We use it occasionally for entertaining, mostly when the sun is shining over the stern on the
boat, so there is shade and breeze. When we have them aboard the young folk like to lie in the sun read
books etc, both underway and at
anchor. It is more comfy than the nets. The other reason we like them is that it is a great place to toss
mooring lines, fenders etc temporarily when getting under way or departing a
dock when short handed, without fear of them trailing over the side, slipping through a net etc to foul the props. I also use it as a place to lower the
spinnaker sock or
gennaker when it is a bit rough. Also it is a safer place to be when
furling the
gennaker in big seas.