Which inspection port seals better?

[Mark42]

Putting inspection port in the deck where it will get soaked, and wondering which style seals better?

The "press in/pry out" with O ring.

The screw in w/O ring

Or the Twist in w/ O Ring.

I'm leaning toward the screw in port. It can be mounted flush to the deck, and won't leave a lump underfoot like the twist in.

Anyone have these in their deck?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Which inspection port seals better?

Anybody???

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Which inspection port seals better?

I have used the screw in ones and over time they are HARD to manipulate and I have had to apply a light Vaseline to the threads...... I am not impressed

I would almost rather have a plate with a gasket that is screwed down with individual screws

The 2d two are hard to open and you might have to make a special wrench

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Which inspection port seals better?

I have the press in pry out type and they are a pain. I have had the screw in type and they were a pain.

That leaves the twist on O Ring style by default.

Good luck.

 

[Str8OutTha9c]

Re: Which inspection port seals better?

I have the middle one and it's worked great.
I just have it so I can acess a through-hull fitting that had broken and caused the wood and foam to get waterlogged in my skiff.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Which inspection port seals better?

I have the screw in model, haven't removed in 5 years, so I can't say how easy it is to use.

 

[TojosMojo]

Re: Which inspection port seals better?

I like the twist with the o-ring, I have had good luck with them in the past...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Which inspection port seals better?

I ended up ordering the SeaDog screw in model. They claim a thread design that can't cross thread and engages easily. So I gave it a try. Ordered them in black, because being on the deck, I decided white wasn't such a good idea.

Well, they came today. Nice heavy cast ABS plastic. Threads work smooth. But what surprised me was the "O" ring. I expected the common buna or butyl rubber O ring, but this is more like clear nylon. And it has a square cross section with ribs on top, not round. It seals, because I turned it upside down and filled with water to see if it would drip, but no leaks.

Now I'm waiting for a battery powered dremel tool to arrive and then the install can begine!

PS. Got two inches of snow yesterday in north NJ. Fall is going fast!!!!!