Newbie question

[brockhaus77]

Dear fellow Vega-Owners,

I know this is an embarrassing question, but here goes: Where (and how)
do you seat yourself in the cockpit for most comfortable and easy
steering? I find myself shifting around all over the place, but haven't
found a solution yet that allows me to sit comfortably (even with 15-20
degrees heel), not get in the way of the tiller and/or sheets, have a
good view of what's immediately ahead of the bow (e.g., crabpots), and
allow me good access to both main and jib sheets.
This is especially true with 2-3 other people in the cockpit. One
problem has to do with the tiller which if left to "fall where it may"
just hits everybody's knees. But getting a good view is always a
problem (and I'm not exactly a "shorty"). I've tried stacking 3 life-
saving pillows (sorta works, but will fall all over the cockpit when I
change tack). Any good ideas (or gimmicks you have bought/built)?
Trying to stand all the time gets tiresome and invites unpleasant
encounters with the boom...

- Sebastian

 

[chris20636]

Sebastian,

I'm not a good source, because I have only used my boat once, so far. During that one trip, I was not able to sail (no boom and no sails). However, I did notice the visibility problem that you mentioned. Me and my two helpers took turns standing and steering. What I plan to try, if I ever get it back in the water, (and here is my 2 cent suggestion), is to install a seat on the coaming and a steering extention on the tiller. I think this would work well in nice weather with manual steering in protected water. However, I'm not sure how safe it would be in rougher weather, or solo blue water. Also, I'm not sure how this would place you in respect to the boom. If I expected to be in long periods of rough weather or open water, I would probably invest in autosteering. Anyway, just one suggestion for you to ponder.

Chris
Vega #265

 

[tlochhaas]

Sebastian,

Chris Stevens mentioned the possibility of building a seat on the
coaming--that's what I've done, and after a couple seasons with it, I'm
pretty happy with it. I used pressure-treated wood and stainless steel
screws. I don't have it near me to measure, but I measured the coaming
(which gradually widens from aft forward) at the place I wanted the seat
to fit. I used two pieces of 2X4's about 15 inches long. I put them on
edge, parallel to each other, separated by a little more than the
distance you've measured for the coaming thickness at that point. Then I
screwed down three pieces of 1X6 pressure-treated deck boards across
(perpendicular to) the 2X4's. With a power sanded I smoothed everything
and rounded all the corners and edges. Then I took a small piece of
rugged indoor/outdoor carpet and glued it inside the seat (between the
2X4's) so the wood does not directly contact the fiberglass. That's it.
I simply position it on top of the coaming and slide it forward to where
it wedges in tight as the coaming gets wider. It locks in place and
holds up very well without sliding free or wiggling. To be honest, I
built it very fast just as a temporary effort to see whether the general
concept would work (planning then to improve upon it), but it has worked
so well for me that after two seasons I'm still using it and happy with
it. I've used it in winds high enough to heel 30-40 degrees (still
sitting on the seat while almost standing against the opposite cockpit
well wall) without a problem. When it's calmer, I sometimes put a small
throw-cushion on top of this seat to soften it for day-long use; it
would be easy to bungee or otherwise fasten a cushion in place, but I've
never felt the need. I did think once about mounting a molded plastic
seat (such as are sold by West Marine or Boat US) on top of this wooden
seat in order to have a seatback, but the lifelines are too close to the
coaming to allow a full-size seat to be mounted. Most of the time I do
not use a tiller extension to the side (I have long arms and can reach
the tiller from this higher perch), but sometimes I do use one.
Experiment with it. (By the way, one seat is enough--since it moves so
easily from one side of the cockpit to the other (I generally prefer the
high side.) Good luck!
Tom

brockhaus77 wrote:

 

[wxt8981]

Hi Sebastian;

strangely enough I've never given much attention on where I sit; I own
my Vega over
28 years and have sailed her over 45.000 miles. Though I admit, I
usually sit on the
high side of the tack when there is much traffic. Lucky me- I've never
had the opportunity
to be whacked by the boom- I'm 6 foot 2.. just duck when the boom comes
across.

I do have an auto-pilot, using it about 90% because I'm sailing
single-handed. I love to
sit in the entrance way, with my feet on the upper stairs (the one that
slide out and you
can see the engine). From that position I feel secure, I can see all my
instrumentation,
and I have a good view all around. Besides, I use the cover from the
stove as a chart table,
and thus can follow my course closely.

When I have guests, I prefer to have then sit way back- out of the way-
or inside the cabin.
But then... I seldom have guests...

Wilhelm, Vega-257
brockhaus77 wrote:

 

[rolyatad]

I have always kept a small stool, that the previous owner supplied,
in my cockpit. It is very primitive, 2x6's on edge for end "legs,"
and two 2x6's, about a foot long, bridging these. It is simply nailed
together, and unfinished (grey).

I can sit on it on either side of the cockpit, or at the
companionway, under the dodger, tiller extention in hand. If not
being sat upon, I put it on a seat athwartships in a forward corner
of the cockpit. There it acts like a little table or shelf to stash
things under (binoculars, ets.) or on (portable GPS, etc.)or behind
(the large clipboard that is my chart table).

On other occasions it is a 7" step up, in the boatyard, at the mast,
on the dock..It is another temporary thing banged together that
became permanant.

Doug Taylor #712