We ordered some 1/4" gaskets to replace the original portlight gaskets that were on our Westsail 32 as they were leaking.  We measured the original gaskets and they appeared to be about 1/4" width as well as the groove in the portholes appear to be 1/4" in width.  We replaced and installed a new gasket in the galley porthole but it does not appear to be functioning properly as we had water coming in through the porthole.  The new gaskets seem to be snug in the groove but does not come up very high compared to the original gasket.  Also, the original gasket appears to be slightly larger than 1/4" but not 5/16".  Would anyone suggest us going the to next size up in gasket (5/16") to see if that would work instead?  

Rob,

I ordered some replacement gasket material from Bud a few years ago and it was solid rubber 1/4" x 1/4',and not hollow.  I have used it several of my ports and have found it to work perfectly. I found I had to pull/stretch the gasket slightly to get it to fit into the groove in the frame.  Perhaps your hollow material is deforming when the port is closed on it?  We used some rubber based glue to help hold the gasket in the port frames when we first installed it.  I have since found that I don't need the glue as the gasket material stays in well on its own.

Kevin

If you have the original round bronze portlights the gasket doesn't need to extend above.  The rim of the glass part of the portlight that contacts the rubber is narrower than the width of the gasket and thereby compresses into the gasket itself, not just sit on top. Thus why the more loose fitting, hollow gasket material is actually preferable since it compresses easier. 

Look closely at the surface of the rim that contacts the rubber. Make sure it's clean and smooth. When changing the gasket in the past I've noticed tiny bits of old gasket stuck to the surface which could prevent a good seal.

Also, there are two adjustment screws on either side of the hinge to ensure the portlight is perfectly parallel to the gasket when dogged closed. If it is not set correctly you would not get a good seal.  They should be 'set and forget' but if someone tinkered with them in the past you might have to re-adjust them. Try holding the portlight closed lightly with your hand while running a piece of stiff paper or something around the circumference. Note if it's a consistent 'feel' all the way around, not loose at the bottom and tight at the top (or vice versa).

I have been restoring our Westsail 42, Harmony, for the past 3 years, and one of the biggest problems was and will continue to be, I suspect, water leakage.  When we purchased Harmony, all of the portlights had their original solid rubber/foam gaskets.  Since the boat was made in 1976, it was hard to determine what the original gaskets were like.

However, after measuring the dimensions of the 3 different type of ports we had, I orders gasket material from Bud.  The new gaskets were hollow and did not fit into the ports as snuggly as one may have expected, but installation was relatively easy once the old material was removed.  I did put the seam at the top of the port as one would expect.

After having re-gasketed all of the ports and studied their performance in the rain, the new gasket material is absolutely perfect.  The hollow core compresses to allow the seating of the port rim. 

I am now one happy camper, as I can open and close EVERY port without concern that I won't have a tight seal upon closure.  Bud's gasket material is the way to go.

 

Thanks, maybe it's the new thing and getting used to something different. My main concern was that I had mis-measured and ordered the wrong size from Bud, or installed it incorrectly.