I would like to put opening ports in the black locations shown in the pic.(obviously I need some type of pen to draw them in correctly! my fat guitar/sailor fingers don't do it!) any recommendations? Links on on good opening ports below deck?
I like New Found Metals Portlights. The frames are cast in one piece on their less expensive portlights. They might be cast in 2 pieces and welded on the larger, more expensive, portlights, but presumably you would only consider fitting the smaller ones on the hull side.
I have not seen anything to say the New Found Metals portlights are CE certified to be installed in the hull sides (they have CE stickers on them but it does not say for which area, of course, you could ask NFM). They are very strongly made, so I think I would trust them more than the extruded aluminum ones that are CE certified for this location. Here is an article where they are installed in the topsides:
www.semyan.com/HR352/main.htm?p=67
It may take close to 2 months to obtain New Found Metals portlights, they seem very slow. I get the impression they make them after you order them, and ordering them down under they are likely to be drop shipped from China.
The smaller portlights use 8mm tempered glass supported by the solid cast frame. They are very high quality, and very heavy (the 317SS is about 6.7kg with the fasteners and outside trim).
They are hard to order, as you need to accurately measure the thickness of the hull first, in order for them to cut the fasteners to the correct length. So you need this measurement in both imperial and metric (unless you want to cut the fasteners yourself, or pay someone to cut them, or make spacers on the inside to suit the fastener length that you order).
It the hull side I like the 317SS, it looks very strong, the glass is only 3 9/16" tall, and has 4 dogs to hold it:
www.newfoundmetals.com/dimension-stainless#317ss
NFM sell their own Butyl tape, or Maine Sail in this article:
www.pbase.com/mainecruising/nfm_port_lights&page=1
recommends his own:
www.pbase.com/mainecruising/bedit_tape_new_zealand
A cheap option that you might want to look at is Whitworths SKU 66212. The size and description looks similar to the NFM portlight of this size, but I have not seen the Whitworths portlight, I think it is most likely a lighter duty portlight than the NFM 414SS:
whitworths.com.au/main_itemdetail.asp?item=66212&search123=portlight&intAbsolutePage=1
www.newfoundmetals.com/dimension-stainless#414ss
This Whitworths portlight is cast, so it is probably stronger than anything else on the market other than the NFM portlights and the Man Ship portlights.
I have not seen the Man Ship portlights. I think they are made (in Taiwan) out of extruded sections of metal welded together and polished. They have an option for storm covers:
www.deckhardware.com.au/-categories/hatches_and_ports/man_ship/
The new found metal port light need a few special tools to fit them into the cabin opening . I think you hire it off new found
Select to expand quoteHG02 said..
The new found metal port light need a few special tools to fit them into the cabin opening . I think you hire it off new found
Thanks, yes I see it is highly recommended to hire the templates from NFM. I'm inspired by how you installed your portlights, I'll be looking over your old posts on that. Its going to be such a mission that the additional task of having to make my own templates seems insignificant. There is one thing easier on my install, at least the portlight lengths match the existing cutouts. Its just all the heights that need to be made smaller 
I went for something that came with screens and was able to put a portvisor on, which allows you to keep the port lights open when its raining giving ventilation etc
www.keoghsmarine.com.au/HATCHES-and-PORTLIGHTS/HATCHES-and-PORTLIGHTS-Portlights/HATCHES-and-PORTLIGHTS-Portlights-Vetus-Portlights
www.seaworthygoods.com/
Why have opening ports below deck in a yacht?? Fixed ports for light OK but opening ports set in the topsides does not make sense to me. If they are open and you cop a squall that lays you over on your beam ends you have a serious problem.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
Why have opening ports below deck in a yacht?? Fixed ports for light OK but opening ports set in the topsides does not make sense to me. If they are open and you cop a squall that lays you over on your beam ends you have a serious problem.
Yes, just one more thing to forget when getting away.
fit them in your existing cabin port lights beef up the thickness of a original shaped and fit some thing like these bad boys
Trend marine Uk below
If I was doing my port lights again Id make thicker new fixed lenses and while the plastic was being cut Id get a hole cut to fit a Bomar opening port light .Would have done the same thing and save heaps of time with good ventilation and kept the cost down . Plus a complete winter
Select to expand quotePhoenixStar said..cisco said..
Why have opening ports below deck in a yacht?? Fixed ports for light OK but opening ports set in the topsides does not make sense to me. If they are open and you cop a squall that lays you over on your beam ends you have a serious problem.
Yes, just one more thing to forget when getting away.
You forgotten to take the stern line off again Phoenix Star 
Select to expand quotecisco said..
