Helm Visibility - Forward sailing cockpit cats

[tp12]

A very good day to you all

Can someone here with a forward sailing cockpit, like a Chris White Atlantic, comment on the visibility from the helm? I'm particularly interested on backing into a slip and seeing the rear corners.

It seems to me that this would be the biggest drawback of forward cockpits? I understand that there are joystick systems and the like now that would allow you to go stand anywhere but I also like the idea of taking a tiller, plugging it into a rudder, and backing in that way?

Am I solving a problem that isn't really a problem? Or is my lust for carbon fibre creeping out to justify a beautiful, shiny, carbon tiller 😀

[BigBeakie]

Since you haven't had any responses, I'll bite.

Why not use a wide angle rear parking camera system mounted on the aft edge of the bimini?

[44'cruisingcat]

Backing into a pen you generally have the rudders centred and manoeuvre using the engines.

So the carbon tiller might no get a run...

[smj]

Originally Posted by BigBeakie

Since you haven't had any responses, I'll bite.



Why not use a wide angle rear parking camera system mounted on the aft edge of the bimini?

Just my opinion but if you feel the need to mount a camera system to gain visibility it means the cat wasn’t well designed.

[tp12]

Originally Posted by BigBeakie

Since you haven't had any responses, I'll bite.

Why not use a wide angle rear parking camera system mounted on the aft edge of the bimini?

Do they come in carbon? [emoji16]

It makes sense ... But carbon tiller

[tp12]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Backing into a pen you generally have the rudders centred and manoeuvre using the engines.

So the carbon tiller might no get a run...

A remote for the throttles might be the go then. I'm sure I can get a carbon box...

Ideally you'd be able to see well enough but I guess there's not many forward sailing cockpit cat owners here. Probably have to go to SA for the gunboat crowd.

[thinwater]

Like backing a large truck or pulling a large cat in, if you know where one side is you don't need to see the other. Look before you back, and then watch one side. The other side will be X feet over.

[mikereed100]

We have a forward cockpit, but steer from inside the cabin, or 'pilothouse' if you will. Visibility is not an issue. I can see all 4 corners from the helm. I think most forward cockpit boats such as CW and Gunboat have provision for inside steering so should be similar. Don't despair, however. There are lots of outlets for carbon fiber lust on any cat.

[tp12]

Originally Posted by mikereed100

We have a forward cockpit, but steer from inside the cabin, or 'pilothouse' if you will. Visibility is not an issue. I can see all 4 corners from the helm. I think most forward cockpit boats such as CW and Gunboat have provision for inside steering so should be similar. Don't despair, however. There are lots of outlets for carbon fiber lust on any cat.

Thank you for the comforting words [emoji16]