After my post a couple of days ago about two different strategies for dealing with cooking heat when it’s hot out, Jan (my cookbook co-author) reminded me of another great way to improve your boat’s ventilation when in rainy areas: Port Visors.
If you have opening ports, Port Visors will allow you to keep ports open in all but the nastiest squalls. Admittedly, in nice conditions they will block some of the air flow so you have to balance how often they’ll improve the ventilation versus how often they’ll restrict it. Port Visors might block some sailing splashes, but in most conditions you’ll want to close the ports when underway.
Port Visors are made of UV-resistant Lexan (i.e., basically unbreakable) and come in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit most common ports. What I like about them is that there’s no metal to rust and they attach with adhesive so you’re not drilling holes that then have to be sealed. The installation is fairly easy by boat standards — they come with step-by-step directions, but you can see the whole process in a post Jan wrote on her web site, CommuterCruiser.com.
The installation is permanent, so you’re not you’re going to be taking them off and putting them back on. They are extremely tough and have been designed so that sheets and lines will slide off them without ripping them off the side of the boat.
They have a bronze tint to them and do shade the port holes — sort of like wearing sunglasses. In other words, light still gets below but it’s not a harsh glare.
The company that makes and sells Port Visors is owned by a couple of life-long boaters, Bob and Paula Biles. They have a reputation for excellent customer service. Their web site gives all the technical details, measurements, photos and ordering info — check it out!
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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Chris Link says
Love my Port Visors, we have had two for the past four years and purchased more to cover all my opening ports.They allow breeze in and can leave windows open for most rainy days.
Wendy says
Absolutely love ours. We have two on each side and they came with Ohana when we boat her. My boats in the past didn’t have these and now I wouldn’t want to be without them.
Carolyn Fuller says
Order mine just last week. Can’t wait to get them in and installed! Thanks for a link to Commuter Cruiser with the installation instructions. Will help tremendously.
Charles Taylor says
We have a 1980 Trojan AFT cabin, F40, and at first I purchase 4 of these as a test to see if they were what they said, I was very IMPRESSED by the young lady who answer the phone and with her help, I ordered and in 3 days we had them, they where everything she said they were, about 8 months later we ordered 4 more and had to do a little modifying to the LADY STAR for them to work and have love them and would highly recommend them to everybody. BTW the young lady who was so kind and helpful is the owner’s wife and I thank her so much. We are full time live aboards.
The Boat Galley says
Fantastic to hear others are loving them too, Charles!
Tony Talacko says
Very cool! Does anyone know where to get round visors like these?
Carolyn Shearlock says
They have them in several different styles and shapes. Give them a call and see if one will work for you!
Tony says
I just got a response from them and they no longer make the round portvisors due to lack of demand. 🙁
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’m sorry about that! They are the ONLY company that I know of making something like this. If you do find one that makes round ones, please let me know in case anyone else is looking for them.
Paula Biles says
If you’re still here Tony, Seaworthy Goods is now offering their round PortVisor as a special order item. Give them a call or email.
Sherry Day says
We added a port visor over the galley of our Hallberg-Rassy 46. I love that it keeps the rain and runoff out of my stove. I would suggest getting a size larger than the porthole as the radius of the corners may not match. I had to move it higher to accommodate for this issue. Fortunately it still extends out enough to work.
Kirsi Uotila says
I have these and love them. I do have to close them if it is blowing, but it is nice to have ventilation.
Jim Allen says
I got a couple to try, but the lay-back angle on my ()’Day 40 is so steep that the rain still comes in 🙁
The Boat Galley says
🙁
Helen Bell says
We will have to get some. We r fortunate to have air con that we can run without a gen set
Marc J. Kornutik says
Six years experience on my last boat…. So far just installed one on the new boat but plan on putting them on every port eventually… They work perfectly !!!! The only problem is…. they’re not cheap.
Erin Jackson says
My husband made some for our boat and they are mood savers for sure! Nothing worse than a hot, muggy sticky, boat for my attitude
David Hoch says
Careful the jibsheets don’t snag on them…
Cindy Law Cairns says
Because of all the recent publicity, they did have a huge backlog on orders for their popular size. But the customer support is awesome. They got it to our son in San Diego before he joined us in Mexico.
Richard Phillips says
I wish the 13 inch was back in production.
The Tadlers says
Loved ours, until we lost all 6 of them crossing the gulf stream one night. Funny thing was the 3m sticky stuff was still on the boat, meaning that the bonding to the Port Visor was the issue. Hmm. (No response from company when we asked about it ).
Paula says
Sorry with your problem when crossing the Gulf Stream. If you didn’t hear back from Seaworthy Goods about your problem, please write us again. Occasionally emails don’t get through.
Dan T. says
Bought’em, love’em, recommend’em. Easy installation over Atkins & Hoyle ports. Great for added ventilation in any weather for my Celestial 48 – A/C not required. Stick them once, but if you have to move them, tape can be replaced for re-installation. Great cross boarder service from Seaworthy to Canada. Enjoy.
Byron Rountree says
I have nine on my Defever lost two on the bow in the Gulf of Mexico. Replaced them and screwed all nine down with stainless screws.
Tony k says
Got two for my Catalina 310. Worked great until a couple of weeks ago when one started leaking into the cabin as water was coming in from the seal. Unclear why now, had to carefully apply sealant around the whole top to stop the leak. Very disappointed as they were flawless until then. They were applied as per spec and now one has failed. Have not bothered to inform company as unclear what they would do about it up here in nova-scotia. Removal of the shades seems unlikely due to the vhb component.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Definitely talk to the company — I’m sure they’d send you new adhesive or another fix.
Paula Biles says
Tony K
Yes, Carolyn is definitely right. Please call us (Seaworthy Goods) so we can determine what caused a failure in the 3M VHB seal and how to remedy your situation.. Our customers should have PortVisors effectively doing their job, without any additional hassles. • We can’t help if we don’t know about a problem.
Paula Biles – (Seaworthy Goods)
Gary says
Hello, i have a 1989 Beneteau M500. ports are 16”
Any recommendations?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Call Port Visors and see what they recommend.
Erika says
We bought our port visors ~6 years ago based on your review. We’re very happy with them! We were a bit concerned about winter shrinkwrap but even with the crazy winds tugging away, they’ve stayed in place with no damage.