Center Cockpit Cruiser for PNW

[Rustyf]

I would appreciate any thoughts on the pros and cons of a center cockpit 36 foot Benneteau cruiser for the PNW. Emphasis on the center cockpit feature and not so much on the boat.

Thanks

[kd3pc]

I had the 36CC on the bay, and the biggest advantage to the 36CC, was she was dry and warm when others were not. Same hull as the 361. I would have liked better steps in to and out of the CC, but other than that she was a very good boat. We had a soft dodger, connector and bimini. You would likely want some side glass of some sort. The only con I had was stepping over to get in and out.

all the best
dave

[alanporter]

With a center cockpit you are IN the boat rather than ON it. My choice every time.

[paul77]

We bought a center cockpit design for the PNW, because we wanted to sail year round and we wanted to be cosy and comfortable while doing so..

A 36' center cockpit seems like it would be too much of a compromise to make sense. I expect the cockpit would be pretty small, and I imagine you are giving up a bunch of the salon, and not really getting a large aft cabin. I have not been aboard a beneteau 36CC though so the designers may have balanced these things really well.

Of course it's all relative since the owner of an aft cockpit 46' might find our cockpit small, our salon undersized.. However it's perfect for us..

[kd3pc]

The 36CC did a great job of balancing a nice center cockpit, plenty large for 4-6 to move about as well as work. The salon and aft cabin were the prime reasons my wife loved the boat. The aft cabin was close to full size, easy to exit and enter and was but a few steps to a nice head. The salon provided many options for reading, computing, watching tv and the like, all very comfortable. The vberth could be made private by closing the opening and door, or they both could be left open, giving the illusion of a much larger area. The galley was well done, if you don't mind the linear layout. We had no problems in port or under way.

Although some are compromises, Beneteau did a good job, IMHO, of picking the right place and style to do so.

The hull was a good performer, and the rigging easy to use from the cockpit.

[interlude44]

I am a big fan of center cockpit boats, however, not all. I have owned one for six years now and have sailed it comfortably between New England and Caribbean and back. Some boats have a "wedding cake" look, which I don't like. First, because they have little or no coaming and you are perched so high that they feel, (in reality they are not) as if they are less stable. The biggest advantage is usually in a very comfortable aft cabin, which usually gives room for a larger head and an enclosed shower. /Depending on your rig. sail handling is usually very easy. My wife also likes it because the boat seems less daunting in terms of overall length when she is on the wheel!

[nightowle]

center cockpit makes sense for PNW. GO for it!

[nonsailor]

centre cockpit makes sense for PNW. GO for it!

I am thinking of getting a boat with a center cockpit to cross the Atlantic in, I don't know much about boats so could you tell me when a centre cockpit would not "make sense". Thanks.

[Joesaila]

Had a center cockpit Morgan 41. It was dry and roomy. When we had to sell, we hoped to end up w a smaller cc but got a rear cockpit. While I love my boat, Center Cockpit is preferable.

[Rustyf]

Thanks to all. Each post was very informative.