gaskets for small oval bronze ports

[Abby]

Hello,

we're looking for a source for rubber gaskets for our bronze opening oval-shaped ports. The inside diameter is approximately 4" by 9"- which is smaller than anything we've seen online so far... the outer trim ring is stamped "Italy" and there are no other marks...they were purchased by the builder in the late 1970' / early 1980's. The ports are supposed to be self-draining (each one has a tube draining out down through the cabin trunk) but the gaskets seem to get in the way-- and they leak leak leak. Anyone have any suggestions on where to look for gaskets, or how to adapt what is readily available?

thank- Abby

[Abby]

Hello,

we're looking for a source for rubber gaskets for our bronze opening oval-shaped ports. The inside diameter is approximately 4" by 9"- which is smaller than anything we've seen online so far... the outer trim ring is stamped "Italy" and there are no other marks...they were purchased by the builder in the late 1970' / early 1980's. The ports are supposed to be self-draining (each one has a tube draining out down through the cabin trunk) but the gaskets seem to get in the way-- and they leak leak leak. Anyone have any suggestions on where to look for gaskets, or how to adapt what is readily available?

thank- Abby

[Abby]

Hello,

we're looking for a source for rubber gaskets for our bronze opening oval-shaped ports. The inside diameter is approximately 4" by 9"- which is smaller than anything we've seen online so far... the outer trim ring is stamped "Italy" and there are no other marks...they were purchased by the builder in the late 1970' / early 1980's. The ports are supposed to be self-draining (each one has a tube draining out down through the cabin trunk) but the gaskets seem to get in the way-- and they leak leak leak. Anyone have any suggestions on where to look for gaskets, or how to adapt what is readily available?

thank- Abby

[PeterSibley]

Whats the cross sectional shape of the section.A wide variety of sections are sold in "rubber stores" here,also suppliers of fridge seals.Would a simple O ring do ?

[PeterSibley]

Whats the cross sectional shape of the section.A wide variety of sections are sold in "rubber stores" here,also suppliers of fridge seals.Would a simple O ring do ?

[PeterSibley]

Whats the cross sectional shape of the section.A wide variety of sections are sold in "rubber stores" here,also suppliers of fridge seals.Would a simple O ring do ?

[PeterSibley]

Also...do the ports have adjustable hinges? That would make things easy.

[PeterSibley]

Also...do the ports have adjustable hinges? That would make things easy.

[PeterSibley]

Also...do the ports have adjustable hinges? That would make things easy.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
If your scuttles are like many, the gasket itself is flat and it's really pretty easy to cut your own from a sheet of rubber or automotive gasket material.

The self-draining facility isn't really very important (at least, as long as the glass seals properly,) so if it means blocking it I wouldn't be overly concerned. All it's really designed to do is drain off any condensation which might form on the inside of the glass due to temperature differences. A good trick for dealing with this problem is to screw one of those old-fashioned brass drawer-pulls upside-down immediately below the scuttle. (Bed it properly of course.) Evaporation should then take care of everything for you. But if it does fill up you can soak up the water with the corner of a towel.

Mike
.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
If your scuttles are like many, the gasket itself is flat and it's really pretty easy to cut your own from a sheet of rubber or automotive gasket material.

The self-draining facility isn't really very important (at least, as long as the glass seals properly,) so if it means blocking it I wouldn't be overly concerned. All it's really designed to do is drain off any condensation which might form on the inside of the glass due to temperature differences. A good trick for dealing with this problem is to screw one of those old-fashioned brass drawer-pulls upside-down immediately below the scuttle. (Bed it properly of course.) Evaporation should then take care of everything for you. But if it does fill up you can soak up the water with the corner of a towel.

Mike
.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
If your scuttles are like many, the gasket itself is flat and it's really pretty easy to cut your own from a sheet of rubber or automotive gasket material.

