Does a wheelhouse sound attractive?

Nostrodamus

Nostrodamus

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www.cygnus3.com
What better feeling that being behind the wheel of your boat, sun beating down and the sails fully set.

The trouble is for the last month in has been cold, very windy or no wind and wet. In has rained almost continually and we are in Spain!

I didn't think I would say it but it is at times like this when a wheelhouse with a decent seat and place to put your tea sounds very attractive.
 
As I've mentioned in the past, I often amuse myself by designing liveaboard world-cruising boats that I will never actually own. An inside steering position is always a non-negotiable feature.

On the current sketch, this helps with the big aft cabin concept by allowing the "fair weather cockpit" to be at deck level, giving lots of headroom below. If there were no inside control position, the outside cockpit would have to be much more sheltered, meaning lower.

Pete
 
Cape and Sou'wester

From a leisure perspective when not sailing a wheel house is far better in inclement weather than big cockpit tents. When sailing, even in the grim, dreach clag I prefer to be outside, even when its cold. Thats not to say that wouldn't mind a bit of wheelhouse comfort or appreciate it. Not at all.

Anyway, as Billy Connelly says, "There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes." So get your layers on, don the cape and sou'wester.
 
The big problem with the wheelhouse is it obscures vision forward in thr normal set up.With modern day control systems there can be remote control so there is no need to be in the w/h to manuver if good vision is required,With self steering equipment there is no need to actually have a cockpit or sit in the w/h in fine weather,The main use of the w/h is as mentioned to take tea and take in the view especially early in the morning whilst in ones pjamas.
 
Nostrodamus said:
I didn't think I would say it but it is at times like this when a wheelhouse with a decent seat and place to put your tea sounds very attractive.
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Yet to come across a sailing boat that can be effectively sailed from inside. However I did once own a Prout cat with a hardtop and that was a very effective compromise. And yes you could put your tea down unlike in a mono.
 
I have got a half-wheelhouse...................known as a dog-house!! SWMBO thought that meant we could take the dog with us!!

I intend to get a cover made to fit between the dog house and the rear cabin but I think I have got the best of both worlds.

PS Also got two masts!
 
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Bosun Higgs said:
Yet to come across a sailing boat that can be effectively sailed from inside.
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What I had in mind was ocean work, where most of the time nobody except the windvane is actively sailing the boat. Somebody should still be on watch, though, so giving them a warm dry place to sit seemed like a good idea.

Pete
 
Nostrodamus said:
What better feeling that being behind the wheel of your boat, sun beating down and the sails fully set.

The trouble is for the last month in has been cold, very windy or no wind and wet. In has rained almost continually and we are in Spain!

I didn't think I would say it but it is at times like this when a wheelhouse with a decent seat and place to put your tea sounds very attractive.
Click to expand...

Salar 40, Moody Haberdier 36, Rasmus 35, Malo 50, Neptunian 33, Jouet 10m40, Evasion 34 & 37, etc
 
They do sound attractive but they certainly don't look attractive, i would always go without because of the extra visibility you get, especially when coming alongside (used to sail an LM28 and it was a nightmare!) also going forward is more difficult with a bloody great shed to get around.

I was very amused by the new Island Packet at the boat show this year. Only had two winches on board neither of which you could see either sail from!

http://www.waltonmarine.co.uk/boat/IslandPacketYachts/MotorSailer/SPCruiser.aspx

They tend to be popular amongst older sailors but i don't think disadvantages outweigh advantages. I think a good quality spray hood only put up when its rough is good compromise.
 
Thwe wheelhouse should have a door each side,sash windows on the front and should be at deck level and have sufficeint headroom..otherwise its a deckhouse.I suggested in aprevious thread the idea of a hybrid between a Danish longliner and a Stephen Jones wide beam fast cruiser hull.
 
I actually have a self draining footwell with seats at deck level... and have beguiled many a freezeing hour on watch designing the weatherproofing that I know I will never build...but I have sailed a friend's boat with a reallly really good doghouse complete with what Maurice Griffiths called a "loco cab" - she is really comfortable!
 
Nostrodamus said:
I didn't think I would say it but it is at times like this when a wheelhouse with a decent seat and place to put your tea sounds very attractive.
Click to expand...

Think I´ll be installing a hard sprayhood at some point. But if you are thinking wheelhouse then that points to some fairly severe navigational errors.

You are still too far north :p :D
 
Nostrodamus said:
What better feeling that being behind the wheel of your boat, sun beating down and the sails fully set.

The trouble is for the last month in has been cold, very windy or no wind and wet. In has rained almost continually and we are in Spain!

I didn't think I would say it but it is at times like this when a wheelhouse with a decent seat and place to put your tea sounds very attractive.
Click to expand...
I put a cockpit "cover" on my 381 bene, its been down once. I designed it to be up when sailing. The sides and back zip up and the winches can be used by rolling up a corner. Its superb, keeps the elements off when its wet and cold and if its warm the sides are rolled up for it to be become a sunshade
Stu
 
There was a recent thread commenting on 'only owners and ********s sit in the companionway'. I changed my c'way slightly and incorporated both wide sides and a wide comfortable teak base or seat to it. With cockpit dodger and side dodgers it is a very comfortable place to be and anyone on watch can sail without layering up the clothes much.

In fact last summer ( remember all those miserable weather threads on here?)I did not once put on foulie bottoms and most times was bare foot, with a 'proper' china teapot wedged handily in the sink :)

Hardcore tropical sailors do sometimes go for homemade hard dodgers with awning and side/rear extentions, usually around the time they have paid to have the rotten cockpit dodger re-stitched the second time..

Aesthetically they certainly vary!
 
Deck saloons are the way forward...

For me at least.Spending all day out in the p1ss1ng rain and cold wind is not my idea of fun.

I've found I can sail well enough from inside and there is a wheel outside if I want to get all yotty on a nice day.

I'd not have a boat that:

I can't steer from inside.

I have to climb over my pillows to get into bed.
 
wklein said:
going forward is more difficult with a bloody great shed to get around.
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What I had in mind was originally based on a slightly larger version of Tom Macnaughton's Crown Jewel. Here's one still in the process of fitting about above decks. The idea is that you would build non-structural deck stowage boxes to sit on, either side of where the guy on the tiller is. The thing in front of him is the wheelhouse, without windows cut out yet. Mine would have to get a bit higher to see over the serious bulwarks I'd want, while heeled, but still not exactly a bloody great shed :)

Pete
 
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