Center Cockpit Hunter

[LECKMC]

Are there any CC Hunter owners out there who could give me their opinion regarding this setup? Primarily, the good and not so good points of the boat. Considering buying one for coastal cruising and seasonal living for couple. What I like most about this boat is the room in has in aft stateroom, but are there things I''m overlooking???

Opinions appreciated!

[milesp]

You might want to go check out www.hunterowners.com It''s a huge site with lot''s of info and message boards. I''m sure you''ll get plenty of opinions there if you don''t get enough from this site.

[rrbryce]

I have a center cockpit Hinckley (49 ft),
the living space below is excellent, the visability is excellent and in heavy seas, we stay dryer.

in heavy seas, while on watch, you will be higher up, so your motion will be greater too.

[Jeff_H]

I am a little surprised at your experience with your Hinckly CC. I have generally been surprised at how much wetter center cockpit boats are as comaprd to aft cockpit boats. Often when the spray would have stopped short of making the cockpit on aft cockpit boat you get really hosed on a CC> Do you have a dodger or windscreen.

Jeff

[rmf1643]

I just moved up to a Hunter 376 (aft cockpit).I had a Catalina 30. Love the boat, easy to handle, lots of room. I too coastal cruise and spend time aboard in the summer.I don''t plan on doing any bluewater cruising for quite a while so the Hunter works good and for the room and performance the price is right. For a 37-38'' there is a lot of room aboard. My main concern with a CC is the high freeboard and manuvering in close quarters in windy conditions. I agree with Jeff, its wetter in the "middle" than in the "back".

[rrbryce]

http://www2.hdo.com/hinckley_49_b/DSC00072.JPG

Hi Jeff, sorry it took so long to respond to your post, but I just noticed it. I have no experience in any other boat in heavy seas other than mine, so I can''t compare. In the Atlantic with our wind guage peaking at 50 and the Skipper and crew telling me that the seas were 12 feet, we did get wet, but that''s the worst i''ve ever seen and it was (thankfully) only for about a day. Occassional splashes otherwise.

bob

[FrankDowney]

We have sailed a Hunter PAssage 42 for several years around Southern California. I like the roomy interior and spacious aft cabin. Our weather is mild, so we haven''t considered the center cockpit a problem with respect to spray. The increased windage associated with the design as been a problem in close quarters a few times, but most problems can be avoided with some planning before you get into a tight spot. I am currently sailing more on an aft cockpit boaat and think that the motion is a little easier and enven thogh you are closer to the water, you seem to get less spray.

I guess I could go either way, with a slight preference for the aft cockpit.

[aasault]

On the merits of center cockpits, I have a question. I''ve read quite a few heavy weather horror stories about helmsman and/or crew being injured or thrown overboard by boarding seas, when running before breaking waves in aft cockpits. I''ve never been offshore (do Carnival cruises count?) but I''d like to know if any of you think a well designed CC is safer in that situation.

Art

[Jeff_H]

I don''t think CC''s are safer in that regard, I have taken far more serious water over the bow, (at the speed of the boat plus the speed of the wave) than I have over the stern (at the speed of the boat MINUS the speed of the wave). Yes, I have been pooped and yes, you can get pretty hard but nothing like that firehose squared when you plant your bow into a serious wave. Give me an aft cockpit any day.

Jeff

[KenD]

I have 35 cc lots of room below great vis and haven''t been wet yet thats the good points If you sail solo or even as a couple and you dock it''s a long way from the controls to the aft or forward lines and throw in a bit of wind and oh what a feeling.that high freeboard just takes you where it will gopod luck.