advantages of a center cockpit - if any

[Mike OReilly]

My previous boat was a 34' CC (ketch). My current boat is a 37' aft-cockpit cutter. I like them both, so this would not be a critical deciding factor. There are other factors that are far more important: build quality, hull/deck construction, hull/keel/rudder design, rigging, deck layout, storage, etc...

I liked my CC for:
- spacious aft cabin; A much better place to be, even while underway.
- better engine access than my aft cockpit
- very secure cockpit
- smaller apparent boat looking forward (easier to dock ... at least for me).
- more bulk storage

I disliked my CC for:
- smaller main cabin (although, to be honest, it was never an issue for us)
- having to climb through the cockpit to access the aft cabin
- slightly wetter ride
- poor emergency tiller placement (quadrant in aft cabin)

[kbudd]

My wife talked me into a center cockpit ketch and for me I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It has a huge engine room with plenty of room for a water heater, air conditioner, inverter, batteries, and all kinds of tools and spares. There is definitely less cabin space because of that but the salon and galley are big enough and the aft cabin is great. We can get away from the kids and other guests. I don't think the motion is any worse than an aft cockpit and I find that it is definitely dryer because you are higher up and protected by an enclosure. All in all it is a very livable boat and sails pretty well. Ketches do not go upwind very well but who wants to anyway. Downwind we fly a spinnaker and mizzen staysail and generally move along quite well. All boats are a compromise. I would suggest sailing on as many different types as you can and then buy a Gunboat 66

[David_Old_Jersey]

Overall it's personal choice and how you rate the plusses and minuses.

Higher cockpit is not an issue if you don't have a walkthrough (walk / crouch?! under) like mine. Albeit at 30' lots of tradeoffs for the CC, when bought I was happy to make them, principally for the seperate Mr & Mrs in port sleeping area - not so much for privacy more to do with being untidy! - now? I have a very large walk in locker! (not to be sniffed at though!)........but aft cabin / CC was not the main reasons for buying her.

Would I buy another CC? maybe, but not neccessarily - very much depends on the boat and how done (and how it worked for me).

As said already, yer pays yer money etc etc