Port-light Shades

When we started staying overnight on Circe we quickly discovered a lack of privacy in the head and berth area due to the absence of any shutters or blinds on the port-lights. On the hook this wouldn't be an issue but in the slip at the marina it is another matter. We are fortunate in that our slip location means we don't get a lot of foot traffic on the dock but people do come and go and, at night when we are bow-in, it is easy for a passer-by to see through the head ports when the lights are on.  Evidently our modesty threshold is somewhat lower than the PO's!

The PO had replaced all 6 of the Beckson 414 self draining ports a couple of years ago so they were in excellent shape. We had originally considered fitting the popular stainless ports from Newfound Metals but we couldn't justify such a big expense to replace essentially new ports! Either way, the absence of blinds had to be addressed.

We did a bit of research through the usual tried and true resources and quickly found a huge selection of marine blind and shade designs from the simple, cheap and cheerful to the complex, with a big price spread! We didn't want to spend a lot on what was a simple issue so we eventually found a solution at Zarcor in Texas.

http://www.zarcor.com/

Zarcor has a nice product line and we were particularly interested in their 'Peek-a Booo' sliding shutters. They are a simple design of two overlapping, slotted acrylic sheets with matching patterns of opaque strips printed on each sheet. The outer sheet attaches to the inside face of the port-light lens using self-adhesive velcro pads and the inner sheet slides on the outer sheet. When the opaque strips align, the shutter is 'open' and light comes through the clear areas. Moved to the 'closed' position, the opaque strips are misaligned and block the clear areas across the whole lens. The assembled shutter fits neatly and unobtrusively to the port lenses. They can be quickly and easily removed and replaced for cleaning and, most importantly, the price is right.

The biggest downside is that the Peek-a-Booo design blocks almost 50% of the surface of the lens, even when the shutter is open. Fortunately, we don't depend on the port-lights as much for light as for ventilation, so the reduction in light isn't a problem for us. The Zarcor promo pictures show the Peek-a-Booo being used on small ports and much larger windows and hatches where, in our opinion, the reduction in light would be much more of a problem.

Here the shutter is open

Here the shutter is closed.

The Peek-a-Booo can be custom made to suit any particular port or hatch shape but, if the port is symmetrical like the Beckson, the shutter can be reversed to offer either L to R open or L to R close.