Galley up or Down

[Whimsical]

The vast majority of cats seem to be getting built with the galley up.

My thought is that this would be preferable for short stays such as the charter industry. As a full time liveaboard vessel I see many benefits for the galley to be down.

What do the cruisers here think, especially those who have lived with both.

The designer of my boat offers a pre cut kit for the galley up but not down. This will mean a lot of extra work to remodel the center section. I know I am nuts but am I nuts to do it.

Mike

[Evan]

Galley up - better ventilation and better view for the cook

Galley down - less motion, probably more storage space (what else are you going to do with that space near the middle of the boat)?. Hide the dirty dishes after dinner so they are not in your face while you socialize.

I much prefer galley down.

[Kiwikat]

In our apartment our galley (Kitchen) is the centre of all things good, so we a have large open plan living area and balcony etc. We will expect no less when we eventually purchase our catamaran.
The skipper would also appreciate being able to make a coffee or tea while on watch without a mad dash up and down the steps (as the crew gets some beauty sleep).
We have a mono hull now and there is no "galley down" to hide the dirty dishes in. Like a "galley up", we can do the dishes and still socialise (sometimes even the guests may help).

Galley up? Way to go!!!!!!!!!

Lisa and Clyde

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Evan

Galley up - better ventilation and better view for the cook

Galley down - less motion, probably more storage space (what else are you going to do with that space near the middle of the boat)?. Hide the dirty dishes after dinner so they are not in your face while you socialize.

I much prefer galley down.

I'm with you Evan,

though my hull shape restricts the size of the bridgedeck panel somewhat making galley down an only choice.

Dave

[Kiwikat]

Two of our mates, both experienced offshore cat sailors have just built themselves 46' galley up cats with short handed long term cruising in mind. I guess it's just a personal preference. Try it before you buy it, as they say.

Good Luck with whichever way you decide to go!!

[Whimsical]

Originally Posted by Evan

Galley up - better ventilation and better view for the cook

Galley down - less motion, probably more storage space (what else are you going to do with that space near the middle of the boat)?. Hide the dirty dishes after dinner so they are not in your face while you socialize.

I much prefer galley down.

These are the usual pros for each

Galley up also has better socialisation for the cook.
But out cruising do people notice these benefits on a day to day basis.
In the tropics a lot of cooking is likely to be done outside on the BBQ.

My current lifestyle revolves more around a PC and I have a 5yo daughter that will be boat schooled. Combine these with a nice foreward facing helm/nav/computer station and I see a lot more utility in the gally down nav up variant.

I must make a decision in the next few months as I want to fit out the internal furniture before any of the topsides get built.

Mike

[Moby Dick]

Galley up if you actually sail. Being able to keep watch while cooking is an overwhelming benefit.

[Harriet]

I've had both, and galley up wins. I don't like trying to bring hot foods up the stairs to the main salon while some stupid power boater passes by throwing a sizeable wake. Besides, I feel like a servant with a galley down. Although you cannot (and I'm not sure you should) keep watch while cooking on our cat, it is much easier to serve and clear without all those trips up and down. As for dirty dishes in view, it doesn't bother us.

[Harriet]

I've had both, and galley up wins. I don't like trying to bring hot foods up the stairs to the main salon while some stupid power boater passes by throwing a sizeable wake. Besides, I feel like a servant with a galley down. Although you cannot (and I'm not sure you should) keep watch while cooking on our cat, it is much easier to serve and clear without all those trips up and down. As for dirty dishes in view, it doesn't bother us.

[sv_makai]

We like galley up. Frees up more storage and sleeping space in the hulls. Better view and ventilation.

On passages it is much easier to jump into the galley make somthing nibble on a still keep a good watch. I wouldn't want to be climbing up and down any more steps than I had to in rough weather.

Oh and the last....That is what the Admiral Likes!

[DtM]

Galley up.

More visibility , more sociable

[SeaKing]

Our last cat was a galley down and now we have an UP. I like the up better for many reasons. Ease to be on watch and still be able to get to galley for a drink or snack. Much more pleasant for working in the galley. When in the galley down you miss more sights, many times I saw something that my wife never saw because she was busy down below in the galley but now she can just look up. Also the social aspect, whoever is in the galley is not stuck down all alone working. Then there is the privacy aspect if someone is sleeping in the hull below on the same side as the galley it can be a little to a lot noisier.

Galley Up....Galley Up....Galley Up....Galley Up

Oh yes and the wife does like it best.

[JusDreaming]

We have galley down and prefer that. We don't spend much time in the galley, usually while at anchor. If we are under way we prepare stuff before shoving off. It provides more storage and gives the appearance of two separate areas. Makes the salon much larger which is where we spend the majority of our time.

[SeaKing]

On our PDQ the galley down was best for the size of the boat. I think that the size of the boat has an effect where the galley up doesn't take too much of the salon space. Not necessarly the length but the beam. Our current 27' beam allows for a nice salon/galley all weather entertaining area in addition to cockpit and deck spaces.

Best thing is to keep the misses happy, we didn't change until she liked the layout. When looking for our next cat we(my wife) were looking for a galley down until we saw our Voyage, that did it.

[Whimsical]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

On our PDQ the galley down was best for the size of the boat. I think that the size of the boat has an effect where the galley up doesn't take too much of the salon space. Not necessarly the length but the beam. Our current 27' beam allows for a nice salon/galley all weather entertaining area in addition to cockpit and deck spaces.

I think this is a big part of my uncertainty.
With a 23 foot beam I feel the settee and the galley are both a little small with the galley up, your extra 4 feet would fix the problem.
I am also a minimalistic sort of cook, the less time in the galley the better. Underway i couldn't envisage complex meals and at anchor the galley slave shouldn't miss too much.
A complex decision so I will keep pondering.
Please keep the thoughts coming.
Mike