Peter Rabbit Aft Ports (more pictures)Installed New Found Metal Ports in the aft of Peter Rabbit replacing the original.
Here are some tips.
At first we purchased bronze ports because we wanted them to match the ports in the cabin sides. However after working with one of them and actually getting it installed we decided that SS was the better choice for us so we bought more in SS. The bronze in the NFM ports was not the same quality that was used in 1979.
Here is what you might consider if using NFM ports.
They have this “rain drain” built into them. If you look closely at the one bronze port we installed you will see what looks like, but is not, two spots / dips / discolorations in the trim rings (bottom side). A zoomed in picture would clearly show the drains.
These were a real pain as we tried to install the first set in bronze. It requires grinding, what I would say in my opinion, was a sizeable grove in the opening for these drains to slip through so the port can fit into the hole. However, due to the design of these drains, once the port is in the hole, the grove in the fiberglass is, for all intent of this discussion, empty – IE no metal from the port fills the grove. So you will have to fill it with caulk. I did not like that idea.
As an alternative, I contacted NFM and asked if they would make the ports for me without the drains. I found them to be very accommodating and they said yes. So I ordered 3 SS ports without the drains.
Installing was a simple matter of light trimming of the fiberglass hole, as the new ports are slightly bigger than the stock opening, however this was mainly the corner degree that was the issue. It is different on the NFM than stock so that has to be changed.
Yes you will need a teak or other backing as the hull is curved. I used the one that the old ports used so no big deal there.
Another issue I found using the NFM ports is you will notice at the bronze port that no bolts are visible from the outside holding the ports in. This is because NFM using a cast onto the trim ring boss that the bolt from the inside screws into. Makes for a nice finish. However, and there is all ways the however, because the outside of the hull is curved and the inside is straight because of shim / backing, the cast boss will not lay line in line with the bolt which causes all kinds of work-a-rounds. Can it we done, yes, it tried it and got a few done but in the end I did not like what was needed to make the fixed boss work with a bolt coming to it at a different angle.
So I cut off the boss on each of the SS trim rings and drilled a hole in its place. I used barrel nuts for the outside so the inside could still use the oval head style bolt so the finish install looked right.
Installing this is not as easy as I thought it would be but in the end it is so worth it!
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