No windows on offshore fishing boats??!

[island_dave]

I am new to the sport and I have still got a lot to learn! Something has always bothered me and I have found no one that could answer the question - 'Why do off-shore sports fishing boats have no windows?'

I have heard a few answers but none that are that convincing. Please help
:confused:

[BigJR]

Hi there Dave. Long-time lurker, first time poster myself.

This is an excellent question. Back in the day when I was active and mobile enough to think about getting my own rig, I spoke with several dealers. Several of them couldn't answer the question which had similarly confused me for many years, so don't feel bad about it. In fact, it hadn't struck me as at all odd until my daughter (then 6) asked me when we were on the water one day and I was stumped.

I'm not telling you the answer just yet ...

BigJR

[floridadeckie]

so what do you mean by no windows? if its a sportfisherman with a flybridge, there are always windows in the salon. if its an express boat, some have portholes in the hull and at the helm there are windows and/or canvas enclosures

[RUGHEAD]

Windows On Offshore Boats Tend To Leak. Also When Fishing Overnight The Darkness Inside The Cabin Makes For Easier Sleeping For The Night Shift

[rhett121]

There are a few reasons you don't find windows on offshore boats.

1. You don't usually find windows on the front of a sportfishing or ocean cruiser style boat because you pilot it from the bridge. Big windows only allow light to come in and heat up the interior and if there are windows, you will usually see them covered.

2. The main reason for not having windows on offshore boat is because if you catch a big wave over the side...boom! There go those windows! Now you have a couple thousand gallons of water INSIDE the boat. Not what you want miles from land.

(I'm really a sailor who loves to fish)

I've noticed a trend the last few years of sailboat manufacturers putting in these big deck salons with nice big windows. It sure looks nice inside but "I" wouldn't take them offshore. They're suitable only for coastal cruising. Look at any serious offshore boat and you will notice they all have very small, very stout portals.

[toysoldier]

This is all nonsense. Check out most larger offshore canyon boats with fly bridges and tuna towers like Buddy Davis, Garlington, Bertram, Hatteras, and others... they all have windows in the salon.

We fished my 47 Davis out of Montauk for 10 years and usually it was canyon trips on the weekend. Nobody had a problem sleeping in the salon or bunk rooms, and my windows never leaked. I once owned an Egg Harbor 41 that had front windows and they did leak. The majority of modern sportfishermen don't have front (salon) windows because of the potential leaks... but a well-made boat won't leak at the windows.

I've owned sport-fisherman style boats since 1984 and there's quality... and then there's poor workmanship and design to contend with.

[gamefish]

There are several reasons that come to mind.....(Assuming that the thread starter referred to front windows or "windscreens")

As they are almost always skipperred from the flybridge or tower, from where you have better visibility and accordingly control, a helm station in the salon is not a requiremnt.

The sacrifice of interior space utilisation by having a front window and or helm station in the salon is just not justified. (Even where you can see over the bow of the boat in such a setup, you can never see close to the boat through a front window especially when traveling at speed this greatly increase the risk of striking floating logs etc.)

Secondly, serious sportfishers often fish in foul weather, when there is a very real risk of a sudden big wave damaging or even taking out a front window.

As a matter of fact exactly that happnned to the 31ft Bertrams "Karma" in Ghana recently with the winners of the 2007 Blackwatch Billfish tournament on board. As a result they found themselves in real danger.


Thirdly, the leaks..... solid flush glazed or bonded windows seldom leak, but I have yet to find a window with opening or sliding sections that does not leak.

I note that for aesthetic reasons, many boats have a panel in the front painted in a dark colour to resemble a continuation of the side windows, which looks quite ok, without compromising the safety of the boat.

Regards,
Gamefish

[George Woodward]

I've noticed a trend the last few years of sailboat manufacturers putting in these big deck salons with nice big windows. It sure looks nice inside but "I" wouldn't take them offshore. They're suitable only for coastal cruising. Look at any serious offshore boat and you will notice they all have very small, very stout portals.

I would and often do. Those big windows you're referring to, are perfectly fine and well sealed. They don't leak. My last delivery was an 24m Gulet with some of those fancy windows, thru 12ft seas. Not one leak.