonkey]

New found metal are friggin awesome. The ones Ive bought were of exceptional quality and look great.

[irwinsailor]

Wolf's marine in Benton harbor has a bunch on new bowmar cast hatches that were rejected from Tiara. If they had my size I would not hesitate to put them in my boat.

[Boracay]

I have two hatches on Boracay that leak. One every time it rains, one sometimes.
Of course I found that they are not a standard size, don't take standard rubber, parts are not available and the stainless has frozen to the aluminium.
So I'd suggest going for a standard size hatches that use readily available seals from a maker with a reputation for supplying parts for older hatches.
And if no special tools are needed and the parts don't freeze together even better.

[vacendak]

are of high esteem not for nothing
A pity they do not have representatives in EU, and I live
on this side of the world - you know, overseas the calf costs half ...

will have to buy from company with local dealers.

[witzgall]

Lewmar's Ocean series hatch sizes have stayed the same for over 20 years. We replaced ours, from 1985, this year. THe hole patter was different, but they dropped right in.

Chris

[bhenry]

I'm currently building the cabin on my Cape George 40 and plan on using NFM's products. I live near the company and just visited there last week. I'm very impressed with what I saw and pricing. The owner talked with me about plans in the near future to offer hatches in stainless. They will be sized to fit as replacements for Lewmar ocean 40, 60 and 70 series hatches.

Bill

[Weyalan]

I recently replaced old plastimo (fiberglass reinforced plastic) hatches. On a limited budget, price was important to me, but I also wanted to be confident, so I stuck with "Offshore" hatches. I would have preferred to go with Lewmar Offshore, but ended up going for Maxwell Offshore because they had all the same approvals as the Lewmar, but were significantly cheaper. the hatches (x3) were quite large (approx. 20" x 20") and I was happy with having 4 locking dogs, not 2.

Having fitted teh hatches, I can say that so far they are 100% leak-free. The teak trims should be ready to go on next weekend

[vacendak]

I would have preferred to go with Lewmar Offshore, but ended up going for Maxwell Offshore because they had all the same approvals as the Lewmar, but were significantly cheaper

have checked prices from several suppliers and made averages

LEWMARs & MOONLIGHTs are in about the same price range,
MAXWELLs are ~30% higher

may things in EU be so different from Aussie ?