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Kelly,
The cleaning of the extreme rake type of windshield is one problem, the fact that you can't see out of them is another.
Although difficulty of cleaning was one concern, the saftey and seaworthiness were my primary target.
So many of these "modern" designs have no provision for crew to safely move about the boat while cleaning, visibility is very limited from the wheelhouse (those slanted windows), freeing ports are small, no safe way to handle lines while mooring.....the list goes on and on. Oceanfasts "Mercedes" has a huge bow well, it must be a real thrill when you bury the bow and that fills with several tons of water. Many smaller yachts are beginning to carry dinghys or jet skis on the bow, these can be ripped from strong points in rough seas and crash into (or through) forward cabin structures.
I met with designers from one firm and pointed out that it was virtually impossible to change a bulb in the running lights while underway. Then mentioned that not if but when someone was injured the product liability suit would be off the scale. The next yacht from them had side running lights that could be changed from the interior while underway.
I think that if the designers just went to sea they would fix many of the problems.
Dave
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