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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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/