Are linear galleys as annoying as they look?

[Kelpie]

Thanks again for the replies. I'm genuinely quite surprised (in a good way) as I had assumed that linear galleys were a way of making boats more charter-friendly and only really suitable for use when tied up in a marina!

If and when we get a new boat, we intend to use it as a bluewater liveaboard- and you can't cross an ocean without cooking a meal at some point. So the argument about 'nobody cooks in bad weather anyway' is a little flimsy to me. I know, of course, from personal experience that even the best designed galley is going to be useless when things get really rough.

How do the linear galleys feel when the boat is pitching a lot? I understand that you can brace against the seating when rolling- but does a pitching motion tend to send the cook staggering forwards and backwards along the galley?

The remaining concern is about blocking the passage to the forecabin... if the gap between galley and seating is suitable for bracing, surely it is too narrow to easily allow someone to go past the cook?

 

[RupertW]

Thanks again for the replies. I'm genuinely quite surprised (in a good way) as I had assumed that linear galleys were a way of making boats more charter-friendly and only really suitable for use when tied up in a marina!

If and when we get a new boat, we intend to use it as a bluewater liveaboard- and you can't cross an ocean without cooking a meal at some point. So the argument about 'nobody cooks in bad weather anyway' is a little flimsy to me. I know, of course, from personal experience that even the best designed galley is going to be useless when things get really rough.

How do the linear galleys feel when the boat is pitching a lot? I understand that you can brace against the seating when rolling- but does a pitching motion tend to send the cook staggering forwards and backwards along the galley?

The remaining concern is about blocking the passage to the forecabin... if the gap between galley and seating is suitable for bracing, surely it is too narrow to easily allow someone to go past the cook?

On most boats you can get past the cook with both of you moving aside from the other but in a larger boat with sofas wrapped around the table one of the sofas is against the hull but the other is in the middle of the boat with a solid wooden back for the cook to lean against. You can go between the table and the middle sofa without disturbing the cook at all, but is slightly awkward.

When pitching like a mad thing the linear galley is usually just forward of the midpoint where the boat has least motion - in our layout that's the cooker which is great but the sink is a bit further forward and the motion is worse there.

 

[Tranona]

Perhaps you need to think back to the origins of the L or U shaped galley near the companionway and its association with "secure" cooking at sea. It was the sensible solution to narrow boats of the time, but even at the time, larger boats with more beam tended to have linear galleys, or at least more longitudinal counter space.

There really are so many variations of galley location and shapes - many centre cockpit boats for example have the galley in the walk through to the aft cabin, and some newer designs have the galley at the forward bulkhead - a bit like many big boats in the 20s and 30s except they were the other side so the hired cook could work in peace!

As usual all the choices have pros and cons but in reality they mostly work and you adapt to their specific foibles.

 

[geem]

View attachment 73502

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.

Is that your definition of bad weather! The horizon is flat, no substantial sea running. My experience of linear galleries with a low settee cushion as a back rest is when you are being thrown around you need a back rest actually higher up your back otherwise you risk being thrown over backwards. When I say bad weather I am talking of F6 and upwards with a large sea running not Solent conditions

 

[RupertW]

Is that your definition of bad weather! The horizon is flat, no substantial sea running. My experience of linear galleries with a low settee cushion as a back rest is when you are being thrown around you need a back rest actually higher up your back otherwise you risk being thrown over backwards. When I say bad weather I am talking of F6 and upwards with a large sea running not Solent conditions

Of course the bad weather was in the distance there but F6 is piddling compared to a lot of Med weather - you get used to much higher wind forces but not usually for a duration of more than a few hours (Buras, Meltemis and mistrals aside). Either nothing or too much wind means you get very used to steep and cross swells and very unpleasant combinations of rolling and pitching. I don't think I've said in this thread that a low settee cushion would be any use. On a larger boat it's a very solid wood sofa back (the cushions are on the other side) well above waist height for most people.

You need to gain experience of bad weather and also of linear galleys to understand their advantages.

 

[[70521]]

I've not been aboard, let alone sailed, a boat with a linear galley running along one side of the saloon.

