I've written elsewhere about modern fashions in bow shapes and interior layouts. Now it's time to talk about "picture" windows.

Once again it seems to be a charter-boat led design feature, as obviously charter guests want to look out at their beautiful anchorage. But cruisers don't always want to look at the big waves when at sea, and certainly you'll find it hard to sleep when on passage if there's too much light below.

Furthermore, people can see in, especially in a marina and at night with the saloon lights on. It doesn't do much for personal privacy and makes it easy for thieves to "case the joint"

Stowage space is always at a premium on any boat. You cannot fit lockers in front of a window! Nor even a cup hook or a small shelf. It's the same in a house of course, kitchens tend to have fewer windows than other rooms, so you can fit more eye-level cupboards.

Most houses have double glazed windows to reduce condensation, heat loss and noise. But boat windows are single glazed and tend to be fitted at an angle rather than vertical as in a house. So the "greenhouse effect" is another problem, which is why many catamarans fit louvered screens or "eyebrows" on the outside of the windows to act as sunshades. One of the most popular places for crew to sit when on deck is leaning back against the saloon sides, but those eyebrows make it too uncomfortable to do that for long.