design ramblings of a madman (windows)

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by juiceclark, Dec 24, 2007.

  1. juiceclark

    juiceclark Previous Member

    I always try to take notice when more than a few of the commercial fishermen I talk to say they like or dislike things on their boat. One thing they all seem to prefer are the trawler style windows with the top forward to keep water, ice, etc. off the glass a bit more than the back-slanted type most commonly used. This would allow more flybridge and more foredeck. Moreover, down here in sunny FL you won't have the sun beating into the salon - baking and fading everything.

    I've often thought how to utilize this commercial design into a sportfishing boat without it looking totally weird. Has anyone seen a cool design for this in a, otherwise, fairly normal looking 50' sportfisherman??

    Tony in Sw FL


    some inspiration from this website:

    http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/9350
    genius:
    http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/5726
    and
    http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1809
    http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1810
    rounded instead of slanted:
    http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1051
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2007
  2. FAST FRED
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    FAST FRED Senior Member

    The tilted windows also are more friendly in reducing sun glare. and the outward tilt keeps internal dash and other lights from reflecting as easily.

    FF
     
  3. rasorinc
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    rasorinc Senior Member

    hi, take a look at coastal craft built in washington state. their whole line has outward windows and they look great. stan
     
  4. juiceclark

    juiceclark Previous Member

    That is a nice boat. I really looked at it and it's obvious somebody with some time offshore made the plans.

    http://www.coastalcraft.com/420.html

    But at least it's more of a fast trawler style. I just can't imagine how to work those backward window lines into the sleeker shape of a sportfish. http://www.bertram.com/

    Even the rounded and vertical design I think is so smart:
    http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/5726
    has escaped my imagination on a sportfish. I only expect our design to be a 25k boat...so aerodynamics are not paramount. But looks sell boats and I don't want a potential buyer to see a cruising boat sitting there rather than an offshore battle wagon. They'll never find out how nice those windows are if they don't buy it.
    -------

    Fred, Yeah, I hate that when the gauges are all reflecting off the glass...blinding and ridiculous.

    Tony
     
  5. buckknekkid
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    buckknekkid Senior Member

    traditional only for me
     
  6. fiberglass jack
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    fiberglass jack Senior Member

    Ray are you going to the boatshow, I will be at the rayplex booth sat and sun 12th 13th and the following friday
     
  7. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    The forward slanting windows allow the crew to lean out and see the deck
     
  8. buckknekkid
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    buckknekkid Senior Member

    Yes I'll be the guy with the sign that says " will work for Gas' :p :p :p I need a 300 gallon container full . call me when my passes are available :D
     
  9. longliner45
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    longliner45 Senior Member

    forward slanting windows,,,are for one thing,,to keep the glare down ,,they started doing this in the 70s
     
  10. kach22i
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    kach22i Architect

    Press boxes in stadiums also slant inward because of glare and the view angle down to the field. However for buildings most window manufacturers will not warranty if more than 15 degrees is used. Becomes an inverted skylight or something past 15 degrees or maybe fear of stressing the glass out of the frame I'm not exactly sure why to tell the truth.

    Inverted angle glass is disappearing out of military watercraft because of stealth considerations.
     
  11. longliner45
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    longliner45 Senior Member

    because of what gonzo said,,,,,school busses should have this also
     
  12. juiceclark

    juiceclark Previous Member

    Yes, yes, yes! But as that Billy Crystol character on old Sat. Night Live used to say...."it's not how you feeeeel, it's how you look!" Anyone with a design that can make a sleek, Bertram like sportfish look good with backward slanted salon windows deserves a Nobel Prize. (I mean really deserves one...not like alGore) It's going to take a whole new approach from the bow.
     
  13. longliner45
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    longliner45 Senior Member

    container boats ,,work boats and fishing boats,are more saftey functional,like gonzo says,,,,so the capton can lean forward in the wheelhouse and see his crewman ,moving a item or doing a task,for them the glare part is a byproduct ,,good thing ,,for the fisherman ,,the antiglare thing is a nessesity,,,,to see fish,,and it takes alot of strain off the eyes,if you want pretty ,,thats cool too,,you can put a nice visor over the windows,,,longliner
     
  14. buckknekkid
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    buckknekkid Senior Member

    its hard to fish from inside the wheelhouse..even harder to get those pesky brothers into the door too:p :p
     

  15. TollyWally
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    TollyWally Senior Member

    Form follows function, different strokes for different folks. In the boats I've fished on, the action is all in the *** end. I could only wish that forward leaning windows would cut glare, that would probably mean the sun was shining!

    We liked them because it gave more room to cram more electronics above your head and because it shielded your vision from rain without using the usually anemic wipers smearing salt across your window. Keeping the windows well lubed with the magic juice that comes in the yellow squeeze bottle ( the brand name escapes me at the moment) and the effects of gravity is often enough to preclude even dealing with spray and rain.

    I think in the old days some boat design details were very local condition specific. Of course most of you guys already know all about that and I realize I'm not really adding anything new here. My point, I suppose, is that practical design features solve different problems in different areas for different reasons.

    As for looks, well that's all relative. Those swoopy big tall sportfishing yachts look a might pretentious and sissy looking to me. Handsome in my eye is something a bit more robust. An opinion only, others will differ.
     
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