Pilothouse Variations -- Boreal

[DDabs]

Reels of line on spools is common for boats on that side of the pond. They could be attached to stern anchors.

As for sitting, there are no seats behind the wheels but there is seating on the side of the cockpit behind the wheel, where you could still steer. That enclosure still allows you to sail and have a dedicated dry seat behind the dodger.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by DDabs

Reels of line on spools is common for boats on that side of the pond. They could be attached to stern anchors. . . .

That's a specifically Baltic thing. The line is often webbing -- "Ancrolina".

The shores are often steep-to in the Baltic, and they like to throw out an anchor from the stern and nose in bow-first, stepping right off onto the ground from their bows.

Also marinas in the Baltic are bows-to (rather than stern-to like in the Med), and if there are no buoys, you use a stern anchor.

Some Baltic boats even have an electric windlass and anchor roller on the transom.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

...Some Baltic boats even have an electric windlass and anchor roller on the transom.

This is a good idea, anyway.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

That's a specifically Baltic thing. The line is often webbing -- "Ancrolina".

The shores are often steep-to in the Baltic, and they like to throw out an anchor from the stern and nose in bow-first, stepping right off onto the ground from their bows.

Also marinas in the Baltic are bows-to (rather than stern-to like in the Med), and if there are no buoys, you use a stern anchor.

Some Baltic boats even have an electric windlass and anchor roller on the transom.

Interesting!

[DDabs]

yes, quite! thanks Dockhead.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Out of curiosity! What are the spools of line in the pic to the left?

As stated by others....they are shore lines, but Patagonian not Baltic.

[Polux]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Can anyone explain the logic in this setup? It an 'X Yachts of Denmark' or so it says on the side.
Stuck out the back like Jackie.... bugger all visibility ahead ( bugger all visibility from inside either )..... weird.... and yes...its also 'open transom'...

This is a anchorage/marina set up to maximize "interior" warm space.

All the boats and all the sailors are not the same and most x yacht are performance boats for sportive sailors that like to sail the boat from the outside, enjoying a direct steerage system instead of the dead feeling of an hydraulic interior steering position.

Regarding no sitting position I don't understand what you mean, a sportive boat is steered from the side (sitting) where is the best position regarding view and boat control.


Some performance cruisers come with an option of a full back seat but that takes space for a good lateral position and is really only good for motoring.

My boat come with one of those that has a double function as "passarella". It is for sale if someone wants a nice piece, on the heavy side. I never used it except as a "passarella". Always on the side of the boat and it makes the use of the gennaker more dificult.

[Polux]

That's better

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Polux

That's better

Design flaw, cockpit seats are misplaced

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

As stated by others....they are shore lines, but Patagonian not Baltic.

I loved your pic of the coast of Chile. The Google maps of their location was neat. Looked a little cool or chilly for me. Pun intended. Some beautiful places. Thanks for posting the link.

[Panope]

Originally Posted by Polux

Somebody help me understand how the helms-person has good all around visibility when this boat is healed.

If steering from the "high side", the head sail blocks a significant portion of the view ahead and to port. If steering for the "low side", the hull (being wide) blocks EVERYTHING to starboard.

What am I missing?

Steve

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Panope

Somebody help me understand how the helms-person has good all around visibility when this boat is healed.

If steering from the "high side", the head sail blocks a significant portion of the view ahead and to port. If steering for the "low side", the hull (being wide) blocks EVERYTHING to starboard.

What am I missing?

Steve

You are missing that Pollux, like all sportive sailors, has Superman's X-ray vision...

Jim

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Panope

......

What am I missing?

Steve

Not half as much as the helmsman is

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Panope

Somebody help me understand how the helms-person has good all around visibility when this boat is healed.

If steering from the "high side", the head sail blocks a significant portion of the view ahead and to port. If steering for the "low side", the hull (being wide) blocks EVERYTHING to starboard.

What am I missing?

Steve

That's what I might have thought before trying it. I spent a day on a Swan 60 with twin wheels, and I really liked the steering arrangement. The headsail blocks your view far less, from the outboard steering position, even when heeled. You have a far better view ahead. It's true you can't see under the jib to leeward, but you can't see under the jib to leeward on any boat, even on mine with a high cut yankee. You might see 10 or 15 meters in that direction, versus 0 -- which makes no practical difference.

And seeing the pontoon while berthing is fabulous, from a twin wheel boat. I really like it. I think it's the way to go (unless you can have a tiller, which is even better). It also opens up the cockpit wonderfully.

Mind you, that's the ONLY thing I like about the boat depicted. That deck would be awful in the kind of weather we get up here.

[Panope]

Dockhead, I guess I am somewhat of an outlier when it comes to keeping a lookout, in that I believe visibility should be given more importance than it typically is. I hate the way my wife's car (Prius) A-pillars are unnecessarily placed far forward and therefore obstructing significant forward visibility. Hate the way many small aircraft are blind over the nose in a climb. And I am sure I would hate having to leave my seat at the helm and walk to the other side of that wide boat to see around the jib.

Adding a pilothouse complicates the matter even further as not only does the windward rail rise into the view, the leeward pilothouse-roof lowers down into the view. The solution to this problem is to either have lots of skylights/viewports in the roof or have extremely tall side windows.

I suppose that out on the open sea, a large swell will cause enough rolling motion to give regular peek-a-boo views. In-shore/flat water - no such luck, and that is where most of the things to hit are located.

Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_rIkWo0mhA