[frostbit]

The boat can have some minimal headway to keep stability and still launch. Opening to the side offers less water resistance due to a smaller cross section than if the hatch opened fore and aft.

[Fred Hayek]

There is also a very large sonar transducer array in the bow that takes up nearly the whole diameter. It can hear a dolphin fart (redacted) miles away.

[george76]

Thank you