Islander 36 - Beckson Opening Port Installation




With our boats getting to be 25 - 30 years old, the original opening ports are getting a bit tired - maybe crazed, maybe leaking or maybe just looking old. Original construction differed in the number of opening ports. Some had only two - in the head and directly across from the head. Others had four or six, adding them fore and aft of the original two.

Early in 2005, Noble Brown coordinated a fleet purchase of Beckson opening ports. Five members ordered a total of 28 ports - at a delightful price of about $60 each.

Here is a pictoral description of the replacement of the old ports aboard Vanishing Animal.

P.S. In September 2022 we replaced the lenses on our 4 ports which had become cloudy over 17 years. We also replaced one gasket and one screen. From Defender Industries catalog: Lens: $60 each; Screen $20 each; Gasket $11 each.

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The first step is to remove the old ports. Usually they have to be literly "broken" out.
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The new ports come with a wide flange...
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and a trim ring.
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On our boat the cabin wall had delaminated...
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so it was filled with epoxy and clamped.
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Not perfectly pretty, but now solid.
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Sandy holds the trim ring in place to mark the new outline.
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Holes drilled for the rain drip spouts.
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Cutting out the new outline.
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A Dremel with a drum sander...
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makes a nice smooth cut.
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The opening is ready for the next step.
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Holes are drilled from the inside for the 10 bolts (3/16).
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Sandy then holds the trim ring to drill its holes.
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Holes enlarged to 17/64 in trim ring.
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Barrel nuts then fit (outside hold are counter-bored too.)
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If you want flush ports, cut off the excess flange.
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Wet sanding to smooth the edges.
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Sandy removes the inside to access the holes.
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Our workbench.
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Probably should have done this ashore!
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Inserted and buttered with lots of silicon II.
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The trim ring squeezes out the excess.
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Looking good inside.
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Starboard side ...
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and head.
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Let it set up for 24 hours.
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Ready to trim.
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A razor worked well.
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Almost cleaned up.
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Ready for the water test.
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So far, so good.
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It stayed dry inside!
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Very satisfied.
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Looks good outside too.
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Did the varnish for good measure!

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