The self-draining facility isn't really very important (at least, as long as the glass seals properly,) so if it means blocking it I wouldn't be overly concerned. All it's really designed to do is drain off any condensation which might form on the inside of the glass due to temperature differences. A good trick for dealing with this problem is to screw one of those old-fashioned brass drawer-pulls upside-down immediately below the scuttle. (Bed it properly of course.) Evaporation should then take care of everything for you. But if it does fill up you can soak up the water with the corner of a towel.

Mike
.

[cbob]

Abby, I have a couple of WC round 8 inchers from the 50's that are still absolutly tight, these need to fit onto the knife edge parallel, and too soft gaskets compress after time. If the hinges/pins are not worn and they are not put in backwards, somethings wrong. Get someone who knows what they are looking at to come and take a look and advise, some old timer from over at the boatyard possibly, or one of the fishermen when they are not too busy. Luck, cbob

[cbob]

Abby, I have a couple of WC round 8 inchers from the 50's that are still absolutly tight, these need to fit onto the knife edge parallel, and too soft gaskets compress after time. If the hinges/pins are not worn and they are not put in backwards, somethings wrong. Get someone who knows what they are looking at to come and take a look and advise, some old timer from over at the boatyard possibly, or one of the fishermen when they are not too busy. Luck, cbob

[cbob]

Abby, I have a couple of WC round 8 inchers from the 50's that are still absolutly tight, these need to fit onto the knife edge parallel, and too soft gaskets compress after time. If the hinges/pins are not worn and they are not put in backwards, somethings wrong. Get someone who knows what they are looking at to come and take a look and advise, some old timer from over at the boatyard possibly, or one of the fishermen when they are not too busy. Luck, cbob

[Abby]

thanks for all the responses. Our gaskets seem pretty complicated and 3-dimensional- although they could be pretty malformed after a couple of decades.
I now apologise for the following description: They may have been "u" or "j" shaped at one time, as they are flat where they go between the glass and the hinged frame, and then bend (around a flat removable metal plate that holds them in place) to seal the hinged frame against the flat face of the part of the port that goes through the cabin trunk...this part of the gasket is quite thick and shaped into sort of a wedge.

I suppose that posting a photo would be helpful here, but since it is now raining I am not about to take them apart again- at least for a few days.

Anyway, there is no grove for them to fit into, on either side, and the rubber is quite hard.. Someone at the yard recommended soaking the rubber in vinegar to soften it.

Can anyone speak to this idea?

[Abby]

thanks for all the responses. Our gaskets seem pretty complicated and 3-dimensional- although they could be pretty malformed after a couple of decades.
I now apologise for the following description: They may have been "u" or "j" shaped at one time, as they are flat where they go between the glass and the hinged frame, and then bend (around a flat removable metal plate that holds them in place) to seal the hinged frame against the flat face of the part of the port that goes through the cabin trunk...this part of the gasket is quite thick and shaped into sort of a wedge.

I suppose that posting a photo would be helpful here, but since it is now raining I am not about to take them apart again- at least for a few days.

Anyway, there is no grove for them to fit into, on either side, and the rubber is quite hard.. Someone at the yard recommended soaking the rubber in vinegar to soften it.

Can anyone speak to this idea?

[Abby]

thanks for all the responses. Our gaskets seem pretty complicated and 3-dimensional- although they could be pretty malformed after a couple of decades.
I now apologise for the following description: They may have been "u" or "j" shaped at one time, as they are flat where they go between the glass and the hinged frame, and then bend (around a flat removable metal plate that holds them in place) to seal the hinged frame against the flat face of the part of the port that goes through the cabin trunk...this part of the gasket is quite thick and shaped into sort of a wedge.

I suppose that posting a photo would be helpful here, but since it is now raining I am not about to take them apart again- at least for a few days.

Anyway, there is no grove for them to fit into, on either side, and the rubber is quite hard.. Someone at the yard recommended soaking the rubber in vinegar to soften it.

Can anyone speak to this idea?