Port Screens? Yea or Nay?

[Madehn]

Not sure this is the right forum for this question, but i am now ready to replace all of my old ports with new SS - i can order screens to go into all of the 12 opening ports if i would like but the price is around 30 bucks apiece-- what is the vote worthwhile or not?-- boat is a 51 foot gulfstar - we will be living aboard and plan on cruising Carib etc.

[Jim Cate]

You will eventually wish you had them, and by then they may not be available... buy now when they are easy to locate, likely to fit, and they ain't gonna get less expensive.

I've never sailed in your neck of the woods, but damn near everywhere you go there are flying pests, sometimes dripping with disease... screens for ports and companionway and hatches are quite important to us.

Jim

[Island Time O25]

And screens for hatches and the companionway as well.

[Paul L]

Yea, if you are travelling anywhere that has
Dengue,
Zika,
Chickenguaya
Malaria,
or flies
Basically the entire Tradewind circumnavigation route.

[RaymondR]

$30 per screen is not a bad price.

Sooner or later you are going to need them and it's very frustrating to have to sit in a boat in a hot climate and have to make the choice between itching or roasting.

[jim King]

Anchor just once too close to a mosquito infested island and you will wish you had paid twice the price. Yes I would buy them and store them until needed so they don't get trashed. You might not need them all around. Just the areas you will want ventilation while on the hook.

[jen1722terry]

We replaced all our screens on our Cape Dory 31 a few years back. Even though we cruise in Maine and the Maritimes, we still have lots of bugs and even the odd hot night, so the screens get lots of use.

Our ports are bronze and so are our screens. Very rugged. Since your ports are SS, can you get SS screens? The screens occasionally get whacked as we move around the boat and the metal mesh is far stronger than plastic.

Nice boat you have there. Good luck with it.

[Ken Z]

Yes screens for everything, cockpit, hatches etc. I have no see um screens for the fl.keys, not a big no see um problem in the islands, regular screens are fine .

[doublewide]

Another resounding "yes" for screens.

[Cheechako]

I would order a few. I found that ports are terrible for ventilation. They are always on the side of the cabin with no wind coming through due to that. A forward hatch screen and rain cover will give you 10 times the air.

[stormalong]

If you are looking at New Found Metals, their portlights have very disappointing screens. The portlight must be adjusted to fit the screen and removal of the screen requires that the portlight be re-adjusted to make it watertight. The screens can pop out easily when opening the portlight and they are tricky to get back in. It takes two people, one inside and one outside to get the rubber lip set right.

I have removed all of the screens from my NFMs. I think I could make something better. Where I cruise now the portlights are seldom open so I won't bother.

Buyer beware.

[peter loveridge]

I think anywhere on the East Coast of North America is uninhabitable without screens

[CommodoreDoug]

I say a resounding Yea.

We replaced all of our opening ports with New Found Metals stainless steel ports with stainless steel screens. They look great, keep out the flies, and as an added bonus make it impossible to see into the boat even when you're up close.

I mainly wanted the steel screens so our cat couldn't pull them out with his claws or teeth and go for stroll. And he has tried, but they are seemingly indestructible.

A bargain at twice the price and have great eye appeal. They install easily with a butter knife and drop of Armor All or silicone lubricant.

If and when I cruise south again I will be even more appreciative for having included the steel screens.

[psk125]

12 x $30 = $360. Is air conditioning cheaper than that?

[thruska]

Originally Posted by Madehn

Not sure this is the right forum for this question, but i am now ready to replace all of my old ports with new SS - i can order screens to go into all of the 12 opening ports if i would like but the price is around 30 bucks apiece-- what is the vote worthwhile or not?-- boat is a 51 foot gulfstar - we will be living aboard and plan on cruising Carib etc.

Im not even going to read the complete thread.
I have only one question that may perhaps help you decide.

Do you love flying insects ?

Good luck with your decision.