Why have opening ports below deck in a yacht?? Fixed ports for light OK but opening ports set in the topsides does not make sense to me. If they are open and you cop a squall that lays you over on your beam ends you have a serious problem.
A lot of cruising yachts over 40ft have opening ports in the hull including new production boats.
These hatches are dogged down at sea and are used for ventilation at anchor along with main deck hatches.
I really doubt my 12 tonn 42 ft tub would beam end in a squall at anchor anyway.
The hatches specifi if they can be used in the hull or not.....it's not uncommon.
but I would have to agree they would be scary fitted into a little lotus.
Select to expand quotesouthace said..cisco said..
Why have opening ports below deck in a yacht?? Fixed ports for light OK but opening ports set in the topsides does not make sense to me. If they are open and you cop a squall that lays you over on your beam ends you have a serious problem.
A lot of cruising yachts over 40ft have opening ports in the hull including new production boats.
These hatches are dogged down at sea and are used for ventilation at anchor along with main deck hatches.
I really doubt my 12 tonn 42 ft tub would beam end in a squall at anchor anyway.
The hatches specifi if they can be used in the hull or not.....it's not uncommon.
but I would have to agree they would be scary fitted into a little lotus.
If the boat is not originally designed to have ports, opening or not, in the top sides, prior to fitting them it would be wise to give consideration to the amount of free board the yacht has and how far she heels when hard pressed.
The cabin side windows of the Lotus are quite panoramic and the Lotus is not designed to have ports in the top sides so I certainly will not be fitting any. To assist with ventilation in the tropics I have the option of fitting opening ports to the lexan of the cabin side windows which is under serious consideration. If they do not work out replacing the lexan with a solid sheet brings it back to original.
I am always wary of cutting holes anywhere in a boat.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
Why have opening ports below deck in a yacht?? Fixed ports for light OK but opening ports set in the topsides does not make sense to me. If they are open and you cop a squall that lays you over on your beam ends you have a serious problem.
Hey Cisco
I have never heard the term "beam ends"?
Could you please explain what this means?
Select to expand quote
beam′-ends`
n.pl.
<div class="ds-single">the ends of the transverse deck beams of a ship.
Idioms:
<div class="ds-list">1. on her beam-ends, (of a ship) heeled so far on one side that the deck is practically vertical.
<div class="ds-list">2. on one's or the beam-ends, Slang. in desperate straits.
The only time my deck has been practically vertical is in my T.S 16 when the main sheet jammed in 35 knots and the centreboard lock failed. Actually it ended up inverted. Anyway I really think I would have far more problems if I got My 42 foot Adams in that situation and **** if the opening ports where open my bed would get wet!
Now I know where I got the idea from! I wonder if they are opening ports on this Adams 40 concept . This is exactly the design I have been dreaming up Minus the centre port.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
beam′-ends`
n.pl.
<div class="ds-single">the ends of the transverse deck beams of a ship.
Thanks Cisco
Makes sense !!
I know they arn't in the same league of some of the others but I've put in a pair of these in my 1973 SS34 that doesnt otherwise have any opening ports.
www.roadtechmarine.com.au/aluminium-framed-port-lights-322-w-x-175-h-mm/p/MHG305 At $129 or $139 they are affordable, very tough and look good.
PAul
Misty II
They are awesome Misty 11 thanks for that. it doesn't say anywhere that the can be used in the hull but I can't see to much of a problem they sound tough.
I can see the joint in the extrusion. The better one have the joint welded to ensure they are more water resistant. I swapped out my leaking Gebo's for Moonlights. All of my hatches/portlights are above the deck line, but it I was to look at something that was likely take on the big blue on a regular basis, I'd make sure it was meant for the job. My preference would be something like what "Someday" posted.
But it's your boat, so you can do what every you think is okay. 
CiSCO recommended No ? is this due to old school info or is the technolgy good enough to make a good water tight opening port light? Im now confused?
It really is just a matter of choice. If it is a high sided yacht opening ports close to the gunwales should be quite OK if the ports are of suitable specs and quality. The ones from RTM are very similar to a bunch of Lewmar opening ports I have salvaged from a steel yacht that was being scrapped. They were fitted into the top sides.
I started cleaning them up and am going to fit a couple into my fixed cabin windows. That will leave 6 out of the 8 spare. One or two of them may only be good for parts leaving four good ones.
You can have the six of them for $200 plus postage. I will keep two of the smaller ones so it will be 4 large and two small.
I am just wary of cutting holes in the top sides because once done there is really no going back.
The perspex in these can easily be replaced, say if you want really dark ports for privacy, by using the old one as a template to cut new ones out of flat sheet.
If anyone is interested send me a PM.
