diff --git a/xdoc/plugin.properties b/xdoc/plugin.properties
index fd1770df..5c8e8074 100644
--- a/xdoc/plugin.properties
+++ b/xdoc/plugin.properties
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ maven.xdoc.poweredby.image=maven-propaganda.png
 maven.xdoc.poweredby.title=Powered by Maven
 maven.xdoc.poweredby.url=http://maven.apache.org/
 
+# The width of the navigation column
+maven.ui.navcol.width = 20%
 
 #
 # UI Color Prefs
diff --git a/xdoc/src/plugin-resources/site.jsl b/xdoc/src/plugin-resources/site.jsl
index 4bfabdf3..41480c98 100644
--- a/xdoc/src/plugin-resources/site.jsl
+++ b/xdoc/src/plugin-resources/site.jsl
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
         <!-- Body of the page -->
         <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" width="100%"> <!--id="main" -->
           <tr valign="top">
-            <td id="leftcol" width="20%">
+            <td id="leftcol" width="${maven.ui.navcol.width}">
               <div id="navcolumn">
                 <j:if test="${date == 'navigation-top'}">
                   <div>
diff --git a/xdoc/xdocs/properties.xml b/xdoc/xdocs/properties.xml
index 8f5ed53a..df466151 100644
--- a/xdoc/xdocs/properties.xml
+++ b/xdoc/xdocs/properties.xml
@@ -260,6 +260,15 @@
             (gray).
           </td>
         </tr>
+        <tr>
+          <td>maven.ui.navcol.width</td>
+          <td>Yes</td>
+          <td>
+            Specifies the width for the navigation column.  The 
+            default value is <code>20%</code>
+            (gray).
+          </td>
+        </tr>
         <tr>
           <td>maven.ui.breadcrumbs.background</td>
           <td>Yes</td>