Are linear galleys as annoying as they look?

[Kelpie]

I've not been aboard, let alone sailed, a boat with a linear galley running along one side of the saloon. The kind of thing you find on 40ft charter market AWBs, with twin aft cabins.
What immediately springs to mind is that whoever is at the galley is going to be blocking the way forward, which is going to get pretty annoying pretty quickly. On our current boat the galley more or less blocks the bottom of the companionway and it is a bit of a pain.
My feeling at the moment is that a U-shaped galley that is not used as a passageway to elsewhere in the boat has to be the best layout. But it would be interesting to hear from people who have actually lived with the linear arrangement- if it's really all that bad, surely there wouldn't be as many of them around?

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Get a bigger boat linear galleys are fine

 

[maby]

Get a bigger boat linear galleys are fine

Indeed. We have had both a linear galley and a more compact U shape - both in boats around 42 foot. The linear galley was not a problem quite simply because modern boats in the 40+ foot range are so wide that the person cooking does not block access for other people. Our current (non-linear galley) feels a little compact compared with the previous linear one.

 

[duncan99210]

Our boat has a linear galley and this feature was one of the primary reasons for choosing the boat. With generally only 2 people of board, access beyond the galley isn’t an issue. On the other hand, the galley is well laid out for food prep, cooking and cleaning up. Feels more spacious too.

 

[Tranona]

Not annoying at all, although might be if you spent a lot of time going to windward in heavy conditions and wanted to continue cooking regularly. For most "normal" use a linear galley is better and once you get towards 40' and 3.5m+ beam there is room to pass the cook on most layouts. Sometimes the centre line seat if fitted can be a bit of an obstruction, but can also make a good bum rest for the cook.

In my view in sub 36' there is no best all round layout and there are drawbacks to both styles, but as you go bigger you can make either work well if you are prepared to allocate enough space to the galley.

 

[TQA]

I like the linear galley on my 44 ft mono. It is narrow with the sinks on one side and cooker fridge worktop on the other. I have never felt the need for a bum strap which I regarded as essential on a U shaped galley.

 

[Tomaret]

On my 36’er the linear galley provides much more workspace, which for me, being a messy cook, is helpful. What I hadn’t appreciated when I bought her was that with double berths in the forepeak and in the aft cabin and the U shaped saloon seating converting to a double, for an all male crew it’s effectively a three berth.

 

[geem]

Our linear galley is not in the saloon. It's along side the centre cockpit. Only reason to go past the galley is to get to the aft cabin. Being a corridor there is plenty of wall behind you when you are cooking at seas so no need for a bum strap. We also have a portlight between galley and cockpit so cups of tea are easy to pass up direct from the galley. We have lots of counter top with a the galley being 9ft long. The saloon feels huge

 

[Kelpie]

Here's an example of the type of boat that has piqued my interest:
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1999/Bavaria-42-3061177/Greece#.W7oJu2hKjIX

At the moment we have been considering cente cockpit mid 80s Moody and Westerly boats, which we think make a lot of sense for families who seek a degree of privacy- although plenty of people on the forum have been trying to persuade us of the merits of the more modern aft cockpit boats. The Bav linked above seems to offer incredible value for money, given its age and size.

 

[sailorman]

Indeed. We have had both a linear galley and a more compact U shape - both in boats around 42 foot. The linear galley was not a problem quite simply because modern boats in the 40+ foot range are so wide that the person cooking does not block access for other people. Our current (non-linear galley) feels a little compact compared with the previous linear one.

How is it at sea

 

[Tranona]

Here's an example of the type of boat that has piqued my interest:
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1999/Bavaria-42-3061177/Greece#.W7oJu2hKjIX

At the moment we have been considering cente cockpit mid 80s Moody and Westerly boats, which we think make a lot of sense for families who seek a degree of privacy- although plenty of people on the forum have been trying to persuade us of the merits of the more modern aft cockpit boats. The Bav linked above seems to offer incredible value for money, given its age and size.

Excellent boats. Chartered one just like that in 2000 (previous year had chartered a Moody 37) and it was an eye opener as to how much more suitable the boat was for the purpose. That will almost certainly be an ex charter boat with that layout having the 2 berth side cabin as it could get a charter licence for 10 - and often did have that size crew!

It was a very popular and robust boat and more than capable of long passages. If it had not been a bit big for 1 and 11/2 crew for holiday sailing would have bought one, but bought the smaller 37 with the same basic layout except for no side cabin. The 37 also had a shallow keel to go through the French canals.

Many were sold in the UK, although most did not have the side cabin. Fetch a bit more money here as most are private boats but worth finding one to look at it for real.

