Bluewater Cockpits

[roger.waite]

Originally Posted by Bash

By the way, large sugar scoop cockpits drain far faster than small conventional cockpits, and are less likely to be pooped in the first place. Again, it's all about your own perceptions of safety.

As Bash says.

There are plenty of open stern yachts crossing oceans. You might just want to add netting or something to make sure you don't get flushed when the Gods pull the chain!

Small cockpits can, however, be a good way of getting extra space under the decks ...

[barnakiel]

A funny drift here people calling cc ugly or something. On a 6 footer, perhaps ;-))))

b.

[TAREUA]

My point is that an opinion is different from a fact. And since my opinion is different than yours Sailstoo, one opinion can't be universal. There are I think facts about cockpits, but opinions about the beauty of their placement, are subjective. Your opinion of beauty and mine are equally valid, just not universal.

[Pelagic]

I personally like an open cockpit at sea … meaning that you can walk into the cockpit from the side decks rather than having to climb over the cockpit seats to get to the helm or to sit down.

I do not like the sugar scoop or stepped transom because of the better security a high transom offers to prevent swimmers from easily boarding. (Think thieving kids or rascals)

Also, if a large following sea were to overtake on to the deck, I prefer a rounded canoe or reversed stern with maximum floatation and no scoops or sharp radiuses to affect steering

This also gives me a flat working deck and large below deck storage area to keep things off the deck in heavy weather or Typhoon preparation.

On SG we have a small combing all around to keep things from washing out, but also with very large freeing ports and scuppers in case we ever were in a foundering situation.

As often said, everything is a compromise and you choose based on your priorities and budget.

SG’s cockpit is a very social and comfortable space where we can enjoy the anchorage and the 2 of us often sleep there when we want to star gaze.

It is not suitable for a larger racing crew who are pushing the boat but very comfortable with 2 on watch, bracing against the steering column in heavy weather.

Of course, if it gets really nasty and dangerous up on deck, we go below, where there is a second steering position with good visibility, so honestly, not much I would change in our arrangement.

[James S]

Lovely...would sure like to see more pictures of your boat Pelagic!

[Liam Wald]

Sailstoo,
Thanks. I didn't get it at first (CC= center cockpit).

IMHO; there are lots of great looking center cockpit boats. I particularly like the TASWELL 43 and The NORSEMAN 447 just to name two.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

A funny drift here people calling cc ugly or something. On a 6 footer, perhaps ;-))))

b.

Not especially. It's all a matter of choice, but I would raise my hand to second the motion that CCs - except in very long waterlines - are generally unappealing to the eye.

[geko]

A large cockpit is definetly better, however what has to be determined is what volume of water can the allready fully provisioned boat handle if the cockpit is swamped. A Hood 23 has a large cockpit for her size and a swamped cockpit in heavy seas is a nightmare.

[Laidback]

What does 'Bluewater' mean ?

ISAF OFFSHORE SPECIAL REGULATIONS
Extract for Race Category 1 Monohulls
JANUARY 2010 - DECEMBER 2011

3.09.1 Cockpits shall be structurally strong, self-draining quickly by gravity at
all angles of heel and permanently incorporated as an integral part of
the hull.
3.09.2 Cockpits must be essentially watertight, that is, all openings to the hull
must be capable of being strongly and rigidly secured
3.09.3 A bilge pump outlet pipe shall not be connected to a cockpit drain . See
OSR 3.09.8 for cockpit drain minimum sizes
3.09.4 A cockpit sole shall be at least 2% LWL above LWL (or in IMS yachts
first launched before 1/03, at least 2% L above LWL)
3.09.5 A bow, lateral, central or stern well shall be considered a cockpit for the
purposes of OSR 3.09
3.09.6 In cockpits opening aft to the sea structural openings aft shall be not
less in area than 50% maximum cockpit depth x maximum cockpit
width.
3.09.7 Cockpit Volume
i) earliest of age or series date before April 1992
the total volume of all cockpits below lowest coamings shall not exceed
6% (LWL x maximum beam x freeboard abreast the cockpit).
ii) earliest of age or series date April 1992 and after
as above for the appropriate category except that "lowest coamings"
shall not include any aft of the FA station and no extension of a cockpit
aft of the working deck shall be included in calculation of cockpit
volume
IMS-rated boats may instead of the terms LWL, maximum beam,
freeboard abreast the cockpit, use the IMS terms L, B and FA.
3.09.8 Cockpit Drains
See OSR 3.09.1. Cockpit drain cross section area (after allowance for
screens if fitted) shall be:-
a) in yachts with earliest of age or series date before 1/72 or in any
yacht under 8.5m (28ft) LOA - at least that of 2 x 25mm diameter
(one inch) unobstructed openings or equivalent
b) in yachts with earliest of age or series date 1/72 and later - at least
that of 4 x 20mm diameter (3/4 inch) unobstructed openings or
equivalent

[MichaelC]

Went thru a nasty hurricane force storm off Cape Flattery. Submarined a douple of times when big waves broke over us, burying the boat. Welded aluminum, no cockpit at all, no sweat. Other than that, never had water on the stern deck. But that one time made Colvin's advice golden. No cockpit. I used deck chairs for comfort, and the boat sailed herself with sheet to tiller self steering. I know I am hopelessly addicted to traditional forms, but .... they worked for hundreds of years for good reason.

[Masoncruiser]

My wife and I have been cruising for the last five years and have covered a lot of miles in our Mason 63. I agree with several of the previous posts. Cruising with kids adds a different aspect to the safety issue. A center cockpit offers far better security which is the prime directive with kids on board. For extended off shore transits you will need space for at least two of you to spend extended periods in the cockpit. An enclosed cockpit with a good dodger/bimini will allow the crew to get through the rough spots in comfort as opposed to huddled in an exposed cockpit wet to the bone in foul weather gear. The mistique of sailing tends to disappear after several days of being wet and cold. Another major benefit to the enclosed cockpit is the ability to get below in nasty weather without getting water into the salon. Your wife and kids will really appreciate it. That brings up the second directive of extended cruising. KEEP HER HAPPY !
Illeene and Paul
S/V 10 Forward