Centre cockpit vs aft cockpit

[laika]

It must reduce the amount of mainsail area, and perhaps make the crew more seasick?

Like chris_robb I have an oceanlord and the main is a good size for a masthead sloop. Downside for someone of proper northern european proportions is the main over your head when helming standing up, although I had this addressed by my sailmaker cutting my new main to give me a bit more headroom. I'm not especially prone to mal de mer but received wisdom is that seasickness is reduced by a position close to the centre of the boat where movement is minimised.

Downsides I can think of: bimini isn't going to provide much protection from behind (when I get one fitted) as it can only go as far back as the mainsheet.. Single handed mooring requires a little more athleticism. Learning to med moor in a centre cockpit is a skill which awaits me

 

[Monique]

Just like in post number two, I also have had an aft cockpit boat and presently centre cockpit . The same sizes as post 2

The CC is much drier as we have a full bimini with detachable sides. Not one drop of fresh or salt water during entire transatlantic. Boat is an Amel Super Maramu. For Mariadz... check your steering cables; a mate found a badly kinked one routed just aft of the cockpits under floor.

Cheers

 

[sailaboutvic]

I don't particularly like centre cockpits, especially those which are too far forward and too high up like my mate's Island Packet. I can see the reason for it in boats above a certain size, which for me would be around 40'. Most of the HR CCs are quite moderate, the older 36 being typical.

I'm not convinced by the argument that CCs are drier, when boat size and character are taken into account. I remember a passage downwind in the tail end of a gale in my 26' Mystere in company with a Moody 33 of Primrose design. We stormed along under jib and didn't ship a drop, while the Moody regularly shipped water into the cockpit.

I very surprise at this , I owned an primrose Moody some years back , well a long time a go , and I can still remember the time we cut too close to Portland Bill and ended up on the race , we never shipped one drop of water on board, the primrose with its flare bow was ideal for big seas , it just swept water away from the deck .

 

[sailaboutvic]

Like chris_robb I have an oceanlord and the main is a good size for a masthead sloop. Downside for someone of proper northern european proportions is the main over your head when helming standing up, although I had this addressed by my sailmaker cutting my new main to give me a bit more headroom. I'm not especially prone to mal de mer but received wisdom is that seasickness is reduced by a position close to the centre of the boat where movement is minimised.

Downsides I can think of: bimini isn't going to provide much protection from behind (when I get one fitted) as it can only go as far back as the mainsheet.. Single handed mooring requires a little more athleticism. Learning to med moor in a centre cockpit is a skill which awaits me

Laika , we Med more now and then as we rather Anchor when we can and in our Moody 42 it's not a problem with two ,
One thing I have altered is I now have a anchor contro at the wheel , so once my co Skipper drop the anchor and let out so much chain she return to the stern and I continue to drop the anchor from the cockpit , settIng it as we go back .
Once you done this a few time it becomes very easy .
Being at the stern she can also check for any shallow or rock and ready to step off lines in hand .

 

[sailaboutvic]

I too have a Moody 36 as a first CC boat, bought last year. I suspect it's our boat that prompted the OP's question as he looked over ours a few weeks ago.
SWMBO loves it for the accommodation, and increased feeling of security at sea. Berthing with the usual two of us on board needs to be thought out and pre-briefed much more, the one on the helm being not in reach of any cleats, plus extra windage on the hull. Overall I don't regret going for it but I'm not sure what the next boat might look like, apart from smaller!

I had the 36cc some years back , actually I have own Moodys 27 years out of my 40 years of owned boat , so I guess you can say I have an love affair with Moody , the only thing that get me about the 36cc the 38cc and now my 42cc Moody is the master cabin door , just a few more ins highter would be great ,
I had more head injuries that way then any other injuries. Always seen to bring my head up at the wrong time .
At last I think I found away around it , hang a small bit of curtain, it seen to remains me to keep my head down for longer .

 

[Yngmar]

Really like our CC (Bavaria 40 Ocean). The same hull was also used with an AC deck design and identical rig. They only sail slightly differently because the Ocean is heavier and has a slightly longer lead keel.

Advantages of the CC are the boom-end mainsheet that can be controlled from the helm, making it ideal for single-/short-handing (Genoa winches are also in reach). Also less boom bend compared to coachroof mainsheet and you don't need to winch it. Docking single-handed is easier, because you have a shorter distance to cover to the midships cleats and the lifeline gates. Cockpit is very dry and safe due to high coamings. Dropping anything in it means it'll stay on the boat, unless it's small enough to go down the drains - but it can't slide out the back as is the case with some AC designs with open backs. The cockpit floor is high, giving you a great view when puttering around marinas. Ours has a huge engine room with three large doors under the entire cockpit floor, with shelves for tools and parts in it. Also, you get an aft deck (two levels in fact) - the crew did some pilates there in the middle of our Biscay crossing

Disadvantages are it's tricky to come up with a good bimini design because the mainsheet is in the way and so are the gates. The higher cockpit floor means the boom will touch a tall person's head standing at the helm. Also, you need efficient cockpit drains, as water can't run out the back and if they block you have a swimming pool which will probably leak below through the washboards. If we'd ever have to use the emergency tiller, it would involve steering from the aft deck in an exposed position (although I'd probably rig some lines to the secondary winches - should really try that some day).

