Windows, windshields, and ports

[Phil Herring]

So, I'm looking at the new issue of SAIL with the top 10 boats of the year. One is the Jeanneau 43DS, a very fine boat. It has huge windows in the saloon on both the sides and forward, a lot like the Hunter 'windshield.' In fact, the Morris 454 on the next page has almost the identical port and window design.The review states that is a safety advantage, as the visibility it allows can be useful when running with the autopilot, allowing the skipper to stay below in bad weather. Wasn't it just a year or two ago that the reviewers and bluewater types were bashing this as a dangerous feature on Hunters? The reason I recall is that a big sea could smash in the large windows, letting the sea pour into the cabin. So, if I've got this right, it's a safety feature onthe Jeanneau and dangerous on Hunters. Does this piss off anyone else, or did I just wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

 

[Steve Dion]

Phil, Take a shower (cold).

[nm]

 

[Andy Falls]

Window dressing

I agree with Phil. Must be that if you pay enough, it must be safe! I'm sure the blue-boys have a "higher quality of Lexan" and additional support! and that explains the megabucks cost Ha ha ha.

 

[Rick D]

Maybe We All Grew Up A Bit...

..I remember when I first got my (former) V32, more traditional guys said: I couldn't stand on the ports, the thing wouldn't sail without a big jib, Hunter had lousy quality, the interior wouldn't work on a seaway, no one else was going to buy Hunters, etc, etc. While admitting the choice of the V32 was MY WIFE'S, it sure is interesting that I passed five new hunters in a row comming out of the marina for a day sail (we were in our 40.5), all the new boats have nice big ports, we know about the great strength of acrylic, the new boats look a lot like the V32 inside, new Catalinas look a lot like Hunters did, I took 1st in class and over the line in an overnight open ocean race and the new owner is successfully club racing and bought racing sails. A 340 (Secret) in the club is blowing them away in Cruising Class even sailing with a load of fine wine. And, Practical Sailor allowed as how the 410 was pretty good, even while damning the big, light interior as underutilizing storage space.. ;>) Given time, even mariners change. Rick D

 

[Robert Polk]

Beneteau 47

The new Beneteau 47 also has large plexiglas overhead windows in the main salon and looks quite similar to the Hunter 460 except that it has a wider stern and twin wheels.

 

[Miles]

Give 'em another 20 years

and they'll figure out how to get rid of the backstay... I saw that article too and wondered about it. Seemed like a pretty strange collection of boats for the top 10, and the prices are getting a little crazy at the high end...

 

[Steve Dion]

What does this really tell ya?

This tells us that HUNTER is ahead of their time. They have been that way for many years. I must presume that it will continue this way. They are either number one or number two in the sailboat business for many years. They weathered the luxury tax fiaco as did a few of the manufacturers. They continue to build an excellent product for the money. Maybe someday we will look at Hunter the same way they look Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota and Porsche. All of these companies produced a good low cost products and no one thought they would be the force that they are in the auto industry today.

 

[Justin]

Lots of pilothouses.

It was a pretty silly argument to start with. There have been lots of pilothouses long before Hunter started using big windows. Even Valiant, PSC, and Hinckley have pilotshouses or raised salons.What's changed? Here's my personal opinion. Raised salons are in. To many people they look cool. That's outweighs any structural flaw. When Hunter first came out with their windows to many people they didn't look cool they looked odd and so the structural defect argument was used to depend an aesthetic preference. Just my personal take on it.I think the fiberglass arch is the same deal. You hear far less grumblings from the masses over the SS arch. Even though functionally they are the same. It's no different than the rest of life choices is it?PS. I don't see the backstayless rig catching on until CRUISING boats are light enough to be able to reach faster than they can sail close to DDW. Right now that isn't the case and swept back spreaders can really affect performance downwind. On an Open 60 they make perfect sense because they can sail so fast on a reach they make up for the extra distance.

 

[Steve O.]

plastic?

Here's how the CWBB explained it to me:"Hunters are like Chevys. And Jeanneaus, they're like--well, like Oldsmobiles. Now, your Morris--well, they're just like a Cadillac." Let's see, who is it that makes the Corvette?