THE FRONT WINDOW
The front window was already famous when I bought Pentargon.  Her picture had been used to illustrate a magazine article and the shot had been taken head-on.  In the early months of ownership, I was often approached by people saying they had "seen her in a magazine somewhere". 

Eventually, I turned up the magazine in the British Library.  Covid meant I have not been able to get back to BL and the publishers are sold out of that particular issue. Some day!

I decided early on that few changes would be made to a boat which matched so much of my  Wish List,  but I wanted a foolproof fire escape at the front of the boat, with no locks or latches. 

It had to be able to deal with a head-on wave without collapsing inwards.  It had to be impossible to break through so no external hardware, no cracks, no finger holds, nowhere to lodge a jemmy bar. 

And, most importantly, it had to use the original glass to 'recall the old window' and keep as close as possible to original.

Tall order?  I went downriver to ship's carpenters who had done contracts on the Cutty Sark and on the Golden Hind. 

They came up with a plan for a two-piece surround sandwiching the steel superstructure, with hinged leaves mitred like lock gates so that a shoulder would push them outwards.  IN SUMMER. 

In cold damp winter weather, wood swells and the window seals itself against cold draughts.  I triple-glazed it for insulation using tinted perspex inside and out which also reduces glare and resists steaming up.

In winter, outside air temperature has been recorded at -10ºC.  Inside the cabin, thanks to the Hampshire heater, it could be +20ºC. 

My Ships Carpenters did me proud.

There's a story about fire escape I like to tell.  Hugh Malet had a fire aboard his cruiser and I don't mean he had a fire on board to keep himself warm.  He set his engine alight and very nearly cindered Mary-Ann.  And himself.  Hugh was famous for his "Voyage in a Bowler Hat", a journal of an extraordinary trip from Limehouse to Limerick by Liverpool.  I keep a copy on board for reference.  I've no idea how many times I've read that book but it has been a constant inspiration on my own little adventures.  It inspired me to do "Dartford to Dartford via Dudley and Devizes" and also inspired my fire escape. 

​​​​​​Survival At All Costs
PENTARGON60906.CO.UK
And At No Cost At All
[email protected]
© MMXXiv
​Sufflaminandus sum