I can't say if it makes any difference to seasickness, but on passage I've dozed well in the cockpit when the stern was pitching too much for that (nasty three way chop).

However, the biggest effect the cockpit position has is on the layout of the cabin below. And in that, CC was an obvious winner for me, because of the huge aft cabin with standing headroom, the walk-through galley on one side and the front and rear accessible shower/toilet on the other side, putting all of the important facilities at the foot of the companionway where they belong without any troublesome replicas (extra toilets are for charter boats, liveaboards wouldn't want to keep two in repair and deal with all the extra through-hulls and plumbing).

 

[wully1]

I had the 36cc some years back , actually I have own Moodys 27 years out of my 40 years of owned boat , so I guess you can say I have an love affair with Moody , the only thing that get me about the 36cc the 38cc and now my 42cc Moody is the master cabin door , just a few more ins highter would be great ,
I had more head injuries that way then any other injuries. Always seen to bring my head up at the wrong time .
At last I think I found away around it , hang a small bit of curtain, it seen to remains me to keep my head down for longer .

A section of gray foam pipe lagging opened up on the split and then trimmed to line the upper edge of the door frame only had taken away the pain on our Old Eclipse...
For some reason we don't seem smack our heads on the 36.. Maybe we've developed a 'Moody Stoop' when going aft..

 

[ip485]

The IP485 is centre cockpit and I find it works very well. I think the yacht is long enough for this arrangement albeit at first it seems odd as she doesnt seem very long, until you remind yourself there is almost as much behind as in front.

For that reason I think centre cockpits only looks right on larger yachts. Also from a practical point of view the yacht needs to be long enough to keep the cockpit out of as much of the spray as possible.

Inevitably the cockpit is that much higher and even on the IP the motion is more noticeable. Go below and settle into one of the sea berths and its very comfortable whereas in the cockpit you are definitely aware of the motion when the seas get big.

I especially like the layout you get below. Gone are the traditional coffin berths. However this again would only be possible with a larger yacht.

 

[Gryphon2]

A minor advantage of a cc is if you or your partner is short you can see forward much more easily....

 

[mariadz]

Just like in post number two, I also have had an aft cockpit boat and presently centre cockpit . The same sizes as post 2

The CC is much drier as we have a full bimini with detachable sides. Not one drop of fresh or salt water during entire transatlantic. Boat is an Amel Super Maramu. For Mariadz... check your steering cables; a mate found a badly kinked one routed just aft of the cockpits under floor.

Cheers

Thanks Monique, we will check it out. Our current problem is a stiff gear lever when I needed gear. Out of gear it moves easily, in gear it is very stiff and hard to get it where you want it.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks Monique, we will check it out. Our current problem is a stiff gear lever when I needed gear. Out of gear it moves easily, in gear it is very stiff and hard to get it where you want it.

Stiff and imprecise gear shifting is usually either the control head mechanism bunged up with years of grease and muck or failing cables. Symptoms tend to be the same, so stripping the whole system (or even replacing) is really the only way to go. Outside possibility it is the gearbox selection mechanism, but usually is the cables/control.

 

[Monique]

Thanks Monique, we will check it out. Our current problem is a stiff gear lever when I needed gear. Out of gear it moves easily, in gear it is very stiff and hard to get it where you want it.

Hi Mariadz, Probably a worn teleflex cable. I had the same problem on my Amel Super Maramu and cable change solved the problem. Now works a treat.

As an aside, the steering cable problem is apparently quoted on the Moody 54 owners website... FWIW!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Centre Cockpit Wet / Dry Experience

My Rival 41C is a center cockpit. The cockpit is not high and follows the same coachroof line as the aft cockpit version. When sailing close hauled in a strong breeze with a large sea most ofthe water that comes aboard is forward of the mast and the cockpit is as dry asa bone. I will get water on the cockpit spray hood if I slap an oncoming waveface instead of climbing over the wave. This is probably the same mechanism that results in water hitting theforward part of an aft cockpit but in my case, it is the hem that gets a facefull. It’s easy to tell when it is aboutto happen and a quick step up hill avoids a face full. Apart from that always dry.

Sitting on the aft bulkhead of the center cockpit (aft cabinroof) gives a great view all round but it is a dangerous position on my boat asthe mainsheet is also attached here. There have been bad rope burns caused by getting struck by the mainsheet. The center cockpit also gives mea good seating area, facing aft, when at the stern on the aft cabin roof. Motion wise, as mine is low, there is a largedifference in heavy seas between my center cockpit and the aft cockpit version,the motion being far easier in the center cockpit. Other yachts will be different of course. On the Rival the cockpit locker is very shallowbecause the Rivals have large port and starboard fuel tanks each side of thebeam of the center cockpit. If the portfuel tank was cut out, as some owners have done, then it is indeed a huge space. Excellent access to the engine and batterybank from each side, passage way to aft cabin and via the cockpit locker, easyto work on the engine even for a fatso like me.

I like the aft heads and aft cabin as it gives me a separationfrom the rest of the boat, sort of my space, a sanctuary away from the saloon. One vista I miss is the view in large seasfrom the back of the aft cockpit boats, when the whole yacht is climbing a waveand the bow is above, or below if dropping down; you don’t get that feeling of awesomenessfrom a center cockpit.