Heavy Weather Experience in Center / Aft Cockpits?

[andreavanduyn]

do you have a deep cockpit?

Get the idea that above 46 feet the opinions/ experience change

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by ericvanduyn

Get the idea that above 46 feet the opinions/ experience change

Hi Eric,

We don't have a big boat, nor a CC, but I think you might be onto something about the above 46 footers. And it may be socio-economic of the owner that forms attitudes. We find that some of our friends who have fairly modern 46+ footers are quite financially secure. The lure of the large aft bedroom and the large galley is quite strong.

As more aft cockpit boats of good size begin to make larger aft cabins it will balance out. But if theres money to throw down now then the CC big apartment feel aft cabin wins.

[anotherT34C]

Naive question: How do you CC guys see around your genoa?

[s/v Jedi]

Good question T34! I guess they have no need to see around the genoa and think we should be able to come up with reasons for that ;-)

ciao!
Nick.

[andreavanduyn]

feel that your point hits the jackpot; understand and appreciate
thanks

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by anotherT34C

Naive question: How do you CC guys see around your genoa?

Mine is a cutter so like most cutters the genoa is high cut enabling easy visibility underneath.
If the staysail is used it is lower cut but doesn't extend out very far. From the nav table and galley I can see out of the pilothouse windows (in fact 360 degrees) including under the staysail.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

You know still raining- for a really accurate comparison you and I need to cruise together in the same weather and compare at the end of the day. My Valiant vs your Irwin. And then dock at Friday Harbor and see who gets the most Dungeness
BTW, are we still planning on October?

Sounds good..

[limmer]

most c/c are cruising boats and most cruisers have a high cut head sail for visibility. On both c/c and aft cockpit boats with a deck sweeping 130 or an over lapping 150% head sail, visibility is tough. obviously more with a c/c.

[S&S]

Originally Posted by anotherT34C

Naive question: How do you CC guys see around your genoa?

Turn the boat, take a peek, turn back. We have an aft cockpit.

[Dockhead]

Of course it's a matter of taste. I like Porsche 911's because you sit way forward and have a panoramic view -- you can see the road disappearing under the front bumper. I always adjust the seat of all my cars to their highest position, although I am not short and it sometimes means that my head touches the headliner. I hate Corvettes because you sit way back in the back and low down and have to peer out over the long hood to try to figure out what is going on up front. To add insult to injury, your ass is almost over the rear axle and gets jolted every time you go over a bump. But that's just me -- other people love their Vettes.

Likewise center cockpits. I love the view -- what can I say? I just feel good there. And I like having the after deck to walk around on.

Other aspects are relatively minor in comparison. Yes, you have to crane your neck a bit to see the mainsail (if I had better sail trim skills, I might even care). But as someone said, seeing forward is no problem because of the high cut yankee of the cutter rig. Having the boom set high is no problem -- we're not racing. It's great not to worry about being decapitated in case of an accidental gybe. And it's great having the traveller BEHIND the cockpit, so you can operate absolutely everything from the cockpit, with winches and lines arranged all around -- what a fantastic working space. And being closer to the genny cars, and the mast.

I won't compare to our aft cockpit boat which is almost 20 feet shorter, for the reasons we've discussed. The bows are further away from the center cockpit of our 55 foot cc than they are from the aft cockpit of our old, 37 foot boat. Plus the bigger boat has double the freeboard, and a fixed windshield. So it's vastly dryer, and altogether plenty dry for us. (I'm not advocating high freeboard, by the way, but it does contribute to dryness.)

I won't even get into the layout below, which others have covered well enough.

Horses for courses.