Its done all the time ... most Bob Perry designed boats have forward
facing (and opening) portlights.

In article , Stephen Trapani
wrote:

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

Rich Hampel wrote:

Its done all the time ... most Bob Perry designed boats have forward
facing (and opening) portlights.

In article , Stephen Trapani
wrote:

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

What is unsafe about using an autopilot? What is unsafe about being
below when underway whether using an autopilot or not?

We've got opening ports along the side of the cabin (11 in the forward
section and 7 in the aft cabin), and deck hatches of various kinds,
some of which are hinged on one side and some on the other. The
hinges can be reversed if desired. But when underway all those
hatches are shut and dogged down, and so are all the ports.
(particularly the ones in the stern if the engine is on)

I consider it unsafe to have open hatches when underway. We usually
have the companionways open though unless we are in really heavy seas.


grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id2.html

Rosalie B. wrote:

Rich Hampel wrote:


Its done all the time ... most Bob Perry designed boats have forward
facing (and opening) portlights.

In article , Stephen Trapani
wrote:


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


What is unsafe about using an autopilot? What is unsafe about being
below when underway whether using an autopilot or not?

Well, if no one is at the helm, everyone below, with no forward facing
port/hatch, one can't see where one is going and what is in front of
them. Can't that be unsafe?

Stephen

Stephen Trapani wrote:
Well, if no one is at the helm, everyone below, with no forward facing
port/hatch, one can't see where one is going and what is in front of
them. Can't that be unsafe?

You're thinking like driving a car. The answer is, at sea it wouldn't be
unsafe because there's nothing to run into; conversely, you need to be
able to see in all directions equally because there are things that can
run over *you*.

The serious singlehanders used to install heavy plexiglass domes in
their coach roofs, so they could stick their heads up and see what's
going on (including with the rig & sails) without opening a port or
hatch to let heavy weather in.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:

... at sea it wouldn't be unsafe because there's nothing to run into;
conversely, you need to be able to see in all directions equally because
there are things that can run over *you*.

Doug, unfortunately my experience contradicts your statement to some
extent. I have more than once come on deck offshore (let's say more than a
few hundred miles from any coast) to find myself all too close to
whales, containers, and on more than one occasion large commercial vessels.
I think the original writer's concerns are well founded.

Someone mentioned Chuck Paine boats, and it's true that quite a few of the
Morris yachts feature a forward facing port. Of course these boats are
largely custom-finished, and just about any arrangement is possible. Still
most any well built port with good gaskets and good dogs will serve.

Meanwhile, I'm in Rosalie's camp when it comes to closing up underway. It
almost always happens that things get wet otherwise.


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

Armond Perretta wrote:
Doug, unfortunately my experience contradicts your statement to some
extent.

I should have made it plain that I was quoting theory

... I have more than once come on deck offshore (let's say more than a
few hundred miles from any coast) to find myself all too close to
whales, containers, and on more than one occasion large commercial vessels.
I think the original writer's concerns are well founded.

Yes agreed, except that all-around visibility is just as important as
visibility forward IMHO. And I would seriously discourage anybody from
letting their autopilot keep the watch on deck in any but the absolute
worst weather. It is far too easy to get distracted and/or lose track of
time, and not keep lookout when one is down below. When conditions are
so bad that it is actively dangerous to stay on deck, then you'll have
worse problems anyway. And it might not be so safe down below!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:

Armond Perretta wrote:

Doug, unfortunately my experience contradicts your statement to some
extent.


I should have made it plain that I was quoting theory

... I have more than once come on deck offshore (let's say more than a
few hundred miles from any coast) to find myself all too close to
whales, containers, and on more than one occasion large commercial
vessels.
I think the original writer's concerns are well founded.


Yes agreed, except that all-around visibility is just as important as
visibility forward IMHO. And I would seriously discourage anybody from
letting their autopilot keep the watch on deck in any but the absolute
worst weather. It is far too easy to get distracted and/or lose track of
time, and not keep lookout when one is down below. When conditions are
so bad that it is actively dangerous to stay on deck, then you'll have
worse problems anyway. And it might not be so safe down below!

I look around down below in my H33' and I can see through all the
hatches in all directions 180 and forward except from about 2 Oclock to
10 oclock, thus my question about the forward port. You get those last
four degrees forward with a forward facing port and then you've got 180
to the sides and in front, all you're missing is the astern 180.


Stephen

DSK wrote:

Stephen Trapani wrote:

Well, if no one is at the helm, everyone below, with no forward facing
port/hatch, one can't see where one is going and what is in front of
them. Can't that be unsafe?


You're thinking like driving a car. The answer is, at sea it wouldn't be
unsafe because there's nothing to run into; conversely, you need to be
able to see in all directions equally because there are things that can
run over *you*.

Ah, so I can see how a forward facing port or hatch wouldn't be of much
help in a bluewater boat.

But I don't think I'll ever be at sea with this boat, only in Puget
Sound where there is less ability to rely on the autopilot. In high
traffic areas one needs to be watching more, though there are times and
places where there is nothing one couldn't see or hear coming from far
away.

Like even without an autopilot, I get a little nervous going below while
others are at the helm, I'd like to be able to keep my eye on things
better while doing things below.

Am I missing something?


The serious singlehanders used to install heavy plexiglass domes in
their coach roofs, so they could stick their heads up and see what's
going on (including with the rig & sails) without opening a port or
hatch to let heavy weather in.

I see a vision of me cooking a quesadia on my propane stove in the
galley looking through my forward facing port light, 12"X 20"ish with a
visor over the top of it to keep out most of the rain, with a custom
heavy weather cover which I'll lash on it in the heaviest P.S. weather.

Lunatic or visionary??? ;-)

Stephen

Stephen Trapani wrote:
I see a vision of me cooking a quesadia on my propane stove in the
galley looking through my forward facing port light, 12"X 20"ish with a
visor over the top of it to keep out most of the rain, with a custom
heavy weather cover which I'll lash on it in the heaviest P.S. weather.

Lunatic or visionary??? ;-)

Visionary, definitely. But you should have gotten a trawler.

Like this one, for example
http://community.webshots.com/album/63279185YQtgSA

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

DSK wrote:
Stephen Trapani wrote:

I see a vision of me cooking a quesadia on my propane stove in the
galley looking through my forward facing port light, 12"X 20"ish with
a visor over the top of it to keep out most of the rain, with a custom
heavy weather cover which I'll lash on it in the heaviest P.S. weather.

Lunatic or visionary??? ;-)


Visionary, definitely. But you should have gotten a trawler.

Like this one, for example
http://community.webshots.com/album/63279185YQtgSA

Shoot man, trawler was right up there with 30+ sloop on my list of boats
under 10K as my first boat. My kids voted for the trawler, for sure.
There was this raunchy trawler in North Vancouver I had my eye on...

But hey, I'm in love with the Moonraker. I like the sailing deal. Last
weekend me and my 9yo son took off by motor from Boston Harbor. A guy
there had helped us rig up my only workable sail, a 150 genoa with a
missing clew ring reefed to a reef point on the jib on the only working
clew. I turned off the Yanmar and sailed around the bend at 2 knots. It
was a thing of beauty.

I love the idea of free energy.

Probably my next boat will be a trawler, or um, a bigger sailing cruiser.

Stephen