" I think I want... a GRP boat with a centre cockpit..." -

Wide range of popular boats from 80's and 90's plus Scandinavian boats up to present day depending on your budget. Westerlys and Moodys most common but many now getting old and tired so good ones take a while to find. Bavaria 39 and 40 Ocean are good and more modern, Beneteau CC and some Dufour. All of these can be found up to 40ft for under £100k. over that and you can get larger of similar type or move upmarket into HRs etc or boats from smaller builders.

Advantages greater accommodation for length, although newer aft cockpit boats reduce that advantage. However, the separate aft cabin is the biggest selling point for most people. Arguably less suitable for hot weather living and berthing in the Med stern to manner, so have fallen out of fashion in new boats which are primarily designed for that sort of use. However, most have older style more conservative hull and rig designs so many people choose them for that reason. Some like the security of the smaller centre cockpit, others find being so high nearer the centre of the boat uncomfortable. In the smaller sizes less lounging space on deck, but that gets less important once you go over 40ft.
 
Minn said:
I looked over an American design, a Brewer 12.8, and thought "This is a splendid sort of boat".

So, Westerly Sealord/Oceanlord and...what else...?

I have spent a forty year sailing career on wooden boats with aft cockpits - what do I need to know?
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Southerly!

We have a dinky Southerly 105 and love her! The centre cockpit is surprisingly fantastic. Whilst the cockpit is smaller than your average stern cockpit boat, the space inside is great, and the cockpit is well protected from the elements.
 
The Rival 41C is another that might interest you. One difference between the Rival and many others is that it is a low design, both in freeboard and height of the cockpit above the water - the cockpit is also deep so has a very secure feel. Of course the flip side of a low, deep cockpit is that the walkway between front and back is only a walk for those under about 4 feet ;)
 
In our travels we have met many liveaboards in everything from 26ft aft cockpit sloops to 55ft Trawler yachts - all enjoying their boats and their adventures. There are no rules or one choice that fits all

We chose a Moody 425 (42ft) GRP centre cockpit sloop , have owned and sailed it for 7 years in the Med and never regretted it for a moment. One thing we learned was that boat design is a compromise between safety, cost, living space and performance to name just a few of the main parameters. If you are going to spend any time in the Med, you will find Marina cost bands tend to be 10-12 metres then 12-15 metres, so coming in at 12.7 metres means we sneak into a higher band. Despite this we have never been sorry as we feel the benefits outweigh the costs.

To lay a few ghosts that people come up with about centre cockpits.

1. Difficult to moor stern to in the Med: Marginally perhaps but my previous experiemce was in 30 ft tiller steering boats and I switched without difficulty. Frankly I prefer the privacy we get either bow or stern to.
2. Stern cabins stuffy: Not in my experience on the Moody we have 3 opening hatches/lights and are rarely short of a cooling breeze.
3. Centre cockpits are high up and make you prone to sea sickness: Didn't notice any difference - been sick in both, although admittedly not often!
4. Less space on deck: You have to be kidding! We have double sun bed on our aft cabin - as standard on our boat. Its also a great entertaining area
5. Smaller cockpit for entertaining: True, but its never cramped our style, we just remove the wheel...and party.

http://www.moodyowners.net/Moody_Archives/32_boat.htm

These were the factors that led my wife and I to choose our Moody.

1. Capital cost below £100k, (much less if possible!!)
2. Fibreglass for low maintenance
3. Proven, stable and seaworthy (decent keel/ballast, stable, small windows, moderate size cockpit etc)
4. Reasonably fast for good passage times (LWL and fin and skeg were factors here)
5. Roller reefing main and foresail to encourage us to reef early and often and in safety from the cockpit
6. Sloop rather than ketch as the roller reefing gives great variety of sail plans without all the extra mast and rigging
7. Large enough to live on comfortably and have guests from time to time but not so large costs went into the stratosphere. In the end we decided 40ft min and 45ft max.
8. Good storage
9. Decent size saloon with straight bench seats that could double as bunks or for just plain slobbing about on.
10. Spacious aft cabin with centreline bunk (important to us for living aboard)
11. Good sized galley with plenty of cool storage
12. Good engine access (3 sides)
13. Marinised Ford diesel (by Thorneycroft) so parts cheap and readily available.
14. No teak decking (gets too hot and too expensive says Nigel Calder and who am I to argue?)
15. Clear uncluttered decks with area to sunbathe
16. Plenty of opening hatches for ventilation
 
A Bill Dixon designed Moody 38 or 42 from mid 90's onwards.

