The 30 has an opening port in the starboard hull (aft cabin) about a foot below the weather deck.
It is a robust metal framed port. Appears to be an aluminum frame. The surface is badly oxidizing and the powder coat is failing. I wonder if anyone has replaced this port and, if so, with what? I am thinking a new SS port would be desirable in this location. I would prefer not to attempt to recondition thie existing 40 year old port. I do know that this port is under water much of of the time in a seaway so it needs to be solid.
To its credit, the current port has never leaked. But sooner or later…
The original port light was aluminum, made by Bomar. Later boats got stainless port lights from Man Ship Marine in Taiwan, though I don’t know if any F30s got them though. These stainless ports are high quality, and quite well made.
Honestly, I would just try to clean up the oxidation and keep it going. It’s survived this long without a leak, right?
Yea, that’s a valid point, however I did remove my fixed port light frames about six years ago, had them powder coated and reinstalled. What a pain that was. The powder coat began to fail after five years and I just decided to remove them again and replace with surface mount acrylic which has been trouble/leak free for about 18 mos. so far.
Consequently I am biased toward replacement. I also replaced all my main cabin Beckson ““straight cut” opening ports with rain drains about three years ago. Different beast than the in hull port but I now have a pretty good track record on replacing ports. Not so much on refurbishing them.
And, to be honest, those SS ports look pretty too.