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Old 11-11-2007, 06:56   #1
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Australian Designed Cats Helm Position

Having looked at many makes of Australian/New Zealand designed and built catamarans, they mostly seem to have the helm position low down against the cabin bulkhead, which appears to me that when helming you either have to stand on something, sticking your head out of the bimini while holding the steering wheel down by your knees, otherwise you sit down and look throught the saloon back and front windows, which to me makes it very difficult to see the sails, the four corners etc,etc, ie uncomforatble and not very practical.
If I am wrong about my assumptions, I would clearly like to be put right by owners/designers etc of the Australian/New Zealand designed catamarans whoi can explain the benefits to me.
Thanking you in anticipation.
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Old 11-11-2007, 11:39   #2
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It will be interesting to hear the responses as I have been wondering the same thing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of placing the helm in the various possible locations?
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Old 11-11-2007, 15:45   #3
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The ninety percent answer - it doesnt matter where you put them, the boats on autopilot most of the time. The other 10% answer, in the part of the world I am you absolutely need to have sun protection at the helm if you are steering, that may be less of an issue for other people in other places.
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Old 11-11-2007, 22:43   #4
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Helm positions can be tricky on cats. I think that the best solution is to have two, one for each tack, looking down each side of the boat. (Which is my intention) Another option is to have one or two raised positions overlooking the cabin top. As factor said, at least 90% of the time I plan to have the autopilot steering (unless I am racing)
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Old 12-11-2007, 02:06   #5
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Originally Posted by Factor View Post
The ninety percent answer - it doesnt matter where you put them, the boats on autopilot most of the time. The other 10% answer, in the part of the world I am you absolutely need to have sun protection at the helm if you are steering, that may be less of an issue for other people in other places.
Yes, I fully understand and agree that the autopilot could and maybe is used 90% of the time, but when you compare the helm position of the OZ/NZ boats to the French/SA/UK/USA built cats which enable the helmsman to either sit or stand with a comfortable and good viewing position and in most cases (unless you have a Catana or Nautitech where they are positioned out on the hulls) they can or are protected from a bimini, they are different as per my original posting and just wondered as to the reasoning - I am not being critical just curiousand interested.
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Old 12-11-2007, 03:13   #6
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I guess its partly what you're used to. I sail a Seawind 1000, I love the sheltered helm position, and I look at the Euro cats (and a few Aussie cats) with high exposed helm positions and think "I don't want that". I sometimes sit out to the side, like the mono guys do, if its good weather, and can still helm just fine. Otherwise, I'm out of the sun and out of the wind at the normal helm position. Aussie cats generally have excellent forward visibility through the saloon windows, which is a big factor. And the Seawinds have twin wheels, so I just swap sides when I need to. I sail in Bass Strait and I wouldn't want to be sitting up high with my head sticking out of the bimini when it cuts up bad!!
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Old 12-11-2007, 04:51   #7
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I drive a cat and while in the market looked at a ton of different helm positions and liked few of them. As cats have morphed into high bridge decks with main saloon at the same level as the cockpit, the deck house has increasingly become a barrier to visibility forward.

Twin helms on Privileges address this fairly well.

Manta and some other offer a raised helm bench/seat that requires climbing up and down if you are doing some vigorous sailing (tacking in close quarters short handed), but cruising is fairly easy.

Our Prout has a lower profile and we have a hard dodger. The up side is we have nice weather shelter, but the down side is that I either have to stand to see over the deck house or mount a helm chair, which I dislike when sailing actively. Anything that clutters up the cockpit is on my list of "don't likes."

The hard dodger makes it hard to feel the wind and although there are windows above it is hard to get a good view of sail trim.

There are some cats with the helm forward, which is great for visibility but offers no weather protection.

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Old 09-03-2008, 09:19   #8
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Lagoon 41 Helm Position

I lived aboard my Lagoon 41 in the eastern Caribeean for a year. I found the single cockpit helm location to be excellent. Great visibility and protection from weather with the dodger zipped up and under the bimini. If the weather was good, you could unzip the dodger and feel the wonderful breeze. On autopilot, the helm was a great "two seater" place to sit either solo or with a companion and watch the waves go by.
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Old 11-03-2008, 01:54   #9
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An aussi-made cat with a raised helm position that offers seating for two visibility over both hulls, back and front as well as protection from the elements. On the 38 that I have presently it has clears alround - zipp off easily. On the new 45 that they are building for us we get a forward opening hardened glass window and removable clears for the sides.
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Old 11-03-2008, 08:19   #10
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My helm is just a wee bit strbrd of the mast. When docking I would love better visibility. I try to dock stern in which gives fantastic visibility. If I do come bow in I can see my strbrd bow through the house. For the port bow my wife uses her hands as an indication of distance. Once again everything is a compromise....
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Old 01-04-2008, 03:38   #11
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I own a fusion 40 with steering positions out were they SHOUD BE and those members are are right. I still use the autopilot 90 percent of the time, but when things get tuff you have the option to see you sail trim and more importantly when the **** hits the fan, smoke the main sheet, kit sheet, you can do what you have to. When getting long side no guess work, take a line to the cleet, put a fender over, there are many things. On SHELLAC for me it is all about saftey saftey saftey. All I can if you WANTa power cat 'buy one'.
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Old 01-04-2008, 05:26   #12
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I would think that under different conditions the steering position SHOULD BE in different positions. Of course that is just my humble opinion.....
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