Perko Inc

Vessel Door Hardware - Replacement Parts

It happens to everyone, you go down to the boat at the dock, you are getting ready for a nice long weekend with friends or family…and you find the head door latch is not working properly.

It may just need a part that has worn out, or possibly broke in a “bumpy” ride heading back to port.

If it’s a Perko latch…we got you covered. If the situation arises, we can help. We just need a photo of the part, and a description of the problem, and we can see if there are spare parts available to get you back on the water hassle free.

Send a request, description and photos to [email protected] to have our product support team see if it can be fixed…or if you need a complete new assembly.

For more info on latches see: https://www.perko.com/help_guides-determining_the_hand_of_a_lock_or_latch_set/

Perko…always Made in the USA.

Follow us.

Perko® - Florida’s Lobster Mini Season Returns with Extra Day

It’s (ALMOST) Florida Lobster Season.

Floridians will have one extra day of “bug-hunting” in July before tourists and commercial fishermen have their shot, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at a Wednesday press conference at Dockside Boot Key Harbor in Marathon.

Sunday, July 14 will mark a one-day residents-only expansion of the traditional lobster sport season, set for July 24 and 25 in 2024. The regular season begins August 6 and runs through March 31 each year.

Commercial Lobster boats that are properly setup, rely on Perko navigation lights, underwater hardware, sea strainers, or many of the other items found in the Perko catalog.

Locally caught Florida Lobster…like Perko, a South Florida tradition continues.

Perko…always Made in the USA.

Follow us.

PERKO®...Made in the USA - Happy 4th of July!

As we celebrate Independence Day 2024, let’s enjoy the company of our families, neighbors, friends, coworkers and communities that make this country great. …from all of us at Perko, have a fun, safe and enjoyable holiday.

"Follow our wake", and choose USA made components for your vessel.

Perko…always Made in the USA.

Follow us.

Perko® -Longtime Hardware Supplier for Florida’s Stone Crab Fleet

It’s Stone Crab Season, October 15th, through May 15th 2024, and the South Florida treat can be caught throughout Florida waters, during which time residents and tourists alike can enjoy the unique and delicious taste of stone crab claws at local restaurants.

Forty percent of Florida’s stone crabs come from the Florida Keys, and the crabs go straight from the boat to the restaurants and markets.

The boats, which tend to be open, easy to clean, commercial workboats, often push away from the docks at 3:00 am, and return closer to 6:00 pm. It’s a long day, but that’s what is required to catch the crabs, and bring them in so they can get cooked within hours of being pulled from the traps. Typically, one (1) claw is removed from the crab, then the crab is thrown back. Leaving the one claw allows the crab to defend itself if needed, once reintroduced into the water.

Like any workboat properly setup, many of the vessels rely on Perko navigation lights, underwater hardware and strainers, or many of the other items found in the Perko catalog.

Stone Crabs, like Perko…a South Florida tradition continues…

Perko…always Made in the USA.

Perko® – GENERAL-COMMERCIAL-EMISSIONS Catalogs

A catalog for everyone…while Perko’s website is the best up-to-date reference for our customers, our marine service providers, and distributors, we still get a lot of requests for current catalogs.

Perko offers three (3) current Catalogs:

General – A wide selection of lighting solutions, underwater hardware, general hardware for above and below decks.

Commercial – A collection of heavy-duty products including navigation lights, hardware, and items geared toward the commercial marine and workboat industry.

Emissions Catalog – A collection of EPA emission products, systems, fuel tank components and related items. The selection includes fuel vent vales, fuel inlet check valves, assorted fuel caps and fills, as well as EPA compliant v***r recovery canisters.

So whatever item you, your fleet manager, or your service technician needs, it can be easily reviewed and selected through our comprehensive catalogs.

Download our Perko General, Commercial, or Emissions Catalogs at https://www.perko.com/catalog_downloads/

Follow us.

What's a FESTOON…and how to select the right replacement bulb?

Festoon bulbs are a type of miniature bulb, the name defines a bulb as that having a cylindrical shape with the light-emitting element between two contacts at opposite ends. The contacts or end caps can be cone-shaped, flat (fuse style), or dimpled, depending on the type of socket it is meant to fit.

Perko understands there may be many options and choices in selecting the correct replacement bulb. It is highly recommended you replace your bulb with a Perko replacement bulb, as we certify our bulbs to meet all respective navigation light rules and regulations. Sometimes you may find a less expensive bulb online or elsewhere…the risk is that it will not meet the distance rating required…and so if used, you then have a navigation light out of compliance. Not a good situation should an accident and investigation occur.

Be safe…always use a Perko® genuine replacement bulb.

For more information see: https://www.perko.com/help_guides-bulb_selection_guide/

Perko®…Made Right…Right here in the USA!

Follow us.

Perko® on Display at the Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance

The California Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) held their Annual Concours d’Elegance last month, and our staff had the pleasure of attending the show on the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe.

Perko products from “yesteryear” were found on a large number of vessels, including this classic siren. You never know what you may find on these meticulously restored vessels.

As cited on their webpage, this exhibition of boating and maritime tradition is unsurpassed, the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance is the most acclaimed and prestigious wooden boat show in all of North America. Each year the show features more than 70 of the world’s finest boats set against the backdrop of the deep clear blue waters of Lake Tahoe.

This year, the 2023 Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance Marque Class celebrated boats of the 60s! Fins, hardtops, American V8 engines… modern Atomic Age styling were all on prominent display in the Obexer’s marina this year. 1960s Italian Riva boats made an appearance as well.

