Porthole seals

[Atraxia]

Hi forum friends,

We need to replace (or just put in new) seals for round portholes on our 1987 Hudson Force 50.
Since we are away from the boat at the moment, there is no way for us to measure them.
Does anyone here have similar ones or knows the size of these seals?
Make and model of them would be very helpful.
Any other advise/suggestions will be most appreciated.

Thanks a lot.
Ron

[kentobin]

My experience is you purchase a roll of gasket material and cut it to length. Then you glue it in place with something like LifeSeal. The hard part was digging out the 30 year old gasket material I found in in My Good Old Boat.

This is the gasket material that fit in my portholes. Only sold in 10 foot lengths at Defender:
Perko Portlight Weatherstripping
LifeSeal link:
BoatLIFE LifeSeal Marine Sealant

Have fun. :-)

[Cheechako]

You pretty much need a portlite manufacturer to know. Could be Perko, Could be Wilcox.....

[ohdrinkboy]

i used some very flexible automotive vacuum hose.

[Wind River]

Kentobin is right, digging out the old stuff took me about 20 minutes per port and you have to get it ALL out.

The seals on my '82 Force 50 were square rubber and was lucky enough to have found a bulk length of it on the boat when I bought it. I just cut it to length and super glue the ends together. The seal fit nice and snug into the groove of the port and I have no intention of gluing it in place. I have done a couple this way but have not been at the docks yet to blast 'em with a hose to see how well they seal. Has to be better than what was in there!

I can mic out the size of the stock and report back if you would like.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

The old stuff on my boat was 30+yrs old and dried out felt type(?). The 1/4" square rubber material I used to replace it was originally bought from McMaster-Carr.

Pulling the old stuff was easy for me. Took seconds to get out each one.

take a look at what you have and check out McMaster-Carr to see if they have something you could replace it with.

[Redcoat]

Try Diamond Sea Glaze Manufacturing Ltd in Langley B.C. Canada Eh

[Atraxia]

Thank you all for your replies!!

Kentobin - That looks like it can fit. It's in the right direction in any case.

Wind River - Thanks! I would guess that's the same as I have. If you can check out the size, will be grateful!

Thanks Cheechako, Rapsody and Redcoat. Will try contacting them till I get it right (or close to it) :-)

[SVTatia]

Once you have the size and shape try McMaster Carr.

McMaster-Carr

[Wind River]

The bulk material I used measures out at .202 square (5.12mm)

[Atraxia]

Thank you Wind River!

Will look it up with the different suppliers.

Thanks
Ron

[barnakiel]

This is also the case in our boat: buy per yard and cut to length.

b.

[Atraxia]

Thanks barnakiel.

From what I have managed to inquire till now, they all offer "running strips" in lengths of 100'. I really don't mind buying that much and keeping it for further use in the future or passing on to someone else in need.

Ron

[zeehag]

one of my neighbors in san diego used tire innertube material...worked well for his ingrid, and you dont see it when done and it costs only a small amount of money.

[Atraxia]

Hi Zee,

I guess it would work too (I did things like that in the past) but in this case I prefer to put something that is as close to original as can get. In addition, I also need it for the butterfly hatch where a good fit is really important.

Thanks for the tip
Ron