Centre Cockpit Boat Advice

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devonms100

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I am looking for a centre cockpit boat to cruise and liveaboard in next year (West Country to Denmark, Summer there and then back). I have two young toddlers (hence the desire for a centre cockpit) and require a reasonable amount of accommodation. Initially I had considered boats with a separate aft cabin such as Maxi 95, Nordship 28, Seadog, Westerly 33, etc., but then came across the Countess 33 - boat with a walk-through to the aft cabin. Any views on other boats to consider - especially others with a walk-through? Or non-centre cockpit boats equally suitable for cruising with kids? Current boat is a Hurley 22 (so you can see why we need a bigger boat!).
 
Separate cabins fell out of favour, I think, because the doors to them tended to face the wind and spray and could be untenable at anchor or at sea, unless you want a wet aft cabin.

The common style became aft cabins under an aft cockpit, which are sometimes fine and sometimes have a horrible low roof above one half of the bunk.

The newer centre cockpit style tends to have a very high shallow cockpit with walkthrough underneath. Downsides are the feeling of insecurity when the boat is well heeled and the fact that you are sitting in the widest and best part of the boat for accommodation. Upsides are the centre cockpit feeling which many people like and the good view forward.

The Beneteau CCs have good things said about them, but I've never been aboard one. Personally I wouldn't go for one of the more old fashioned separate aft cabins ones - been there, done that and enjoyed both privacy and a wet bunk.
 
Heavenly Twins 26/27 or Ocean Winds 33 web page. Centre cockpit; max 5 degrees of heal; safe centre cockpit; reefing is easy peesy; twin aft cabins; slightly faster than 27 foot cruising mono's; full standing headroom in the galley and heads; incredibly safe and seaworthy (3 circumnavigations in the 26 foot version); wide foredeck for sunbathing etc etc.....
 
have a look at moody 333. the walkthro version of the 33. excellent accommadation/storage space. surprisingly fast and well made.
 
A problem with centre cockpit boats of the size you have in mind is that some of them have rather small cockpits; I think this could be a problem with toddlers who you may wish generally to keep in the cockpit. That said another walk through boat is the Southerly 115, price ranges a lot since the choice ranges from Mark 1 to Mark 4.
 
Seal 28 is centre cockpit with an aft cabin. You will probably end up sleeping in it yourself, bacause the kids will want to be in and out constantly and RupertW's comments about forward facing hatches and water are very pertinent.

Neil
 
My main experience of a separate cabin was in an equally traditional deep centre cockpit in a one-off Maurice Griffiths 5 tonner. I have never felt more secure in any boat before or since but rain and spray got in, so overall I found the disadvantages outweighed the advantages.

Lovely boats, Hillyards, though - as we kept the Maurice Griffiths in Littlehampton for a while I saw a lot of admirable examples.
 
We're sailing with two kids aged 4 and 2, and looked at a wide range of boats. Centre cockpit seemed a good idea, but it is very high up, and in some boats, when you stepped on the cockpit coaming, your feet were already level with the guardrails. That scared me, imagining a heeled boat on a wet night, it's bad enough for adults.

We have an aft cockpit, and around the boat is a 6 inch bulwark, rather than a toerail. Together with netting ,we are now happy, even when underway, to let the kids step out of the cockpit and toddle along the sidedecks between an adult up front and one in the cockpit, as long as the weather is gentle and lifejackets are worn. It certainly adds to the fun and reduces their frustration at being confined. When things are more bouncy, they don't want to get out of the cockpit anyway.

Also bear in mind that cabins split fore and aft without a walk through make it very difficult for you to hear / respond to kids wake-ups at night, especially if the weather is not so good and you have to keep the hatches closed.
 
You dont give any indication of budget, which rather limits the ability to give detailed advice.

The biggest problem of the centre cockpit is the ability to get aboard the boat from a tender, or even from the pontoon in some cases. These tend to be the same boats that also have the best lay-out below!

