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Windsong has 4 very windows in the cabin and I am at a loss on what to do with them. I removed the old windows and frames which were very cheap plastic, not through bolted, and the glass was cracked/crazed. A slight breeze would probably have collapsed them if it hit at the right angle. They are approximately 13″ x 44″.
I want to upgrade the windows to give better structural support for the deck, provide better safety for offshore sailing and protection against boarding waves, and possibly enhance the looks & ventilation (if I go with opening ports) of the boat.
So far I am contemplating the following options, in order of my current preference:
1. Glass in the large holes in a similar method as described here. Then replacing them with smaller fixed or even smaller opening ports (replacing all of the small ones with opening ports already).
2. Buy stronger replacement windows from a place like Bomon, as Bob did on Eolian, Downeaster 45, as described here. They seem strong and look good, but I would still be worried about such large windows and possible boarding waves.
3. Build some sort of supporting frame as discussed here. However, this is way out of my carpentry skill range and I would need to spend some time learning how to do it. Not that it is a bad thing, but I am learning how to rebuild this boat one step at a time and this might derail me for a while.
Other options people have mentioned are to just bolt on some lexan, make an interior trim ring and call it a day. I’ve also read I could use storm panels, but I haven’t looked into how those work yet. Doesn’t seem like you could easily throw up storm panels at sea while you need to worry about battening down everything else, reefing, etc. If you were me and had this boat completely stripped to rebuild, what would you do?
I don’t have many pictures of them before I took them out, but here are a few so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about :
[Image Can Not Be Found]
This is one of the smaller windows, but it represents what the frames were like for all of them:
Here is a bonus video of me beating one of the windows out with a hammer.
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Eventually this is the way I'd like to take care of Bodhran's windows: First I'd create a plywood cutout the same dimension as the old windows and screw and epoxy that into the existing frame. Then I'd make another smaller plywood plug to fill the interior part of the window which I'd screw and epoxy to the the outer plug. I'd then put a couple/three layers of glass on each side. Then I'd fair and paint the outside, while redoing the headliner on the inside. Finally if I had the money I'd replace the the big windows with New Found Metals 8x22" opening bronze ports. They're pretty expensive though and I'd probably replace them with 3 evenly spaced 7x15" ports instead. Either way you're reducing the size of the windows and the amount of light coming in, but dramatically increasing ventilation. I've replaced the forward two ports on each side with bronze ports from NFM and am fairly happy with them. I've had some leaks, but that's probably a fault with my installation and not the design of the port.
As for storm panels, they're a good idea if you want to go with just replacing the old windows. One boat that I sailed with added slotted frames to the ouside of his windows. He could then just slide the panel in the tracks when needed. More commonly I've seen panels that have to be mechanically fastened in place. These would then be put in place before each passage and taken off at the end of the passage so that you weren't trying to do it in bad weather.
Anyway that's my 2 cents
Jason
DE32 Bodhran
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The large, very poorly made and installed windows on our DE32 were definitely a liability!! She also had huge, cheap plastic opening ports forard. I pulled every thing out, made-up plugs to fit the holes out of 3/4 treated ply (dried). Epoxied them in, then ground back/fared the glass around those areas for several inches, inside and out, and glassed back over everything (using epoxy) to the original thickness (inside and out). fared and painted etc.
Installed NFM's oval s/s ports forard (very well made and reasonably priced). Aft - I reduced the size of the openings considerably and screwed on lexan on the outside using pure silicone caulk (black).
I think there are pics on the Pelli re-fit
Tim
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Personally I have the curtains drawn over my windows the majority of the time. For me putting in smaller ports wouldn't be too big of a deal. On the ventillation front, you can never have enough. THat being said, if you're at anchor most of your breeze will be coming from the bow and the opening ports will only get wind when the boat sheers off to one side or the other. Still leave that port in the head closed for the day and see what happens. There's still a lot of air being exchanged even if the ports aren't oriented into the wind. So for me, I'd rather have the smaller opening ports. Of course they open you up to a greater chance of leaks than the fixed windows and if light is your primary concern, then stick with what's there.
Jason
DE32 Bodhran
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