Is it possible to add port holes to a Jenneau 39i v-berth?

[simonpickard]

Hello all,

Been looking for a good long range cruiser and chartered a Jenneau 39i this weakend. Really liked the boat (any comments on them are most welcomed!).

One thing I wondered is if it would be possible to add some port lights to the forward v-berth to get more light in there? Is this something doable on boats or not worth the hassle? Just wondering if anyones done this on a 39i, or any other boat for that matter.

Regards,
Simon

[daddle]

Possible. Unwise. How about a transparent hatch.

[simonpickard]

There is a hatch above, this would just be to add light from the sides.
Thanks for the reply though, I guess unwise due to structural issues? Possible leaks, etc?

Regards,
Simon

[ssanzone]

if you are after light: Marine Skylights

[Mimsy]

Yes, it is possible but I see a couple of problems.
One, will you have enough room to fit a port light of any appreciable size? The cabin roof slopes pretty dramatically over the v berth finding a port light to fit is going to be a trick.
Two Putting ports in the side of the hull so far forward just seems like you are begging for leaks of Biblical proportions. If you have not yet dealt with leaks, you can not apprecciate how they can swallow up huge chunks of time trying to sort out.
Three, aesthetically it is going to look really odd. If you never plan on selling the boat then it probably won't matter but the shape of the other port lights is pretty distinctive. Putting in something that does not look like an after thought is going to be a tough call.

If it was me I would just invest in some really good quality cabin lighting and go up on deck when I needed more light. I don't know about you, but I use my v berth for sleeping and maximizing light is not exactly a priority.

[simonpickard]

Makes total sense, thanks for the advice everyone.

[model 10]

You could use a Prism or 2.