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Old 09-03-2012, 14:28   #1
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Portlight Covering Ideas ?

We looked into adding portlight shades from Oceanair as they looked like an attractive answer to our needs.
Off the shelf sizes ranged from $59 to $98 per portlight, not cheap, but doable.
As it turned out, we would need to order custom as the widths of our portlights are over the longest off the shelf offerings.
The bid turned out to be an average of $250 per portlight (30"x12") ACK !!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Old 09-03-2012, 15:41   #2
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Re: Portlight covering ideas?

Is this what you are looking for? They had 30"x12" for $62. http://www.zarcor.com/products/oceanair/pleated.php
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Old 09-03-2012, 16:08   #3
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I made shades out of sunbrella that fit btwn the port light and the screen. Easy to put in place, easy to clean and the area around the port lights is clean.
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Old 10-03-2012, 15:10   #4
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Re: Portlight Covering Ideas?

Nadejda,

Thanks for the link, but we need something flat, at least at the bottom.
There are little storage cubbies which would be halfway covered with those.
The portlights are fixed.
It looks like we'll have to make some kind of fabric covers and attach them with continuous magnet tape in a casing.

I've first got to remove the inside aluminum trim to see if I can sneak some steel sheet metal behind the vinyl hull covering to provide something for magnets to grab.

Any more ideas would be welcome.
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Old 10-03-2012, 20:10   #5
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Re: Portlight Covering Ideas ?

Not sure whether you meant inside or outside...

Sailrite have a fantastic blog outlining techniques for making such things (in the hope we'll then buy the materials from them - fair 'nuff!). Here's a post where they outline exterior hatch covers: How to Make a Hatch Cover « Do-It-Yourself Advice Blog.

Here's a pretty cool post for snap on interior hatch covers: Boat Window Insulation « Do-It-Yourself Advice Blog.
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Old 10-03-2012, 21:12   #6
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Re: Portlight Covering Ideas ?

If all you want is something to block the light from the inside then how about a piece of plastic cut to size and then Velcroed on?
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Old 10-03-2012, 21:48   #7
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Re: Portlight Covering Ideas ?

S.S.,

Thanks for the links.
Privacy is #1. Heat and cold blocking is #2, and light blocking last on the list.
An easy on/off is our goal, so we're going to install a bunch of neodymium magnets in the casing of homemade portlight covers.
I think we'll incorporate part of that video with these:

K&J Magnetics - Products

in six portlights we'll have approximately 200 of these puppies sewn into the edge of the fabric.
By putting the magnets in the covers, this will allow the fabric to be crunched, rolled etc. and tossed into whatever area we choose (excepting of course, the fluxgate compass area).
The backside of the aluminum portlight frames have convenient slots for the installation of magnetic strip material which is available everywhere CHEAP!

I'll cut the continuous tape to the right width and stick it in place with the peel and stick.
It can't go anywhere even if the adhesive fails, as it's held in place by the portlight frame screws.

Yeah, I know we need to get the N/S polarity right with the individual magnets. No sweat, we'll set up an assembly line!

What's not to like?
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Steve B.
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