 

[Kelpie]

Excellent boats. Chartered one just like that in 2000 (previous year had chartered a Moody 37) and it was an eye opener as to how much more suitable the boat was for the purpose. That will almost certainly be an ex charter boat with that layout having the 2 berth side cabin as it could get a charter licence for 10 - and often did have that size crew!

It was a very popular and robust boat and more than capable of long passages. If it had not been a bit big for 1 and 11/2 crew for holiday sailing would have bought one, but bought the smaller 37 with the same basic layout except for no side cabin. The 37 also had a shallow keel to go through the French canals.

Many were sold in the UK, although most did not have the side cabin. Fetch a bit more money here as most are private boats but worth finding one to look at it for real.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. It does seem like a ludicrous amount of boat for the money. To get the same space in a Moody I'd have to spend more money and get something twice the age. Bonkers. Of course the one in the ad. could be a lemon, would need to get a survey done, and we're not really at the point yet of travelling abroad to view boats. But it's food for thought.

 

[duncan99210]

How is it at sea

The sofa behind the galley makes a very useful perch for the cook. Enables you to work with the boat healed without a bum strap and gives you foot brace as well when moving about. The top of the sofa lists pivots up on a prop, revealing a vast locker underneath. On our boat that is the larder, so everything for the cook is in easy grab reach. Works on either tack and is in the centre of the boat so the actual motion is minimised in a heavy sea.

 

[macd]

Our linear galley is not in the saloon. It's along side the centre cockpit...

Have you been using our boat whist we've been away?
(Obviously neither of us has a Rassy, which to my mind combines the worst of both worlds.)

How is it at sea

Excellent. Very secure and practical.

 

[RupertW]

A linear galley was one of the key requirements when we bought our current boat. I get a bit seasick when cooking down below in a rough sea so my wife has the final choice in that area and it was linear or get another boat. We have had both types before.

Downsides of l-shaped was that you are not as secure as linear when being tossed about at sea, surfaces are usually a lot smaller with cooker and sinks taking up most of the space, and most importantly it usually either prevents a second aft cabin or provides a fire hazard blocking the only entrance out of the cabin, and is often sitting below the hatch where nasty weather could either create too much breeze for the stove or (and it has happened) sloosh a lot of cold seawater down the hatch.

Downsides of the linear are few, in our experience. Great bracing without restriction against the middle sofa back which is great on both tacks. If the cook is braced and not disturbable you just go between middle sofa back and the table which is very slightly awkward but ideal in a heavy sea as you are braced all the way. In our setup the cooker is about in mid point of the boat between bow and stern so least movement but the sink is slightly forward so washing up not as comfortable in bad conditions as it would be further aft.

In a smaller boat without a middle sofa with a solid back above waist height I am not sure it would work so well but I would still prefer it to the compromises you have to make for L shape.

 

[rotrax]

Our Motor Sailer has a linear galley -both sides! Worktop/fridges on the port side followed by the cooker, more worktop and microwave. Opposite is the double sink, drainer and cupboard space for the sliding bin. Large food storage area on the rear side of the sink.

Are we happy-very much.

All boats are a compromise. This one is the best compromise so far.

 

[geem]

A linear galley was one of the key requirements when we bought our current boat. I get a bit seasick when cooking down below in a rough sea so my wife has the final choice in that area and it was linear or get another boat. We have had both types before.

Downsides of l-shaped was that you are not as secure as linear when being tossed about at sea, surfaces are usually a lot smaller with cooker and sinks taking up most of the space, and most importantly it usually either prevents a second aft cabin or provides a fire hazard blocking the only entrance out of the cabin, and is often sitting below the hatch where nasty weather could either create too much breeze for the stove or (and it has happened) sloosh a lot of cold seawater down the hatch

I suspect you haven't tried to cook in any really bad weather.

 

[bobgarrett]

I suspect you haven't tried to cook in any really bad weather.

We used to have a boat with a traditional galley and now have a linear galley.
Cooking in bad weather is much easier with a linear galley because, as others have said, you can wedge yourself in securely with bum on seat, feet at cupboard bottom and back against table. This is much better than trying to hanging on with just a bum strap etc. standing.

 

[capnsensible]

I suspect you haven't tried to cook in any really bad weather.

I've cooked loads in bumpy weather. Don't mind either sort of style of galley. Just a case of getting on with what you've got really.

 

[RupertW]

I suspect you haven't tried to cook in any really bad weather.

Why on earth would you assume that? We cook well and mostly from fresh ingredient even in nasty weather or waves which is why the linear galley is so important to us. Then sit in the cockpit enjoying the pretty clouds.