[fourknots]

A comfortable cockpit is not necessarily a seaworthy one. For true offshore sailing, you want as small a cockpit as possible so when it fills up with a breaking wave, you won''t endanger your boat with the added weight. Very large scuppers can help, but 1000 pounds of water takes a looong time to drain. But since you will be anchored more often than sailing, a compromise is in order.

My 30 foot boat had cockpit seats that were 6''3'''' long - I could easily lie down and even nap. The seats can''t be too wide or they won''t be comfortable. The depth of your cockpit may depend on the height of you boom, but you want to make sure you can see over your dodger if you have one. Shallower holds less water, but make sure the bridge deck is high enough to prevent water from entering the cockpit if you get pooped. Deeper cockpits make you feel safer at sea and less vulnerable.

The coamings should be angled out slightly and high enough to give you a sense of security. You really need to spend some time n a cockpit to see how it fits you.

I think cushions add more to a cockpit than anything else. Get 2-4 inch closed cell foam or laminated open cell/closed cell and get some comfortable sunbrella covered pillows and you can always get comfortable.