Helm Station Arrangement

USCGRET1990 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

To me, this looks to be about the most comfortable type of helm station for long haul cruising.(An up and coming event in my life) Maybe just a bimini top to keep the sun off. What's the consenses amongst the Salty Dogs out there...
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...0/irwin38c.jpg

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

UGH...

Just remember, if you're really long-haul cruising, you're probably not going to be in the cockpit all that much...You'll be doing other things, since Otto or Monty will be steering the boat on the longer passages most of the time.

BTW, there's no traveller on the main sheet.

Cruisingdad · #3 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

Well, I kinda dissagree with my good friend SD... a friendly dissagrement. THat is where we ALWAYS were. It is straight runs for laying out and that is good (on the setee, however the hell you spell them). However, they have really low sides which makes for uncomfortable setting and dangerous sleeping.

Kris would typically sleep on the seat beside me. In bad weather, we would often lay in the floor of the cockpit (whoever was off-watch... duh). THe motion is not too bad there and the fresh air keeps you from getting sick.

Most "offshore" boats put in small cockpits so that it is easy for one person to single and becuase everything is tight and easy to keep you secured. However, I think a large cockpit can be better because it affords you to do the things mentioned above. You can run latteral jacks for added safety, should the sea state require them. Plus, when you so get to port, you will spend 80% of your time in the cockpit while on the boat, 15% in the saloon, 5% in the sack (Oops, I did not leave any % for the crapper... take it out of the percentage that meets your lifestyle (smile)). Thus, plan your boat accordingly.

- CD

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruisingdad

Plus, when you so get to port, you will spend 80% of your time in the cockpit while on the boat, 15% in the saloon, 5% in the sack (Oops, I did not leave any % for the crapper... take it out of the percentage that meets your lifestyle (smile)). Thus, plan your boat accordingly.

- CD

CD doesn't use the crapper... just his shorts and then dumps them as toxic waste...

Actually, I have a pretty small cockpit on my boat, but we're not using it all that much, since we can spread out on the amas, which on my boat have both decks and nets.

BTW, CD is okay in my book, even if he does haul around enough silicon to start a CPU fab plant.

Cruisingdad · #5 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

Here, look at these two cockpits. The first is a Valiant 42, the second is a Catalina 400. Note that the Valiant still has high sides, but no room for laying in the cockpit floor really. The Catalina does have room but you are going to have to pin yourself in (which is easy on the 400 because the floor is seperated in two by the table). Still, on both, high backed seats, long enough to lay on, low enough to be comfortable and safe.

christyleigh · #6 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

No good for me. As in the pictures I posted in another thread I want to have my Chartplotter mounted on an arm/swivel so I can see it - straight on - from either side of the cockpit as I Never sit Behind the Wheel. Even years back when all I had was a Garmin 48 hand held it was on a swivel arm runing on 12v. When it's sailing around the bay I'm always on the low side to look under the genoa for lobster pots and I want to be able to glance forward then easily glance at the GPS/Chartplotter and compass for course and speed info. Even if I'm putting in a 10 hour day out cruising I spend 99% of the time on one side or another of the wheel although I'd ocasionally sit behind the wheel in the past on different boats for a change. Now I don't even have a seat in back of the wheel although I'm going to rig one up - again just for an occasional shift of the butt.

Cruisingdad · #7 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

Quote:

BTW, CD is okay in my book, even if he does haul around enough silicon to start a CPU fab plant.

Well, thank you SD. You will really love me when the power goes out in the northeast and they use my boat for the backup!!!

HAHA!!

- CD

Giulietta · #8 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

CD, in that case...I present to you
THE KING OF COCKPITS!!!!!

Cruisingdad · #9 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

Quote:

No good for me. As in the pictures I posted in another thread I want to have my Chartplotter mounted on an arm/swivel so I can see it - straight on - from either side of the cockpit as I Never sit Behind the Wheel. Even years back when all I had was a Garmin 48 hand held it was on a swivel arm runing on 12v. When it's sailing around the bay I'm always on the low side to look under the genoa for lobster pots and I want to be able to glance forward then easily glance at the GPS/Chartplotter/compass for course and speed info. Even if I'm putting in a 10 hour day out cruising I spend 99% of the time on one side or another of the wheel although I'd ocasionally sit behind the wheel in the past on different boats for a change. Now I don't even have a seat in back of the wheel although I'm going to rig one up - again just for an occasional shift of the butt.

Stan, it's time to trade up the Nauticat for the ole 400. You want me to give you a link to one for sale??? Won't that drive Giu and TB up the wall (although TB secretly has been admiring my boat... he won't tell you though!!).

BIG SMILE!!

- CD

sailingdog · #10 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007

Notice that Giu never mentions how many crew have washed overboard through the open transom...

The best feature of his cockpit is wearing a pink scarf.

Giu-
Quick question... how much time do you spend watching cows pee??