{"id":20954,"date":"2011-12-20T20:41:13","date_gmt":"2011-12-21T01:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=20954"},"modified":"2011-12-27T21:34:50","modified_gmt":"2011-12-28T02:34:50","slug":"a-shifting-view-of-cruising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/a-shifting-view-of-cruising\/","title":{"rendered":"A Shifting View Of Cruising"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 2003 when we began work on the first FPB, Wind Horse<\/em>, we briefly considered an enclosed flying bridge. Our good friend, and collaborator, the late Steve Davis, was a strong advocate. He said “one day you will come around.”<\/p>\n Our reasoning was that in conditions warranting enclosure we’d pilot from the great room, and when it was pleasant, from above. A major part of the decision was poor visibility through the plastic windows.<\/p>\n Things have changed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The lead photo is a difficult night shot, taken during sea trials a few days ago, looking through the windows of the now enclosed flying bridge on Wind Horse<\/em>. The optical clarity of these windows is stunning, significantly better than the glass which surrounds the great room below.<\/p>\n There is no sense of barrier between us and the exterior.<\/p>\n And so far, in a variety of lighting, the clarity has remained.<\/p>\n There are few visual impediments, just four pipe supports, and a few narrow tapes around the window perimeters.<\/p>\n The flying bridge frame is now covered by a Stamoid fabric roof, banded rather than tied in place. The roof is designed to shed water, but otherwise to be visually unobtrusive.<\/p>\n The windows rotate inward and up when open, with bungee cords and special hardware to hold them open.<\/p>\n This “EverClear” enclosure system is the work of Preston Lea, Carteret Canvas, Moorehead City, NC.<\/p>\n We’ll have to wait until relaunching in the spring for a nice anchored photo. In the meantime, we’ll be thinking about how to bring the navigation instruments to the flying bridge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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