A few points:

I have a U shape galley, bloody awful for cooking in.

Friends have a 47 footer with a linear galley; family of 4. The galley leads forward but they only use that area for storage when at sea. Really easy to cook in, fantastic to clean up. They have just finished a wee voyage as far north as Shetland to South Georgia via the Pacific and Cape Horn. They loved the galley and the trip.

 

[Kelpie]

A few points:

I have a U shape galley, bloody awful for cooking in.

Friends have a 47 footer with a linear galley; family of 4. The galley leads forward but they only use that area for storage when at sea. Really easy to cook in, fantastic to clean up. They have just finished a wee voyage as far north as Shetland to South Georgia via the Pacific and Cape Horn. They loved the galley and the trip.

That is quite some endorsement.
Re earlier comments about height of backrest/seating, this would be for a future 'forever boat' so I would be quite happy to modify the joinery as required, by increasing the height of the seat back, maybe tying it into the deckhead for extra strength.

I had assumed that a U-shaped galley was something of an ideal arrangement- but you know what they say about assumptions.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Sail solo - solved!
Apart from not being in the way of other crew, leaving the tiller/cockpit is a rare luxury so Airpot and made-up sandwiches before setting-off obviate the need for a galley.

Forgive the comment, I'm sure on a crewed boat a linear galley at the foot of the companionway steps is a PITA.

 

[rotrax]

Our Motor Sailer with it's two sided linear gally has access to the front cabin when the galley is in use through the " Jack and Jill " heads.

Works really well, but not required to be used very often.

Look up the clever layout on an ad for an Island Packet SP Cruiser.

I ticks all our boxes.

 

[geem]

Of course the bad weather was in the distance there but F6 is piddling compared to a lot of Med weather - you get used to much higher wind forces but not usually for a duration of more than a few hours (Buras, Meltemis and mistrals aside). Either nothing or too much wind means you get very used to steep and cross swells and very unpleasant combinations of rolling and pitching. I don't think I've said in this thread that a low settee cushion would be any use. On a larger boat it's a very solid wood sofa back (the cushions are on the other side) well above waist height for most people.

You need to gain experience of bad weather and also of linear galleys to understand their advantages.

I don't think I need any more experience of bad weather. I have plenty. That's why I would never have a galley in the saloon

 

[jordanbasset]

My experience of linear galleys is that they are better for cooking while under way. But what I would check is the room on the seat next to the galley in a linear layout, on my last boat I found it had limited leg room for adults and so we rarely used it but as there was just the two of us it made little difference
Personally I find bench seating in a u shaped galley better for two people on smaller boats (sub 36 feet anyway), each can have one to lay down on

 

[Tranona]

I don't think I need any more experience of bad weather. I have plenty. That's why I would never have a galley in the saloon

You might not, but most boats do so I guess most people are happy with their choice

Have you ever thought you might be the one who is out of step?

 

[geem]

You might not, but most boats do so I guess most people are happy with their choice

Have you ever thought you might be the one who is out of step?

Sorry if I don't run with the flock. It would be easy to join the likes of yourself that are happy to post saying others have done it so it can't be bad!! You admit you have never sailed an ocean and you don't go out in rough weather. What use is that to people reading these threads and looking for advice and first hand experience?
you advocate modern boats are great for everything. My experience is that that is simply not the case. Most people will never push their boats or themselves to the point where they find the weakness in design or construction but for those that do, you may will find you want something a little more sturdy and practical. Modern Jens, Bavs and Bens are great Med holiday retreats. Loads of space.
Modern money saving construction techniques should not be confused with high quality construction techniques. They are not the same. E.g. Beneteau 57 teak decks. Stapled to plywood from below such that when the decks wear you get spikes in your feet! This is Beneteaus flagship boat! If they can't get this right how do you expect the lesser boats in the range to be constructed!
Linear galleys in saloons give the illusion of space. They are fine most of the time but in rough weather they are less than ideal.

 

[capnsensible]

Well I've sailed oceans a good bit including through an annoying amount of bad weather. On a number of different yachts, old and new.

