I am interested in learning more about the pros and cons of mid-cockpit boats such as the Morgans. At first glance they look good, because they offer good forward visibility and greater distance from any following waves in a rough sea. However, there must be something wrong with them because almost no boats are manufactured with mid-cockpits.
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Sitting on top of the house!
Ken: For one thing there is a cost difference on building a center cockpit vs aft cockpit. The center cockpits are suppose to be more expensive. I don't know about the Morgans, but the Hunters (while being VERY spacious below deck) make you feel like you are on top of your house instead of on the back porch. They do give you better visibility but also give you a lot of windage. For my taste I prefer an aft cockpit, but if you were interested in living aboard, they would be the cats meow.
Ken: For one thing there is a cost difference on building a center cockpit vs aft cockpit. The center cockpits are suppose to be more expensive. I don't know about the Morgans, but the Hunters (while being VERY spacious below deck) make you feel like you are on top of your house instead of on the back porch. They do give you better visibility but also give you a lot of windage. For my taste I prefer an aft cockpit, but if you were interested in living aboard, they would be the cats meow.
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Pete
Not bad
We sailed on a center cockpit Hylas 46 for a weekend last summer and found the view from the cockpit to be very enjoyable, although there was not that much room in it, considering the size of the boat. I don't know about Morgans and the size of their center cockpits, but a spacious cockpit means a lot to us.
We sailed on a center cockpit Hylas 46 for a weekend last summer and found the view from the cockpit to be very enjoyable, although there was not that much room in it, considering the size of the boat. I don't know about Morgans and the size of their center cockpits, but a spacious cockpit means a lot to us.
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Wynn Ferrel
You can see one at Lake Stocton
Ken, The boat next to me at Orleans Trail Marina is a Beneteau 40cc. You can see it on "B" dock out towards the end on the right. The name is "Options." It's a beautiful boat. I was impressed with the room below. The cockpit makes you feel like you are really "on top of everything." From what I've read, the big drawback to center cockpit boats is that the center of gravity is higher and that causes them to be more tender. The Beneteau CC series are beautifully designed boats. Say "hello" if you get down my way. I'm the H340 next to "Options." Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
Ken, The boat next to me at Orleans Trail Marina is a Beneteau 40cc. You can see it on "B" dock out towards the end on the right. The name is "Options." It's a beautiful boat. I was impressed with the room below. The cockpit makes you feel like you are really "on top of everything." From what I've read, the big drawback to center cockpit boats is that the center of gravity is higher and that causes them to be more tender. The Beneteau CC series are beautifully designed boats. Say "hello" if you get down my way. I'm the H340 next to "Options." Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
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Dakota Jim Russell
And some would say that there is more motion
And some would say that there is more motion with a center cockpit as you are father from the fulcrum of the boat. Drainage is not as easy . . . . in heavy weather.
And some would say that there is more motion with a center cockpit as you are father from the fulcrum of the boat. Drainage is not as easy . . . . in heavy weather.
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Gene Foraker
I chartered a Whitby 42 ketch some years ago in the BVI for 10 days. It had a mid cockpit and worked fairly well. I think a boat should be around mid 40's in size or larger to make sense and balence the height with length. It really works well with a ketch or yawl rig. Advantages - It opens up space for an aft cabin that is fantastic and must be seen to be believed. There is nice room under the cockpit for a real engine room. Being up high puts you out of the way of most spray or waves and is dryer and feels safer in heavy weather. Disadvantages - Steering must be run back from the middle of the boat and is more complicated and troublesome. The Whitby had hydraulic steering which had no feel at all. Cost is higher than a similar length aft cockpit boat because of the extra material and especially so if a ketch rig. It doesn't look fast and racey which seems to be an important buying decision today. For day sailing or coastal cruising, it might be harder to jump down to work the dock lines. I didn't notice any bad motion with the sails up to balence things and think it is a great design for liveaboard or offshore passages.
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R DEUTSCH
Center cockpit
We have a 450---99 center and live aboard,we would not have it any other way. Nice aft cabin with 3rd area for tub and shower with glass door. Aft cockpit reminds me of being aboard a troop ship.Havent had much sailing so I cant tell about sailing problems.But we do have a full bimini which is also great.
We have a 450---99 center and live aboard,we would not have it any other way. Nice aft cabin with 3rd area for tub and shower with glass door. Aft cockpit reminds me of being aboard a troop ship.Havent had much sailing so I cant tell about sailing problems.But we do have a full bimini which is also great.
