Hi Scott - Right now ours are in storage ashore, all 16 of them, some as large as 42 X 22. You don't want that size hole in your boat! We didn't put them on for our voyage to Trinidad, but if we were going to be there during H season we would, if only as a hedge against flying objects while in the mangroves somewhere. Put them on and leave them on - we think that's the best place to store them. That's what the PO did on his C. Horn passage from Washington State to Rhode Island. Otherwise, we like the rack idea, but why would you cover them with Sunbrella-aren't they Lexan? Regards, John "Seahorse" Message: 4 Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:40:58 -0700 From: "Scott Bulger" <scottebulger@gmail.com> Subject: [PUP] To: "Passagemaking Under Power List" <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> Message-ID: <002801c7ce00$a89753c0$f9c5fb40$@com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I'm currently provisioning my N40 for an extended journey. One of the saloon storage areas is currently occupied with the storm panels for the saloon windows. Since my route is predominantly coastal with limited offshore exposure, should I consider removing the storm panels from the boat? It would free up considerable storage room for provisions and spares. My thought was that they only help me if they are installed and I don't see myself making any trips of enough exposure that I would depart with them in place. An alternative to removing them from the boat is to build a rack to hold them on the boat deck, then cover them with sunbrella. Considered opinions on the frequency of use and access requirements for storm panels would be greatly appreciated. Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour