Glass on the front cabin bulkhead

[pfschmid]

Would it be safe to install an additional cabin window on the front bulkhead of an O'Day 22 cabin or would that affect the structural integrity of the cabin?

 

[kpgraci]

You mean the bulkhead where the chainplates attach (well, that's the only bulkhead I guess). I've heard mine creak and groan when we have a good heal going on, so I'd use something that is thick (plexiglass?) and attach it in a way that would not pop out when the bulkhead is twisted.

EDIT: huh, re-reading your post I'm thinking you mean the front of the cabin, if so, never mind. I have no idea about how that would effect the strength of the cabin - seems like it would at least a bit, however.

 

[pfschmid]

Hi Ken,
Yes I was talking about the front of the cabin, and I'm thinking it may weakin the roof of the cabin somewhat, but I don't know if that is a serious issue. It would be nice to have a view of where you're going for anyone that is below while underway.

 

[Gudenuph]

We had a sloop with a narrow (9") window the full width of a low doghouse on the aft end of the cabin. It was worth its weight in gold! To avoid any possible structural effect on your boat, you might look into attaching a plastic dome to the main companion hatch cover. Our previous boat had a small port (6x16") in the front of the house which gave a great view of the foredeck and not much else. Also it was far forward and unhandy for single handing.

FWIW. Geohan

 

[pfschmid]

After reading the post in O'Day modifcations concerning the mast compression post, I think I will scrap this idea all together