[Curtis]

I have to admit that I've been lustily gazing at some of the new Deck Salon designs. A small alarm in the back of my head has been ringing, however, regarding such large expanses of windows and glass in vulnerable places. I've been ignoring the alarm figuring that, surely, modern designers and manufacturing techniques have tested and proven the windows to be safe.

Then, in many of this month's US sailing magazines, comes the story of the pilothouse yacht that blew out a window in a gulfstream storm. Google on "almeisan yacht" and you can read several different accounts. Very scary.

Are there standards that production boats must meet regarding window strength? Are those standards adequate?

Curtis