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hoppy · 29-08-2011, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boracay

The Cyclades looks to be a bigger boat for the same LOA.

There is a Cyclades 393 moored near me. At first i thought the Cyclades was a spec'ed down Oceanis 393 but then i noticed it has a twin helm.

Surfer Girl · 30-08-2011, 01:04

Yeah, gotta say I love twin helm boats - my Dufour 43 was twin helm. It really is nice to have the choice to helm sitting on the high rail if you want to be extra attentive to wind shifts closed hauled or the other way around, relax and cruise helming on the low side where it's much easier to stand comfortably braced at the wheel. It can also help manoevering in tight marinas under power....

dennisail · 30-08-2011, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer Girl

Yeah, gotta say I love twin helm boats - my Dufour 43 was twin helm. It really is nice to have the choice to helm sitting on the high rail if you want to be extra attentive to wind shifts closed hauled or the other way around, relax and cruise helming on the low side where it's much easier to stand comfortably braced at the wheel. It can also help manoevering in tight marinas under power....

Gives more options to be in the shade and offers some redundancy too. It certainly is spec'ed down over an Oceanis in most ways other than the twin helms as far as I can see. It doesn't even come with a traveler or vang. Which is a pretty bad combination of things to not have. I think I would at least fit a vang.

hoppy · 30-08-2011, 09:49

There is probably not much redundancy with the twin helm as (at least on my so40) the helms share the same cable to the rudder.

I think it looks cool

but on the practical side i can sit on the rail an steer without stretching an when moored med style i have easy access. The downside is that i had to fit a second set of ST60's and may add a second ST6002 autohelm controller.

Have you thought about the kitchen layout? Many charter boats seem to have the galley along the side which seems to be less preferable when making long passages an cooking at sea.

dennisail · 30-08-2011, 17:06

Why did you have to fit 2 sets of autopilots? Wont one work? One cable on 2 wheels seems to be another way to save a small amount of money to loose out on a lot safety. Yes the galley on most charter boats is not good. That's another compromise the designers chose as 99.99% of journeys their boats wont require cooking under way in lumpy conditions.

hoppy · 30-08-2011, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennisail

Why did you have to fit 2 sets of autopilots? Wont one work?

Have not done it yet, but i am only talking about duplicating the controller unit an not the course computer or steering unit. It's just a matter of convinience (lasyness) to be able to turn on/off or adjust the AP from the port helm. I like sitting at the helm even when not touching the wheel.

**Jim Cate** · 30-08-2011, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoppy

Have not done it yet, but i am only talking about duplicating the controller unit an not the course computer or steering unit. It's just a matter of convinience (lasyness) to be able to turn on/off or adjust the AP from the port helm. I like sitting at the helm even when not touching the wheel.

How about a remote controller? Usually much cheaper than a whole additional display/control unit, and little if any wiring required. And you can use it from other places than the alternate helm as well.

Cheers,

Jim

Aussie_Sequoia · 30-08-2011, 18:12

I was just looking at a 40' Jennie with two helms... I thought it was excessive and could be a waste of entertainment/hang-out space - but it's nice to read about some other's thoughts... now I think it's a great idea.

Surfer Girl · 30-08-2011, 18:53

Well the other good thing about twin helms, if you like the cockpit space idea, is that they actually open the cockpit up - uninterrupted through access from companionway to transom; no big central wheel, binnacle or instrument pod in the way.
When living aboard and cruising, we found this to be really practical. loading/unloading the tender at the transom, for the kids to play at anchor jumping off and swimming, etc.

savoir · 30-08-2011, 19:21

It means that the bimini might be fairly large, unless the skipper wants a tan.

Is a big wide bimini good or bad ? Not sure.

dennisail · 30-08-2011, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by savoir

It means that the bimini might be fairly large, unless the skipper wants a tan.

Is a big wide bimini good or bad ? Not sure.

Depends which way you look at it. With twin helms there will almost always be one which is in the shade provided you are OK with steering from the low side. EG If you are sailing in a N direction with a E - NE wind in the morning chances are you will be in the sun with a single helm unless the bimini is massive. This certainly applies the more narrow ended yachts I have been in anyway where the Bimini is small. Most of the time you will be in the sun. I'm sure this effect is lessened with modern production boats with a massive ass end and therefore bimini.

hoppy · 30-08-2011, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussie_Sequoia

I was just looking at a 40' Jennie with two helms... I thought it was excessive and could be a waste of entertainment/hang-out space - but it's nice to read about some other's thoughts... now I think it's a great idea.

The space behind the single helm is lost anyway. If you have a fold up chair you can always place it between the helms so one more can sit at the table

With the twim there is no squeezing between the seeat an the wheel or climbing on the seat to get to the helm and i can sit exactly where i want to be.

The only down side i have found is that you lose the length in the seat so you cannot lay down sraight and during berthing manouvours you have to stay to starboard when throttle control is required but so far these are just minor inconviniences

hoppy · 30-08-2011, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by savoir

It means that the bimini might be fairly large, unless the skipper wants a tan.

Is a big wide bimini good or bad ? Not sure.

On all of the boats i looked at the bimini was a wide as the stern regardless on the number of helms.

SurferShane · 31-08-2011, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennisail

Nikki is not a fan of Beneteau. Looks nice though. But does not have much cruising gear if any. Most of those production yachts just out of charter will having rigging over 10 years old necessitating all new rigging. How much will that cost for 40FT boat in the US?

Hate to say, but for the popular production boats Beneteau seem to have one of the better reputations.

I was looking at May 2011 Cruising World magazine last night and there were heaps of good late model 45-46’ Beneteaus and Hunters going for around 150k US. A bit of bargaining and they might be in your price range. These included some real nice 2008 model 46’ Hunter deck salons that would have a very attractive resale value over here. Some of them were ex-charter in the Virgin Islands.

I know you (Dennis) are not keen on the Hunters at the moment, nonetheless, I am wondering if anyone could fill us in on their reputation? From what I can gather they are a decently built US production boat with a good report in Australia?