Great to be a part of maritime history.

Perko…always Made in the USA.

Follow us.

Perko® – Lighting the way at Avalon Harbor, Catalina

You are moored just 200 feet away from downtown Avalon, the sun has set, and it’s time to head for a nice meal at your favorite restaurant on Catalina. Your Zodiac awaits, the latest Perko C-5 All-Round navigation light illuminates the seating area for you and your guests. You tie up to the pier, arriving in style.

This is boating in California, this is Avalon…this is Perko®.

Upgrade and replace your older “globe style” all-round light today, and see the difference.

See Perko's new 1444 All-Round Light - https://www.perko.com/catalog/navigation_lights_under_20_meters/1183/white_all-round_led_light/

Follow us.

Perko® – Happy 4th of July

As we celebrate Independence Day 2023, let’s enjoy the company of our families, neighbors, friends, coworkers and communities that make this country great.

…from all of us at Perko, have a fun, safe and enjoyable holiday.

Happy 4th of July!

Follow Us.

Throwback Thursday – 1951 Perko Stove on a Chris Craft 34’ Commander

The Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) held their 35th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival this past Father’s Day weekend, and our staff had the pleasure of attending the show on the beautiful grounds of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM). It is the largest antique and classic boat show in the Mid-Atlantic.

Upon boarding the beautiful, fully restored, ARGONAUT, a Chris Craft 34’ Commander model on display in the water, you step down into the galley, revealing an original Perko alcohol burning stove.

According to Perko’s 1950 Catalog, stove specs were listed:
- For use with propane or butane LP gas
- 2 burners – Monel Metal Stove Body
- Dual simmer and high-speed cooking burners
- Listed as Figure # 373

Perko®…While the stove was discontinued…select quality parts, may still be available.

Perko…Always Made in the USA.

Follow us.

Understanding Underwater Hardware Pipe Thread Styles

Pipe threads for underwater marine hardware have very different threads, let’s take a look at the differences.

Straight pipe threads are used where connections are purely mechanical and/or bedding compounds are generally used. The intake side of all seacocks, thru-hulls and scuppers with hose barbs, and all flanged lock nuts use straight threads.

Tapered pipe threads are used where connections must also be watertight. The output side of seacocks, in-line valves, hose adapters, drain plugs, raw water and pump strainers use tapered threads.

On all other thru-hulls, scuppers and intake strainers we use a unique combination pipe thread. The first few threads are tapered. The rest remain straight threads. This approach allows the same thru-hull to seal when coupled with an in-line valve or to engage at various depths when connected to a seacock.

Still got questions? Send an email to [email protected]

Follow us.

Perko® – A Blue light on a Yacht?

Hmmm…a blue light on a yacht? What is this thing…and why does the lens look like a beehive?

This is known as a 'Meal and Absent' light. It was typically bolted on the yardarms of yachts. The white light was to signal to other boats that the crew was taking a meal, and the blue light was to signal that the owner (as opposed to the Captain) was NOT aboard.

These lights were/are used on “fully crewed” yachts. The lights inform the other “Yacht Guys” that “the owner is not aboard so don't come to visit the owner now", or that "the crew is eating now, so they will not be available to greet or assist with boarding/drinks/etc.".

The BEEHIVE lens gets it’s appearance due to the size and Fresnel lens features to maximize light output. Interesting enough, Perko still uses a glass lens for this product, and the design of the lens originated in the 1930s from a glass company.

Large yachts are often in charter service when the owner is not using his yacht, so the "owner absent light" historically told people approaching the yacht that the owner is unavailable. It is also common for the crew to move/transit the yacht without the owner present, such as moving the yacht in the Caribbean from say St. Barts to St. Lucia. The owner of the respective yacht may then fly in to meet the vessel once in port. Not a bad way to travel…

Still manufactured and Figure 329 in the Perko catalog, maybe it’s time for today’s modern yachts to once again start installing these symbols of status and tradition. View specs and information: https://www.perko.com/catalog/navigation_lights_under_20_meters/282/meal_and_absent_light/

Available as a special order item through West Marine, Land & Sea, and other Perko authorized resellers.

Follow us.

Perko® – “Safety Scuttlebutt” - Marine Electrical Systems

On January 31, 1977 the U.S.C.G. Published Safety Standards for Marine Electrical Systems.

These Standards Cover Such Technical Details As:
• Batteries and Associated Conductors
• Conductor Size and Ampacity
• Strain Relief and Pull Tests
• Termination Requirements
• Overcurrent Protection
• Ignition Protection
• Grounding
• Insulation

A particular electrical component may be affected by some, or perhaps all of the above categories. Those categories related to product design have generally been complied with, however, many additional details must be considered by the installer of the equipment as well in order to achieve compliance with the USCG standard.

It is suggested that the actual installer be familiarized with the standards when installing equipment. Perhaps one of the most critical requirements is ignition protection. A product that is marked "Ignition Protected" may be used in that specific area of a boat that is not isolated from a gasoline fuel v***r source.

Refer to the actual standard for a determination of what parts of a boat require “Ignition Protected” products. If a product is not plainly marked "Ignition Protected" then assume it is not.

For more info on the USCG regs regarding electrical items see:https://www.perko.com/images/help/boatbuilders_handbook_2003_electrical_standards.pdf

PERKO®…Made Right…Right here in the USA!

Follow us.