Porthole or portlight

[Versatile]

What would be the thickness of the MacGregor 26M 2007 hull, just below the after rubber fender in the area of the master cabin, so to insert a porthole ?

Have you ever done that type of improvement ?

What type of porthole did you fixed ?

There is a lack of ventilation in the Master and Mistress cabin ...

No bad though !!!

Thank you.

[Québec 1]

Browse the mods section :
I like this mod myself.
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=294

[Versatile]

Merci Québec I !

[bubba]

Has anyone put a port light in the hull in the stearn sides of the aft burth both port and starboard ?

[Love MACs]

Yes they have, but I don't remember who? Although it looked nice... most voiced a concern should they be forgotten and left open during actual sailing/motoring. And left open could be a swamping hazard. Try a search in the mods or search for porthole or portlight.


Allan

[Kelly Hanson East]

Iirc Fran trapp sank her boat accidentally with an open porthole a few years ago .

[NiceAft]

I had opening ports installed in the cabin, and I think they are wonderful. Stephen is correct though. Fran's boat sank because of an open port. I believe it sank at the dock.

Our ports are located in the aft part of the cabin, not in the aft sleeping area. You can see the starboard port in the photo below.
(Click to enlarge)

The port, port (sounds strange) is located diametrically opposite it. Besides giving great cross ventilation. They also increase the light in the cabin, and add to the viewing ability. I can sit in the aft dinette seat and just turn my head to look outside. I love the view. When someone else is at the wheel, I often just sit in that seat and admire the view from there.

You should close all port when you leave the boat, and while sailing. we used to leave the ports open while under sail, but no longer do. The first time we heeled over forty degrees, I realized that a port could be under water I had the Admiral go below to check. When she came back, she said that water was just about to come in while she was closing them. I told her that there is a nautical term for that, it's called SINKING

I believe someone did do a rather unusual mod for ports in the aft sleeping area. Instead of placing the ports on the sides of the boat, I believe they placed them where your heels would be touching when you sit in the cockpit.

Ray

[Currie]

I'm a cheap b****rd and I couldn't shell out over $100 each for real ports, so I installed a couple of Beskson, watertight, screw-in deck-plates, with the clear inserts. I put them in the cockpit - in the same place as the Mod that Quebec1 linked-to above. Even though they're water tight, I still would only do this in the cockpit - not in the hull. They look fine IMO, and I sometimes put a screen over the inside, when we need a little ventilation. Works great. I paid about $25 for the both of them. When I get a chance I'll post some pics in the Mod's section.

Cheers,
~Bob

[Rick Westlake]

I had opening ports installed in the cabin, and I think they are wonderful. Our ports are located in the aft part of the cabin, not in the aft sleeping area. You can see the starboard port in the photo below.

You should close all port when you leave the boat, and while sailing.

I believe someone did do a rather unusual mod for ports in the aft sleeping area. Instead of placing the ports on the sides of the boat, I believe they placed them where your heels would be touching when you sit in the cockpit.

Ray, your ports look like they're in a similar location to the ones I added this October to Bossa Nova. What did you use, Beckson ports?

I went whole-hog with mine and got Lewmar #4 opening portlights, with aluminum frames, to completely replace the forward pair of "deadlights" on the cabin sides of Bossa Nova. Cost was pretty high, at $300 per port (Defender) plus an afternoon of installation per port - but each one adds 100 square inches of ventilation. I can't vouch for them yet, because I installed them in late September and didn't need them open for the late-season sailing I was doing.

Bossa Nova's previous owner put a smaller portlight above the port quarter-berth, opening into the cockpit foot-well, where it affords me some ventilation at night when it isn't raining. The starboard quarter-berth area, being behind the head, is only practical for stowing the cockpit cushions and other bulky stuff.

[NiceAft]

Rick,

When I bought the boat, I ordered a whole bunch of stuff to be installed by the dealer. I have no idea as to the manufacturer of the ports.

Ray

[Québec 1]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWAX%3AIT

[Nautek]

Just a thought
A safer way of installing ventilation would be through the cockpit seats or backrests rather than through the hull
This might work for some

Allan