All the things we don't like about our boat, which create more refit work :-( 

It is unique 😊 Ours does provide superb protection

Wow. Awesome to get feedback from someone who really knows what they are talking about on wheelhouse windows. I agree that the original cost would have been the decider. Especially as they only made about 6 of these, and I think it was their only model with a fixed screen. For us cost is going to be a big issue too. I assume a subsidiary issue is that a flat rectangular window can be easily replaced anywhere but a curved one can't?

@@SustainableSailing you're welcome :) Yeah, for boats that are made in low numbers it even more common to go with flat glass, usually curved glass can only be made in quantities, not necessarily very big quantities but usually more than just a few at least. The company I used to work for (it went under about 1,5 years ago), used to build windshields and other windows for yards like Najad, Malö and many other of the classic Swedish sailboat yards. Najad used to go for windscreen with all flat glass up until the latest generation of boats like the current N395, N440, N505 and the slightly earlier N570. Not sure if they even build any other boats than the N395 these days though :( So, flat segmented windscreens has been used even on fairly high end yachts, and can look pretty nice to, depending on the shape :) Of course, it's always going to be much easier to get hold of a spare glass if it is flat, and can be easier to do the actual swap. Tempered curved glass has only gotten harder to get hold of the last decade or so, unless one can order 100+ glasses or so. Cylindrically curved tempered can be had from 1 piece and up, but hard to find and pretty expensive :/. Yeah, we always had the pillars locked into upper and lower frames in one way or another. Sure, the glass itself is in many ways the main structure of a windscreen, at least if they are fully glued. But it is good to have the metal connection to take most loads, and use the glass mostly for stiffening it up. But, as you say, the whole hardtop has lasted ~50 years on your boat, so can't be completely wrong :) I can't say that I remember hearing about any windscreens we made that actually got broken by waves, and while we did the pillars differently, the frame system looks fairly similar. Even in windscreens where the glass panes are only mounted in rubber profiles, they are still very sturdy. All the broken ones I've seen have been things like dropped booms or other heavy stuff, driving tre boat into a low bridge or key (motorboats that is) or just recently I had I client that got his front glass (curved tempered glass of course) get shattered by a stone when he drove the RIB home on a trailer after having just bought it :) Luckily I had the drawings back from 2013 when we built those windows and could source and mount the new glass :) For most hardtops we've built, we usually built a selfsupported aluminum structure from CNC cut plates, and just mounted custom fitted cabinwindows. Turned out very good, made a few for refits on Hallberg Rassy 42s and similar.

Agree. We have decided to put in a straight chute initially as we are not going to build the bunk in the forecabin this year. Then we can see if we need a curve for bed clearance and test it all.

We have seen a few on RU-vid. Nice boats. Although we do like having the walk through to the aft cabin. I sailed on a Nicholson 26 quite a bit as a teenager with my Aunt and Uncle.