What are these portlight closures called?

[Dieseldude]

Originally Posted by GILow

Hi all,

We are looking to retrofit the wing nuts on the new boat's portlights with this sort of loop style nut, but have no idea what they are called or where we might find them.

Can anyone point us in the right direction?

MattAttachment 256153

The assembly including the threaded rod portion is called a "dead light dog". The part that I think you are talking about is simply called a nut. The solid cover that goes over the port hole is called the dead light. Close scrutiny of the entire port hole assembly might reveal manufacturer name and model number. Might have to do some cleaning with a wire detail brush to find it. If this info cannot be found, do you have, or can you get the bill of materials for the entire boat from the builder? You might be lucky enough to source original type nuts from the manufacturer. Some marine hardware is manufactured to the same design for years, so odds might be good.



If you find no data, it could be a machine shop job to fabricate replacements. The one pictured is tapered to engage a tapered seat, so the new one must be tapered to match. This would be a lathe job to bore and tap a piece of brass or bronze rod stock and turn a taper on one end. Stainless should be ok too. Then a loop would need to be brazed or welded on. Would likely be cheaper if you can find OEM nuts than to pay for a fabrication job.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by newhaul

If you already have it in cad would love a copy of that . Will save my middle son some work .

Will likely print a plastic one to make molds from . Sounds like I could sell a few hundred of them to people doing upgrades . And a lot cheaper than $25 each .

You could certainly tap into the Kelly Peterson market. As far as I can tell, the wing nuts I have on the KP are factory original, so most KPs will have them and therefore would benefit from the upgrade.

The version I have photographed is from my Swanson, but all Swansons are custom fit outs so you never know what you’ll get on each boat. In my case the PO fitted some extremely nice opening port lights, much nicer than the factory version on the Kelly Peterson. If it were not for there being only eight on the Swanson while the KP needs twelve I’d be tempted to swap them before selling the boat.

Matt

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by GILow

You could certainly tap into the Kelly Peterson market. As far as I can tell, the wing nuts I have on the KP are factory original, so most KPs will have them and therefore would benefit from the upgrade.

The version I have photographed is from my Swanson, but all Swansons are custom fit outs so you never know what you’ll get on each boat. In my case the PO fitted some extremely nice opening port lights, much nicer than the factory version on the Kelly Peterson. If it were not for there being only eight on the Swanson while the KP needs twelve I’d be tempted to swap them before selling the boat.

Matt

You mean like mine :biggrin. No more polishing bronze . and finally an opening portlight in the head

[GILow]

Originally Posted by newhaul

You mean like mine :biggrin. No more polishing bronze . and finally an opening portlight in the head

Not to mention the weight saving.

I'd happily replace all 12 on the KP, but OMG, the cost!

[boatmon0]

Here is something like that on ebay.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/12401454864...IAAOSwxIld-Tpy

[Spot]

Originally Posted by GILow

You could certainly tap into the Kelly Peterson market. As far as I can tell, the wing nuts I have on the KP are factory original, so most KPs will have them and therefore would benefit from the upgrade.

The version I have photographed is from my Swanson, but all Swansons are custom fit outs so you never know what you’ll get on each boat. In my case the PO fitted some extremely nice opening port lights, much nicer than the factory version on the Kelly Peterson. If it were not for there being only eight on the Swanson while the KP needs twelve I’d be tempted to swap them before selling the boat.

Matt

Messing around with the loop I got the weight closer to the one weighed by WSMurdoch.

Matt, if you want to confirm the dimensions for your parts, I can set Cad nominal to your dims and pass the CAD to Newhaul & Son. Does the conical bit actually engage into a conical recess? Those related dims would need to be good for a nice fit.

WSMurdoch, thanks for the weight, and same ? for you: does the conical nose on the port dog engage into a conical recess on the port frame? My one boat with lights are all low budget dead lights so no port dogs onboard.

Newhaul, let me know what CAD formats work best for the lad.

Feel free to PM if you'd rather.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by boatmon0

Here is something like that on ebay.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/12401454864...IAAOSwxIld-Tpy

And I thought AU$25 was a bit steep!

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Spot

Messing around with the loop I got the weight closer to the one weighed by WSMurdoch.

Matt, if you want to confirm the dimensions for your parts, I can set Cad nominal to your dims and pass the CAD to Newhaul & Son. Does the conical bit actually engage into a conical recess? Those related dims would need to be good for a nice fit.

WSMurdoch, thanks for the weight, and same ? for you: does the conical nose on the port dog engage into a conical recess on the port frame? My one boat with lights are all low budget dead lights so no port dogs onboard.

Newhaul, let me know what CAD formats work best for the lad.

Feel free to PM if you'd rather.

I’m on it. I’ve been stretched a bit thin the last day or so, my son was back in town. But I’ve just dropped him off at the airport so I’m back on the job now.

[GILow]

Well, the loop style from the Swanson work way, way better than the butterfly nuts that came with the Kelly Peterson. Incomparable really.

The lands (I think that's the name) on the KP portlights are very nicely dished amd seem to work with the profile of the ring sort on the Swanson much more smoothly. Thr butterly nuts feel kinda lumpy as you tighten them.

Lots of photos below but the main take-away to me is that the thickness of the ring itself is closer to 8mm than 10 mm, which is not so clear from.the first photo.

Off to the chandlery to.see.wjat sort of thread they have. Stay tuned.Attachment 256465Attachment 256466Attachment 256467Attachment 256468Attachment 256469

[GILow]

And they turned out to be 3/8” UNC thread.

[GILow]

Aaargh! Photos didn't post.

Here they are again, one by one this time.

[GILow]

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[GILow]

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[GILow]

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[GILow]

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