J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Replacement Portlights

I forget the thickness, but it is the same as the companionway slides. I bought a 4x4 foot sheet, and had enough for the 4 windows and a new top companionway slide. I might have had enough for the bottom slide as well, but I screwed up one of the windows and had to make 5.

Despite the comments above, J/30 Class one-design rule 5.4 does restrict deck gear. Opening portlights have never been subject to a measurer's ruling. However, I don't see any reason why they would not approved for racing, assuming they were of comparable in size, shape, and at least the same weight as fixed portlights.

As Paul Harvy says.."here's the rest of the story..." My J/30 s/n 085 has been undergoing a MAJOR 20 year restoration. Bow-to-stern. Everything has been remove from the boat and either repaired upgraded or replaced. Mast, boom, pole, running/standing rigging, all fittings inspected, thru holes epoxied to prevent water intrusion into the core. Engine sent to/from Mack Boring and brought back to new. Neew North Sails. All interior wood removed repair/replaced as like new, epoxied/varnished interior painted then returned. Hatches upgraded. Next came the side ports. In discussions with Henry at Layline, the Lewmar Ocean Portlight size 4 were selected. They were a near fit and only required minimal material removal to fit. The original hull has an angled opening and these are right angles. Four portlights were purchased from Henery at Layline. My wife as very happy with this as cross ventilation is a major concern. While crewing last Summer 2000, I mentioned with delight of this new improvement to my J/30. The Chesapeak fleet measurer happened to be on board that Wednesday...."you can't do that! you have to modify the hull for those to fit and the regs stipulate NO modifications unless authorized!" At the Spring 2001 Ches-bay Fleet meeting I brought the subject up again and was publicly told NO again. I've since return them to Henry and he gladly refunded 100%. Thats the story.

I think the Chesapeak fleet measurer needs a reality check. Personally I can see no way that opening ports could be speed enhancing. They absolutely have to be hevier than the original stuff that's glued in mine. When open they should do noting more than create extra turbulence.

Anyway, these boats are getting way too old to be picky to this extent. You mentioned a complete refit job (I'm envious, I'm just starting mine), how can opening ports have any measurable effect relative to the, almost certainly unmeasurable, effect of your refit job. How much water weight did you take out of your balsa core, for example? How much weight did you add in epoxy properly sealing things that were never properly sealed? Lets measure the varinsh. What abouts bits and pieces of interior wood that has fallen apart and been replaced? Was it replaced with something of the same original weight? You just can't tell because what you have is nice and light with dry rot...etc.???

As an aside, did you do the thru hulls yourself? Any tips?

In defense of the Chesapeake Fleet measurer, there was never a question of WEIGHT in regard to portlite options. One extra round of beers for the railmeat the night before a regatta will off set any change in this regard.
The issue was "cutting the hull".
Unlike the hatch replacements which are drop-in to the existing openings, the portlites require removal of side wall material. Each cut-out must be enlarged to 6 3/4" x 24 1/2" with 2 1/8"radius corners. The existing stepdown lip must also be removed. The inside and outside frames must be fitted to a flat surface with a maximum tolerance +/- 1 mm. Each forward cut-out is on a slightly curved portion of the sidewall. This then requires material(epoxy) to be added to form a flat surface. This redesigns the shape of the deck. Once hull/deck structure changes are allowed where do you stop? Its only minor, but this is one-design. Until it is blessed by the Class Association, just as the numerous other changes over the years, I can understand his position. If there is enough support for this amendment, I would be happy to start the process.

I see this in rule 1.4. You have not reuced the weight or improved the moment of inertia, but you have "changed [the] standard shapes" of your deck. How did you return it to the original "shape" after you'd done it?

"1.4 Modifications shall be defined to include coring, drilling out, rebuilding or replacing materials, grinding, removing or relocating standard equipment in any way to reduce weight, to improve moments of inertia, or to change standard shapes, and filling in or closing with flaps any standard through hull fittings."

So how do we ask for an ammendment? Sounds like a several boats have already made the modification. I'd like to put these in and I'm having a trailer built so that I can show up for the NAs now and then. I'd hate to come to the NAs my first time to be told I can't race because of the opening potlights I'd put in for my wife


I've read further into the rules and note that rule 5.4.4 allows the additon of "Deck prisms and/or ventilators which must be watertight when sealed shut." By adding opening ports I think you have ventilators that are watertight when sealed shut.

Then, of course, there's the opening notice to the rules "It is impossible to foresee every conceivable innovation which may be thought of in the future and to mention every suggestion that has been ruled illegal in the past. When considering anything in connection with the boat or sails or equipment which is not within established practice in the J/30 Class or is not clearly covered by the plans or specifications, you must assume that it is illegal, and must obtain a ruling from the Chief Measurer before attempting it." In which case I'm not sure what 5.4.4 might or might not mean, and I think I need an interpretation for the Chief Measurer.

May we have an interpretation from the Chief Measurer? Does 5.4.4 allow opening ports, and just in general, what does 5.4.4 mean? If opening ports are not allowed by 5.4.4, are they allowed by something else?

[This message has been edited by Mark (edited 08-26-2001).]

While it's fine to discuss these kinds of topics here, I don't think this forum is the appropriate place to ask for an official ruling. If you do wish a ruling on this or another topic, write or email the measurer or class president directly. Supply them with sufficient information on the part, such as make, model number, weight etc. of what you have and what you are replacing it with so as to allow a reasonable judgment.

Point taken. I'll ask for an interpretation of 5.4.4.

Please count on my help to pursue legalization of the opening ports should that in fact be necessary. I will omit all of the reasons that have occurred to me that disallowing the ports is unfounded, for now.
I successfully replaced the two aft sidelights with Lewmar opening ports on Rocket J, Hull #524. While I did have to cut an irregularly shaped piece out of one corner of each opening, no epoxy build-up was required. This is a great upgrade, particularly if you ever use your stove or oven. Moreover, you can actually see out of these windows.

After the J/30 North Americans back in August, the directors took up the question of adding opening ports. We all agreed this is a reasonable modification to the boat and shall be allowed.

Another change allowed is replacing the exterior teak handrails with stainless steel or plastic.