[C320-list] Removing opening portlights

[David Veeneman]

I need to replace the opening portlights in my cabin—the old ones are pretty badly crazed. It’s pretty obvious how to take the lenses off their hinges, but it’s not so obvious how to remove the dogs from the bottom of the lenses. The dogs appear to have a flush, round plastic cap in their centers, and I’m guessing that if I remove that cap, Ill find a screw or nut that removes the dog from the lens, so I can transfer it to the replacement that I have purchased.

I don’t want to damage the cap, so I don’t want to attempt prying it loose with a screwdriver without checking first to see if that’s the best way to go about it. So, my questions are: Am I right about the cap covering the screw or nut that holds the dog in place? If so, how does one remove the cap? And, if I am on the wrong track, how do I remove the dog? Thanks for your help.


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David Veeneman
Dana Point, CA
SV Adelante, C320 #131

[Graeme Clark]

Yes you are correct. I used a small sewing needle or pin that can be poked into the side of the cap and used to lever it off leaving only a small pinhole in the side where it cant really be seen.
I guess you could also use something sticky but not permanent to grip the top face of the cap and pull - chwing gum maybe?

Graeme

#366. 1996 ‘Jaskar’.

[P.F. Ross]

Yes, David, the center caps cover a phillips head screw that retain the
dogs.

I use a flat blade jewelers screwdriver to work my way around the cap,
lightly prying up as I go around. At some point the cap pops out easily.
Minimal damage all around.

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL

[Dave Hupe]

David-
I removed my dog latches from my lenses last year to replace the small O-rings that are on the outside part (that seals the mechanism from water). When you reassemble, make sure everything is clean, make sure the o-ring is in good shape (or new), and lightly grease the o-ring with waterproof grease.  The center plastic caps covering the single screw were a real pain to remove.  I did it with a razor blade in an attempt to not damage them.  After I finally got them off, I did not replace them …. the visible screw does not bother me. 
Another Catalina owner drilled a small hole in the center cap and screwed in a small screw that he could then grab easily with plyers to remove the caps. 
Where are you getting your new lenses? 
Dave Hupe
1994 Cat 320 (#32) "Mayan Sun"
Holland, MI