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Larry Watkins
Center cockpits
Ken; I seriously considered an Endeavour 42 three years ago for the huge aft cabin, but after looking them over, decided the cockpit was too small. It's like sitting in a tub, and it's difficult to get in an out of while underway, too. You spend most of your time in the cockpit, at anchor or moored, and you want a lot of space. I went with a Beneteau OC400 aft cockpit instead. The Hunter 43CC next to me has a full enclosure and looks like a floating condo. MHO anyway. Larry W.
Ken; I seriously considered an Endeavour 42 three years ago for the huge aft cabin, but after looking them over, decided the cockpit was too small. It's like sitting in a tub, and it's difficult to get in an out of while underway, too. You spend most of your time in the cockpit, at anchor or moored, and you want a lot of space. I went with a Beneteau OC400 aft cockpit instead. The Hunter 43CC next to me has a full enclosure and looks like a floating condo. MHO anyway. Larry W.
Drawbacks to midships cockpits.
One of the most glaring disadvantages to a centre-cockpit layout is that one of the most fertile areas of the boat, the third quarter of length, is hogged up by the cockpit well. This tends to make a discrete aft-cabin with jacuzzi, queen berth, etc., look very desirable but in reality, believe it or not, it's a loss of space. The cockpit never needs to be as wide as the full beam of the boat and a sleeping cabin could make better use of the space farther forward. I have never seen a centre-cockpit aft-cabin yawl under about 60 ft. It just does not seem like it'd work to me. The arguments of higher centre of gravity and associated loss of righting moment can be proved with fact though many owners may choose to disregard that because they quite understandably do not notice. Passages from forward to aft below do not really gain full headroom before about 50 feet unless some sacrifice is made in looks and safety by increasing freeboard and superstructure. Steering gear IS more complicated with at least one or two more sets of sheaves and that much more likelihood of a cable jumping one. The seaworthiness of a centre cockpit is often assumed to be superior (surely the dodgers may fit nicer), but the problem arises when it DOES get pooped-- what then? If you can take a scary amount of water into THAT part of the boat you have got a REAL problem on your hands (and up to your knees!). I have always believed that the worst problem is the crew's view of the sails. It is next to impossible to accomplish the best possible sail trim, slots shape, sail shape, and so forth from the position of being directly UNDER the main boom. Being able to see the sails more horizontally than vertically can only help. This is probably why so many mid-cockpit boats may be seen with some guy leaning back on the stern pulpit tailing the jib sheets or calling directions forward. My dad, the designer, never one to mince words, despised centre-cockpit boats, often saying they resembled a play-pen! JC
One of the most glaring disadvantages to a centre-cockpit layout is that one of the most fertile areas of the boat, the third quarter of length, is hogged up by the cockpit well. This tends to make a discrete aft-cabin with jacuzzi, queen berth, etc., look very desirable but in reality, believe it or not, it's a loss of space. The cockpit never needs to be as wide as the full beam of the boat and a sleeping cabin could make better use of the space farther forward. I have never seen a centre-cockpit aft-cabin yawl under about 60 ft. It just does not seem like it'd work to me. The arguments of higher centre of gravity and associated loss of righting moment can be proved with fact though many owners may choose to disregard that because they quite understandably do not notice. Passages from forward to aft below do not really gain full headroom before about 50 feet unless some sacrifice is made in looks and safety by increasing freeboard and superstructure. Steering gear IS more complicated with at least one or two more sets of sheaves and that much more likelihood of a cable jumping one. The seaworthiness of a centre cockpit is often assumed to be superior (surely the dodgers may fit nicer), but the problem arises when it DOES get pooped-- what then? If you can take a scary amount of water into THAT part of the boat you have got a REAL problem on your hands (and up to your knees!). I have always believed that the worst problem is the crew's view of the sails. It is next to impossible to accomplish the best possible sail trim, slots shape, sail shape, and so forth from the position of being directly UNDER the main boom. Being able to see the sails more horizontally than vertically can only help. This is probably why so many mid-cockpit boats may be seen with some guy leaning back on the stern pulpit tailing the jib sheets or calling directions forward. My dad, the designer, never one to mince words, despised centre-cockpit boats, often saying they resembled a play-pen! JC
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