So I will repeat it really doesn't matter what sort of galley you have. It's gonna bounce around like the rest of the boat. Learn to use what you have got, it's pointless arguing over which one is best.

 

[phanakapan]

My layout- saloon is 2 berths opposite each other, a table in the middle; with lee cloths, are excellent sea berths. Galley is linear, in the walk through to the aft cabin; perfect in heavy weather as most prep and washing up done braced against a full height ‘wall’. The cooker has space in front of it,I have a bum strap but never used it. Heavy weather/ blue water ‘qualifications’? World circumnavigation.

 

[RupertW]

My layout- saloon is 2 berths opposite each other, a table in the middle; with lee cloths, are excellent sea berths. Galley is linear, in the walk through to the aft cabin; perfect in heavy weather as most prep and washing up done braced against a full height ‘wall’. The cooker has space in front of it,I have a bum strap but never used it. Heavy weather/ blue water ‘qualifications’? World circumnavigation.

I think your mistake might be that you are open minded and learn from different experiences instead of finding a fixed point of view, decrying everything else and deciding because your kind of boat hasn't sunk under you then all others will.

 

[dom]

I think your mistake might be that you are open minded and learn from different experiences instead of finding a fixed point of view, decrying everything else and deciding because your kind of boat hasn't sunk under you then all others will.

Wow, you're really getting the hang of this - prejudice rools :encouragement:

 

[phanakapan]

I think your mistake might be that you are open minded and learn from different experiences instead of finding a fixed point of view, decrying everything else and deciding because your kind of boat hasn't sunk under you then all others will.

Umm maybe I’m a bit tired but I’m not quite ‘getting’ your reply to mine- was the sarcasm aimed at me or another poster? Confused!!- I was just saying that in my own situation I didn’t find a linear galley annoying, but useful. What wasn’t useful and in fact was a right pain in the Harris was my fridge- sideloading, floor level, everything fell out on the wrong tack and was such a palaver that I didn’t bother using it on passage, rather limiting the menu!
I have sailed on other yachts with u shaped or corner galleys- some were great, others cramped...
Shall I also throw fuel on the fire and insist that everyone do blue water passages in my sort of boat only... a rusty steel one? (That actually nearly did sink under me?)?? Smiley face. In the end, totally agree with the Capn, whatever galley you’ve got, it will still bounce about and be a pain in lumpy weather. Only real ‘tip’ - imagine the boat upside down and arrange your stowage accordingly. And don’t have a side loading fridge!

 

[newtothis]

Only real ‘tip’ - imagine the boat upside down and arrange your stowage accordingly. And don’t have a side loading fridge!

I'm imagining a boat upside down, and a top loading fridge is busy emptying itself onto the ceiling.

 

[RupertW]

Umm maybe I’m a bit tired but I’m not quite ‘getting’ your reply to mine- was the sarcasm aimed at me or another poster? Confused!!- I was just saying that in my own situation I didn’t find a linear galley annoying, but useful. What wasn’t useful and in fact was a right pain in the Harris was my fridge- sideloading, floor level, everything fell out on the wrong tack and was such a palaver that I didn’t bother using it on passage, rather limiting the menu!
I have sailed on other yachts with u shaped or corner galleys- some were great, others cramped...
Shall I also throw fuel on the fire and insist that everyone do blue water passages in my sort of boat only... a rusty steel one? (That actually nearly did sink under me?)���� Smiley face. In the end, totally agree with the Capn, whatever galley you’ve got, it will still bounce about and be a pain in lumpy weather. Only real ‘tip’ - imagine the boat upside down and arrange your stowage accordingly. And don’t have a side loading fridge!

Apologies, I was clumsily trying to compare your thoughtful post with a strong fixed position taken by another poster.

Edit: And on your point about the fridge - we have a big top loading one which can be a pain when you are trying to get something out of the bottom of it - and in a marina it would be great to have front loading. But with everything organised for a long trip I'm glad we have a top loader when it gets nasty - and have a strap to go across the lid which we've put on a couple of times but never actually needed.