Good cockpits and seperate cabins are not just the preserve of centre cockpit boats, but you do need to look at catamarans. Here are some suggestions depending on funds (all are good sea boats with ocean crossing track records):

Heavenly Twins - centre cockpit, but rather small. Good cabins.
Catalac 9m - aft large cockpit with great cabins and very family friendly, and very easy to get onboard from pontoon or tender - not the best boat to windward!
Prout 31/34/35/37 etc - great sea boats with good layouts and good cockpits. price dependent on size.
 
Nicholson 38. We have 2 young kids (8 months & 2 yrs) and it is as perfect for them as it could be. Easy for them to climb in and out of saloon as only a small couple of steps, and very high cockpit sides so they can't climb out.
 
Thanks for all the advice. Budget is 30-40k. Haven't dismissed cats out of hand, although would have to relinquish my current berth if I did decide on one. Moody 333 looks good. Nic 38 looks very good, but possibly outside my budget /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
We had a Westerly 33 for 14 years and it is an excellent boat, there were a few made in the later years with walkthroughs too as the Discus CC as opposed to the aft cockpit Discus, but you lose a huge cockpit locker. All are good for long distance cruising, several have done the world cruise and one Discus via Cape Horn. There is also the Westerly Conway 36 which is very similar and does have a walkthrough, again excellent boats, you might just scrape one in your budget. Nich 38s and the like from a distant age are not as big as they sound and have the usual long keeled problems with handling in confined areas like marinas, good boats nevertheless.
 
You should be able to find a Moody 36 or Angus Primrose design for about that money and they are excellent boats - sold mine and it is still cruising - Have a look at my web site on the sailing section and go to Bambola - interior plan and lots of info about them... Really long distance comfortable cruising boats with excellent accommodation.

Michael
 
Consider a Scanmar 35 (centre cockpit) although they also produced 345 (aft cockpit) and should now sell for around your budget. I previously owned the centre cockpit version. They're scandinivan, long fin with skeg hung rudder, spacious, solid and proven (mine subsequently sailed UK to Caribbean), oh and fast! Might be just the ticket.
 
We sail a moody 34 and are delighted with it. The walkway to the aft cabin requires me to stoop but the up side of this is that the cockpit does not feel too high and exposed unlike some centre cockpit boats.

I learned to sail on a Westerly 33 which was a good solid boat but having to climb up in to the cockpit and back down in to the aft cabin was a real drag on a wet night!

Some friends have just come back from an 18month cruise to the Canaries and Azores on their Moody 33 (Angus primrose design) and found her to be a fantastic sea boat. I would also have a look at the Angus Primrose designed Moody 36 big aft cabin with en-suite, good sea berth in the walk through, huge saloon and another heads and double cabin foreward, and they have a reputation for being solidly built. A lot to commend it as a liveaboard! There are a few on ybw-boats for under £40k

Good luck with your search... David
 
but then came across the Countess 33 - boat with a walk-through to the aft cabin.

How very discerning of you, why look further?
You won't find a similar sized boat with as much usable internal volume.

Then, I might just be a tincey bit bias /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
As already said, a couple of the boats you mentioned have cockpits which would be a bit on the small side for a couple of growing kids.

I am also guessing that with toddlers that you only want the centre cockpit for security not really the aft cabin for privacy, unless it has a walk through, as you will need to be sleeping nearby to keep an eye (ear?!) on the b#ggers. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Instead of a centre cockpit how about going for a wheelhouse? apart from making sure they do not fall overboard (no reason why you cannot attach them by harness INSIDE the wheelhouse!) it may also be useful in keeping them (and the wife?!) happy by making sure they are always warm and dry. Something like a Westerly Duo should be within budget.

Or if you are going for the Centre Cockpit what about a Macwester Seaforth (36 foot - basically a larger version of a Seadog), I have seen them with fixed wheel shelters, dunno if this is standard and decently wide sidedecks, dunno about the walkthrough though - but aft cabins make great storage areas! - until they get older and you want to stow THEM away at night!
 
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