Outremer 45, do they have a helm enclosure?

[ShoreFun]

Watching Sailing La Vagabond I see the Outremer has a very exposed helm.

What do you do in bad weather? Do they have something to enclose it?

Thanks.

[Thalas]

Very few cats come with an enclosure as a standard option. A few offer an official bimini from the factory (Lagoon does offer one I believe). The FP soft and hard top biminis and clears you see are aftermarket 3rd party.

Outremer prioritizes weight savings as they prefer speed over comfort. As such, even their cockpit hardtop is very narrow with fabric extending to each side to keep weight down. As with all things boaty, you can have anyone build anything to your preference. La Vagabonde has just decided not to. The Helia 44 in Out Chasing Stars and the Leopard 48 in Happy Together both use a hard bimini and full clears for serious protection from the elements.

[Matt Johnson]

In nasty weather you just helm via the autopilot. You set it for wind angle or direction and keep watch from inside doing visual checks when needed.

Matt

[ShoreFun]

So if you are no where near a safe harbor and the autopilot breaks (what are the odds? you are getting full blown wet.

Fun. Well that answers that question. Thanks for answering!!

[Training Wheels]

Sailing actually used to be an outside sport.

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

Sailing actually used to be an outside sport.

And everyone rode horses in the rain and snow but things change.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

Sailing actually used to be an outside sport.

Sailing for sport- yes
Passagemaking in bad weather- no

Matt

[Augi]

Originally Posted by ShoreFun

So if you are no where near a safe harbor and the autopilot breaks (what are the odds? you are getting full blown wet.

Fun. Well that answers that question. Thanks for answering!!

A lot of cruisers carry a spare auto pilot or have a wind vane as a back up. But I don't think you can rig a wind vane on Cat or if you can it is likely more complicated than on a mono.

[Augi]

Originally Posted by ShoreFun

So if you are no where near a safe harbor and the autopilot breaks (what are the odds? you are getting full blown wet.

Fun. Well that answers that question. Thanks for answering!!

If lack of cover is a concern you can always stay home and get a La Vagabonde simulator. Or only go boating on a "stink pot" that everything can be done from inside. Or only sail where it rarely rains or if it does it is a welcome relief to cool off.

Really you can just go inside and stand watch with the auto pilot on if on passage. You can have full control at the inside helm station, with all the instruments, including throttle. You have to go outside to adjust or change the sails. It is sailing.

[ShoreFun]

Between Delos and Wynns I see some boats can have a very protected helm.

That would be more appealing to me if I were to get to that level.

Right now I have the first step, 2 sons with some interest and a 17' sail boat and I live close to a protected but shallow bay.

[Crusty Joker]

Suggest you plan on letting those boys loose as crew at the yacht club and prepare for the adventure of racing to give those boys life skills! You win the prize. 2 SONS! Any daughters so they can worry about a sister? Keep their mother happy with the activities at the YC. The more fun you have together as family, the better the boys will mature. Enjoy your life and its challenges. Uncle Ben, "Vanama-nita".

[Augi]

Originally Posted by ShoreFun

Between Delos and Wynns I see some boats can have a very protected helm.

That would be more appealing to me if I were to get to that level.

Right now I have the first step, 2 sons with some interest and a 17' sail boat and I live close to a protected but shallow bay.

You can have a custom enclosed dodger or bimini made for almost any boat. Check out Iversons website(see link). I think Iversons mainly service the west coast of the USA.

Bimini and Connector Panel by Iverson's Designs

Guessing I think something could be made for an Outremer. The location of the helm station is similar to a Lagoon. Many Lagoons have a dodger that encloses the helm station. But you need to ask a pro that makes dodgers and biminis about whichever specific boat.

Bimini and Connector Panel by Iverson's Designs

[yeloya]

Outremer , Catana, Nautitech open etc, don't go well with covered helm station. If you think tou need one, Leopard, Lagoon or FP's are better options.


Cheers


Yeloya

[Augi]

Originally Posted by yeloya

Outremer , Catana, Nautitech open etc, don't go well with covered helm station. If you think tou need one, Leopard, Lagoon or FP's are better options.


Cheers


Yeloya

I agree on Nautitech or any boat that has an aft helm station it would be difficult, awkward and not ideal. I have seen on Nautitechs. It would be more doable, less awkward on an Outremer, probably. But you need a designer to determine that. I have never seen an Outremer with an enclosed dodger. I would never do it on any of the above, but I am not the op.

[admiralslater]

Our Outremer (2003) has very good protection at the helm . We had squalls last year and even though I got a bit wet as I trimmed reefed etc generally i was protected