I took a 38 through the Med, Caribbean and up the east coast of the USA.

Excellent liveaboards.

There are a few on my site at www.jryachts.com mostly all sold now, but lots of pictures and layout diagrams and one or two videos to give you an idea.
 
With an aft cockpit boat you can easily see where your money has gone. With the centre cockpit you have to keep turning around as well!

Try sailing on one before anything else. You may not like the motion, or the feeling of mild vertigo. Some people find a CC more secure; if find it less so.

Having owned a HR36 (CC) I much prefer aft cockpit.
 
Tranona said:
Advantages greater accommodation for length, although newer aft cockpit boats reduce that advantage. However, the separate aft cabin is the biggest selling point for most people. Arguably less suitable for hot weather living and berthing in the Med stern to manner, so have fallen out of fashion in new boats which are primarily designed for that sort of use. However, most have older style more conservative hull and rig designs so many people choose them for that reason. Some like the security of the smaller centre cockpit, others find being so high nearer the centre of the boat uncomfortable. In the smaller sizes less lounging space on deck, but that gets less important once you go over 40ft.
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We bought a centre cockpit specifically because it is inherently better ventilated than these double stern cabin versions on charter (which is what we did). The problem on the ventilation with most of them is that the hatches and portlights are at the forward end and therefore there is NO air circulation in the rest of the cabin and the air at the back of the cabin is in a ventilation free zone. The stern cabin generates a good through flow of air into the hatch and back towards the saloon and out of the main hatch.
 
chinita said:
With an aft cockpit boat you can easily see where your money has gone. With the centre cockpit you have to keep turning around as well!

Try sailing on one before anything else. You may not like the motion, or the feeling of mild vertigo. Some people find a CC more secure; if find it less so.

Having owned a HR36 (CC) I much prefer aft cockpit.
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I would agree with some of the modern centre cockpits - you feel perched up and thoroughly vulnerable. The Oceanlord is quite a deep cockpit and I have never felt this feeling as I have in some others. Its also large and well protected and when stern too you have more privacy.....
 
geem said:
I love my Van de Stadt designed Trintella 44 centre cockpit.
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Great designer.... the Trintella is remarkably fast once the wind come up. The only boat I have done more than 200 miles in 24 hours. And they keep straight when in big rollers. I think designers may have forgotten something in the design of modern boats!
 
We have a Maxi 34 - has a small stern cabin so is technically centre cockpit, though it's further aft than some.

Main downside I notice is that with the stern full of accommodation the cockpit stowage space is limited. A single locker on one side, and that not very large or deep.

Should keep the weight out of the ends compared to filling the lazarette with dinghies and jerrycans, though :)

Pete
 
Nothing uncomfortable about the motion in the Oceanlord cockpit that I've ever noticed. I'm 1.90m tall and can lay down on the seats (but not stretch my feet out fully). En Suite heads in the aft cabin and ingress/egress via the hatch means we can avoid disturbing anyone sleeping in the saloon.

Main downside is single handed mooring: I can't hang onto the wheel whilst dropping a loop over the side (small wheel, wide side deck). Could just be my lack of practice though. Also boom is over your head whilst steering. Being relatively tall this is a problem for me, but my local sailmaker assures me he will resolve this with the cut of my new main. Fitting a bimini might still be challenging though (I'm sure others have done it)
 
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We have a Najad 343, she's a CC and I've owned two other sailing boats both being aft cockpit and I'd never go back to aft cockpits....
The space below is fantastic...
Feels very safe in rough weather, less movement as you are closer to tne center of motion...
Najad 343 ALL THE WAY..!!
 
laika said:
Nothing uncomfortable about the motion in the Oceanlord cockpit that I've ever noticed. I'm 1.90m tall and can lay down on the seats (but not stretch my feet out fully). En Suite heads in the aft cabin and ingress/egress via the hatch means we can avoid disturbing anyone sleeping in the saloon.

Main downside is single handed mooring: I can't hang onto the wheel whilst dropping a loop over the side (small wheel, wide side deck). Could just be my lack of practice though. Also boom is over your head whilst steering. Being relatively tall this is a problem for me, but my local sailmaker assures me he will resolve this with the cut of my new main. Fitting a bimini might still be challenging though (I'm sure others have done it)
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wots 1.9 m in english please!
 
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