our cockpit

[mortyd]

the new practical sailor has a story about sailboat cockpit design and how to chose among them.

my thoughts about my late mkii cockpit: sitting on the rail and steering onehanded with my large destroyer wheel while looking ahead with just about 180 vision and full sight of jib telltales is a pleasure. having the halyards, mainsheet, traveler, and jib sheets to hand, likewise. being able to prop my legs beamwise across the cockpit while heeling is very helpful, while easy access to the deck is too. i have been on lots of boats, but none of them have offered the SAILING comfort of catalinas from 27 up. many far more expensive and larger boats i've sailed on would be much nicer to have a large party on in port, but none offer the sailing comfort of my catalina 30.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Everyone has differing opinions but I'd suggest you try a dual wheel boat if that's your criteria.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Interesting observation, Morty. One of our friends has had two C34s, the first a Mark I the second their current Mark II with the wider cockpit. The Admiral is rarther short and says she really misses the "thinner" cockpit where she could prop her feet across when heeled; the new boat cockpit is too wide for her!

Ergonomics really factors into the choice of boats, and folks should really think ahead about these kind of details.

Like, we always suggest two things that folks should do when looking at boats, new or used:

1. Hop into the berth you plan to sleep in and see if it really works

2. Check where the oil dipstick is: if you can't check it easily, guess what'll happen...

 

[mortyd]

yeah, stu. for example i have a friend with a saga - it think 42 - and there is nowhere to sit while at the helm and shaq o'neal couldn't find a place the prop his feet. it does, however, have a west ballroom.

 

[mortyd]

stu, is your 34 small enough to con the boat with one hand from the rail? eternal thanks to the first owner who ordered my boat with a destroyer wheel. yes, it's a pain to get around, but i spend far more time sitting on the rail than getting around the wheel.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Yes, Morty, it's perfect for steering from anywhere. We have a hump on the helmsman's seat, which creates a great place to sit behind the wheel, and the coaming works well too even with our 32 inch wheel. There's also a lift to the cockpit sole on either side outboard behind the wheel so when heeled there's actually a horizontal place to stand! I think the ergonomics of our cockpit is perfect. I've sailed on Mark IIs and they don't have the lift nor the helmsman's seat hump, just a flat seat because of the walk through transom and the flat filler piece.

 

[mortyd]

agreed, there's no place to sit behind the helm, but i consider it irrelevant. the rail is just fine except when mooring and then i stand because my chartplotter is actually great help in my crowded bronx mooring field.

 

[mortyd]

also stu, you wouldn't know but we have something here called winter and our boats are on the hard for six months. during that time my open stern and drop down ladder are a blessing.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ahem...I know, I do know. I grew up in NYC, skied in Vermont for many, many years. Left coast just means i\I have to drive 4 hours east to find the snow! Been doing work this year in Chicago, too, and while they've had a mild winter, I was there for their first and almost only snowfall of the winter. It follows me around...

 

[jimmcgee]

One thing I lust after on the new boats is the winch position. It makes it much easier to single hand.

 

[Stu Jackson]

It also makes it harder for crew to use when having crew. Our winches are placed reasonably well aft so that I can get to them if I have to, but I spend most, if not all of my time, singlehanding, in front of the wheel.

I'm not yet convinced that relocating jib sheet winches further aft is a good idea, because I am a proponent of not being "a slave behind the wheel."