Because the forward-facing cabin side is usually angled upwards, opening
ports have a tendency to collect water, and are more vulnerable to letting
water in if they fail. But as long as you take this into account, you can
still put portlights, opening ports or even hatches there if you want. And
many manufacturers do. Any port which would be weak in heavy weather, but
would otherwise be quite safe and serviceable, can always have storm
shutters fitted. Personally, I am of the opinion that virtually all ports
should be fitted with them.

--
Karin Conover-Lewis
Fair and Balanced since 1959
klc dot lewis at centurytel dot net


"Stephen Trapani" wrote in message
...
Well, I hope I don't turn into the guy who asks all the nutty questions,
but wouldn't the right sort of hatch or port facing forward in the cabin
of a sailboat make it safer to be below using an autopilot? Why don't
sail designers do more of this? Isn't it possible to make it seaworthy?

Stephen

Karin Conover-Lewis wrote:

Because the forward-facing cabin side is usually angled upwards, opening
ports have a tendency to collect water, and are more vulnerable to letting
water in if they fail. But as long as you take this into account, you can
still put portlights, opening ports or even hatches there if you want. And
many manufacturers do. Any port which would be weak in heavy weather, but
would otherwise be quite safe and serviceable, can always have storm
shutters fitted. Personally, I am of the opinion that virtually all ports
should be fitted with them.


Does anyone know how much these forward facing ports, etc increase one's
ability to pilot from the cabin? say with an autopilot and remote
control? This would be my main reason for putting one on my '79 Hunter
33,' not to make the cabin into the helm, but to feel freer and safer to
go below for longer while on autopilot.

Stephen

On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 07:56:38 -0700, Stephen Trapani
wrote:


Does anyone know how much these forward facing ports, etc increase one's
ability to pilot from the cabin? say with an autopilot and remote
control? This would be my main reason for putting one on my '79 Hunter
33,' not to make the cabin into the helm, but to feel freer and safer to
go below for longer while on autopilot.

Stephen

It would depend a great deal on the design of the cabin. On my Yamaha
30, the front of the cabin was so low, and sloped so slightly, that
you wouldn't get any useful visibility from a forward port. Often,
the slope of the deck, and debris on the foredeck (anchor winch and
anchor, stowed sails, etc) would severely limit your visibility.

To get useful visibility, you would need a cabin that is fairly high
forward, with a near-vertical forward bulkhead, and a clear foredeck
with little upwards slope towards the bow.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

Peter Bennett wrote:
On Sun, 06 Jun 2004 07:56:38 -0700, Stephen Trapani
wrote:



Does anyone know how much these forward facing ports, etc increase one's
ability to pilot from the cabin? say with an autopilot and remote
control? This would be my main reason for putting one on my '79 Hunter
33,' not to make the cabin into the helm, but to feel freer and safer to
go below for longer while on autopilot.

Stephen


It would depend a great deal on the design of the cabin. On my Yamaha
30, the front of the cabin was so low, and sloped so slightly, that
you wouldn't get any useful visibility from a forward port. Often,
the slope of the deck, and debris on the foredeck (anchor winch and
anchor, stowed sails, etc) would severely limit your visibility.

To get useful visibility, you would need a cabin that is fairly high
forward, with a near-vertical forward bulkhead, and a clear foredeck
with little upwards slope towards the bow.



Good point, I'd better go eyeball everything for a while. Like I won't
be able to lash the heasail to the lifelines and still see through it.

Stephen

Stephen

Stephen Trapani wrote:

Does anyone know how much these forward facing ports, etc increase
one's ability to pilot from the cabin? say with an autopilot and
remote control? This would be my main reason for putting one on my
'79 Hunter 33,' not to make the cabin into the helm, but to feel
freer and safer to go below for longer while on autopilot.

Nowadays there are video camera arrangements that _could_ do what you want.
However based on my own experiences, I would not recommend staying below
"longer" as a regular practice. Even at 4 or 5 miles an hour, things seem
to happen fast.

BTW, do you know a Stephen Trapani in NJ?

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

Armond Perretta wrote:


BTW, do you know a Stephen Trapani in NJ?

No, but I once walked into a Mall in Clackamas, OR and saw a Pizza chain
looking place called Trapani's Pizza.

Stephen

Stephen Trapani wrote:
Armond Perretta wrote:

BTW, do you know a Stephen Trapani in NJ?

No, but I once walked into a Mall in Clackamas, OR and saw a Pizza
chain looking place called Trapani's Pizza.

True Facts Department: My wife and I just got back from a swimming pool
party where I bumped into a neighbor named Stephen J. Trapani. I didn't ask
if he was in the pizza trade.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

Not at all, you need to come up on deck periodically and scan the total
horizon.
The only thing that I could think of is a plastic 'navigators' bubble
that would give 360 deg. visability ... would be any good.

In article , Stephen Trapani
wrote:

Karin Conover-Lewis wrote:

Because the forward-facing cabin side is usually angled upwards, opening
ports have a tendency to collect water, and are more vulnerable to letting
water in if they fail. But as long as you take this into account, you can
still put portlights, opening ports or even hatches there if you want. And
many manufacturers do. Any port which would be weak in heavy weather, but
would otherwise be quite safe and serviceable, can always have storm
shutters fitted. Personally, I am of the opinion that virtually all ports
should be fitted with them.


Does anyone know how much these forward facing ports, etc increase one's
ability to pilot from the cabin? say with an autopilot and remote
control? This would be my main reason for putting one on my '79 Hunter
33,' not to make the cabin into the helm, but to feel freer and safer to
go below for longer while on autopilot.

Stephen

The only thing that I could think of is a plastic 'navigators' bubble
that would give 360 deg. visability

Speaking of which, where could one be found?

On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 04:59:30 GMT, wrote:

The only thing that I could think of is a plastic 'navigators' bubble
that would give 360 deg. visability

Speaking of which, where could one be found?

===========================================

They are usually custom fabricated. Here's some info on how to do it:

http://www.designnews.com/article/CA85859

http://www.bayplastics.co.uk/menu%20...abrication.htm

http://makeashorterlink.com/?R31623488