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05-09-2009, 12:37
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#1
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Budapest
Boat: orion 50
Posts: 205
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Heavy Weather Experience in Center / Aft Cockpits?
Who has experience in a 47+ footer aft cockpit in heavy weather AND also in a similar yacht Center cockpit and can share this with us
What after this experience would you advise us to buy?
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05-09-2009, 14:58
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 21,199
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Sailed a 46HR (cc) in heavy seas. No prob. Probably the way to go if you plan on a lot of downwind passages. I also like the better visibility from the cc.
However, mind that HRs have have that amazing permanent dodger. If you make a lot of upwind passages and if you do not have that amazing dodger then you may opt for an aft cockpit boat.
b.
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05-09-2009, 16:58
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Almería, ES
Boat: Chiquita 46 - Libertalia
Posts: 1,558
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What models are you considering?
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05-09-2009, 17:36
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Queensland
Boat: Peterson 46
Posts: 340
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I had days of 35-45ikn on the nose ( Cape York to Cooktown) in a Peterson 46 (cc). The soft dodger gave up the ghost when we cut through swells, but the boat loved it. We met some people who had crisscrossed the pacific in the same model as ours and they went through some horrible weather between Noumea and Bundaberg. The cc boat was fine. They had a hard dodger which is what we will eventually get as well.
I love cc (fairly aft cc) as they are near the clr of the boat = less movement than an aft cockpit. Less distance to cover to the mast for reefing etc.
Its just a preference thing.
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05-09-2009, 20:01
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Boat: 48' 1963 S&S yawl
Posts: 851
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My experience is that aft cockpit is drier when going at all to windward in heavy weather (when it makes a difference). Down wind, I don't think it'd make much difference. In really heavy weather, if you're on deck, you'll get wet.
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05-09-2009, 22:10
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: N.H.
Posts: 102
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CC are great
Is the aft cockpit drier ?? prolly a bit in heavy weather. Given a choice i would take the cc everytime. You are not usually under heavy weather conditions and so, you can put up with some wet for a while.
The CC gives you a few extras tht have already been mentioned , but what they didn't mention is how it effects the layout below...I love an aft main cabin ,,nothing better
Had a jeaneau 45 CCfor a few weeks and never had a problem ..loved every minute..sail one or two of each !
No better way to find out what suits you best ...but the very minor negs about the CC are far outweighed
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06-09-2009, 00:14
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#7
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always in motion is the future

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 20,159
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You CC lovers have to think again about that argument that CC gives nicer motion. It's the other way around. You are indeed close to the center in aft-fwd direction so you have less motion in pitching. But when the rolling starts you will find yourself much further from the axis and move much more than an aft cockpit.
And rolling is much worse than pitching so CC lovers should not come up with that argument really ;-)
Aft cockpit wetter than CC is a joke, right? Impossible to state that after having sailed both in heavy weather.
ciao!
Nick.
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06-09-2009, 00:44
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#8
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Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: We're technically refugees from our home in Yemen now living in Lebenon
Boat: 1978 CT48
Posts: 5,970
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Freeboard has a lot to do with how wet you get.
Their is also a big difference between heavy weather and heavy seas.
Being low in a small chop with a bit of a blow and no rain can get you soaked.
Being comfortable in heavy weather to me means staying dry.
In heavy seas it means staying low if the motion bothers you...otherwise free board is your friend and may help keep the green water off your lap.
__________________
James
S/V Arctic Lady
I love my boat, I can't afford not to!
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06-09-2009, 00:44
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#9
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,033
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ericvanduyn
Who has experience in a 47+ footer aft cockpit in heavy weather AND also in a similar yacht Center cockpit and can share this with us
What after this experience would you advise us to buy?
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Does not matter for heavy weather.
The only technical thing it effects is the steering. You have a longer run to the rudder post with a center cockpit, which can make designing the steering system a bit more difficult.
Otherwise it is an aesthetic trade-off - different outside look (I prefer the aft cockpit look) and different interior layout (more separate 'owners cabin' and often better engine room on center cockpit).
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06-09-2009, 02:00
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 211
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi
You CC lovers have to think again about that argument that CC gives nicer motion. It's the other way around. You are indeed close to the center in aft-fwd direction so you have less motion in pitching. But when the rolling starts you will find yourself much further from the axis and move much more than an aft cockpit.
And rolling is much worse than pitching so CC lovers should not come up with that argument really ;-)
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I'd agree with that. I've only sailed aft-cockpit designs (Rival 41, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37, etc) so my comments need to be taken in that context, but I've always understood that the rolling motion in CC designs feels worse due to the cockpit floors being higher than equivalent aft-cockpit designs and therefore the resulting pendulum effect is worse. If you're not convinced, watch the top of the mast when you're sailing downwind!
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06-09-2009, 09:44
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#11
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Budapest
Boat: orion 50
Posts: 205
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idpnd
What models are you considering?
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47+ made in Taiwan preferable during 80's
ta chaoy / Kaufmann and Ladd designed yachts
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06-09-2009, 09:57
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,769
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47 Passport aft cockpit: WET in heavy weather. Being up off the water has it's advantages unless you get seasick!
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06-09-2009, 10:28
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 21,199
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HCH - extremely good seagoing cockpit - comfy to tuck in, and drains in sec if pooped.
b.
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06-09-2009, 10:44
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#14
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Budapest
Boat: orion 50
Posts: 205
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WHAT IS 'HCH' ?
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06-09-2009, 11:13
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: house-North Vancouver BC boat-barra de navidad
Boat: c&c landfall 43
Posts: 120
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just my 2 cents, I own a c/c - c&c landfall 43 and I have raced for the last 3 years on sports boats and racer cruisers with low free board and aft cockpits. This aug I sailed my boat from vancouver to san fran and we had some moderate weather for the last 3 days to san fran, 30 to 35 knots and 10 to 15' breaking seas. The one thing the crew were happy with was knowing that because of the higher free board and being a center cockpit none of us were even close to getting wet, especially during night watches when you just couldn't see the bigger waves behind you about to break on the stern. I think the motion would have been the same on either type of boat but being dry makes it fun. you can see some video at sv rockstar.com
limmer
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