Roof ‘windows’

[uncle nick]

Yep I’d love that! A bit like looking up and out of the Velux roof window I had in a house many years ago. 
I’d fall asleep looking at the stars and waken to sunshine streaming in. 
Or more likely, given it was 1200ft in northern England, fall asleep to rain/fog/snow, awaken to rain/fog/snow.

It did give a feeling of being more in touch with nature, that I do miss though. 

[David Mack]

9 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

No drafts its fully sealed just like a bullseye Davey and Co. Deck Prism/Light Rabetted | Captain Watts Chandlery

 

 

 

3 hours ago, uncle nick said:

Thanks for that. I’m guessing it points upwards?

No downwards. They are intended to be installed in boat decks, so the top surface is flat. The prism projecting down is intended to spread light out into the space below.

[cuthound]

16 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

How about Lancaster navigators. 

One of these was in the top of the Lancaster above the Navigators seat so he could take star shots to confirm location, here is one that was sold at auction (not including the clock)

 

 

 

Called an Astro Dome

 

 

 

Never mind the dome, a front mounted gun on my narrowboat would soon sort out the boats that creep about on tickover, holding me up...

 

[magnetman]

I think a punt gun could potentially be quite useful. 

 

[uncle nick]

14 hours ago, David Mack said:

 

No downwards. They are intended to be installed in boat decks, so the top surface is flat. The prism projecting down is intended to spread light out into the space below.

Thanks for the info David. 
Some nice pointy corners for banging heads! 😀

35 minutes ago, magnetman said:

I think a punt gun could potentially be quite useful. 

 

A multitude of uses! Brilliant for going through ‘rougher’ areas and stopping traffic on lift bridges! 🙄

[MtB]

1 hour ago, uncle nick said:

Some nice pointy corners for banging heads! 😀

 

No, the ends of the glass blocks are mitred off at 45 degrees. They are delightful things to have in your roof, I had three in my last boat. The peak of the block of glass sticks down about 3", which was about the same as the thickness of the roof insulation plus the deckhead boarding. 

 

They were rather difficult to get watertight though, silicone seems to stick to the glass ok but after six months it comes away. I think black gutter sealant did the trick in the end. And as someone mentioned they drip with condensation but its worth it, the light they give inside the boat is just lovely. 

[Hudds Lad]

12 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

No, the ends of the glass blocks are mitred off at 45 degrees. They are delightful things to have in your roof, I had three in my last boat. The peak of the block of glass sticks down about 3", which was about the same as the thickness of the roof insulation plus the deckhead boarding. 

 

They were rather difficult to get watertight though, silicone seems to stick to the glass ok but after six months it comes away. I think black gutter sealant did the trick in the end. And as someone mentioned they drip with condensation but its worth it, the light they give inside the boat is just lovely. 

Good to know, ours need re-doing between the glass and the brass frame so i can stop having to give them a dose of Captain Tolley's every few months, i'd wondered what to re-seal them with. Do you have a specific product you can recommend?

 

We have foam bungs for them internally that we pop on at night and when leaving the boat, stops the condensation for the most part.

I'd not get rid, they do as you say, give a nice light inside.

[magnetman]

PU sealant is good for this. 

 

PU18 is a cheap version which does work. Sikaflex from ScrewStation more expensive. 

[uncle nick]

1 hour ago, MtB said:

 

No, the ends of the glass blocks are mitred off at 45 degrees. They are delightful things to have in your roof, I had three in my last boat. The peak of the block of glass sticks down about 3", which was about the same as the thickness of the roof insulation plus the deckhead boarding. 

 

They were rather difficult to get watertight though, silicone seems to stick to the glass ok but after six months it comes away. I think black gutter sealant did the trick in the end. And as someone mentioned they drip with condensation but its worth it, the light they give inside the boat is just lovely. 

Thanks for that. They cartainly sound like a good option, especially as they shouldn’t actually protrude into the head room. 👍

[agg221]

I thought this picture might be relevant. In it there are two roof lights. The one in the foreground is in a 4" hole, the one in the background is in a 8" hole. Yes, definitely a trad boat, but not particularly yachty, particularly the one in the background.

Alec

[uncle nick]

Thanks for the picture, very nice. 
One of the existing holes is roughly 8” dia so that would definitely work. 
I guess for the other two 10” diameter I could fit a plate with whatever size hole was required. 

[David Mack]

10 hours ago, uncle nick said:

Some nice pointy corners for banging heads! 😀

The 'melon' style of decklights are worse!

[uncle nick]

9 hours ago, David Mack said:

The 'melon' style of decklights are worse!

That looks like an old lemon squeezer we have, bet they’ve caused some injuries!