yacht with glass bottom capability?

[melvin]

i have this concept of a 'yacht-liked' boat design, with the 'glass bottom' capabilities for private used.

any comments or suggestions? looking forward for any ideas or feedbacks on the concept...

thank you.
cheers!

[Loveofsea]

You've got a great idea! If it is at all doable, i recommend it whole-heartedly~! I put a 6" dia. window smack dab in the middle of the cockpit floor of the good skiff. It is a 2 piece SST housing that screws together. The glass is 3/4" bullet resistant glass which is optically pure. The housing is flush with the bottom and there is a clear inspection cover finish in the boat. I have seen everything from Orkas and Blue whales to tuna and sharks through the window...

Do it, you will not regret it~!

http://www.oceanskiffjournal.com/Subscribercontent/Articles/Vol02Issue01/images/content/Brad18-

[Bergalia]

Sure, it's do-able - BUT I still reckon a 'bucket' with glass bottom inset works as well - and less likely to sink you if you ground or collide....Easier to clean too....:(

[Frosty]

Theve got loads of those here in Thailand. Its just a modified long tail and when they get over the coral they ask everyone to pick their feet up and then they pull back the floor boards to reveal the sea bed below.

I think it Perspex /lexan actually.

[melong]

I remember seeing a largish sailing cat (around 50 feet) that had viewing ports in the aft sections of both hulls. Low loads there and little chance of collision or beaching damage. From memory they were done in thick Perspex. The owner thought they were great fun.

[Frosty]

Yeah that reminds me ive also seen inspection windows on ocean crossing vessels so that you can see the propeller and any fowling problems.

My last boat steel,-- had a 10mm perspex window that I fired the depth sounder through.
At 4 inc. in Dia you would have needed a hammer and chisel to get through it.

[Pericles]

Glass bottom boat construction http://www.pbase.com/dr_dichro/electric_boat

Pericles

[melvin]

thanks guys for the valuable feekbacks..

again im looking at a 30ft (9m) in length boat design.. wat do u guys think?