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

[Robin]

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?

This is our new centre (center) cockpit Benreteau Oceanis 36 http://www.boatquest.com/listing/37964/1998-36-ft-dot--beneteau-oceanis-cc.html#.UZajS5rD-M9 which is currently in the hands of a delivery crew on route from Fort Lauderdale Florida to Daytona Beach Florida where we now live ashore having had a year living on board our last boat, a tradewinds47 trawler yacht until I had a stroke which spoiled our plans somewhat. Now I'm recovered we have decided to go back to a simpler life sailing weekends and vacations (which can be as long as we want as we are retired). The sailboat is easier for us two wrinklies To handle and is somewhat cheaper to run as well. I never thought I would favour in mast reefing but that is what we have, excellent down below with all mod cons including air conditioning, microwave etc as befits a yankee owned boat in a hot climate and the aft owners cabin has an excellent queensize double so we can be a marina caravan if we don't feel like going out quite as often as we used to

our last sailboat was an aft cockpit cruidser racer But then we also had a centre cockpit Westerly 33 ketch before that for some 14 years, albeit the aft cabin on that was not a walkthrough ( crawlthrough) but an up to the cockpit across and backdown jobbie

oddly, visibility forward undersail is better on an aft cockpit as the viewing angle from in the middle has some blind spots from the genoa.

whatever you get, enjoy it!!!

 

[Kukri]

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.

I have very happy memories of a long delivery on a Laurent Giles Donella class centre cockpit cutter which was a truly impressive beast.

 

[TerryMac]

Oyster 39 but I am of course biased ;-)

 

[Kukri]

Oyster 39 but I am of course biased ;-)

Thanks; that goes on the list but I prefer a cutter.

 

[TerryMac]

I have an emergency stay that can be quickly fitted and a storm jib hanked on if the going gets tough- No runners/checks either ;-) To be honest, I've never needed it, when it gets a bit sporty I just put the mizzen up, a scrap of genny, COE aft and off she goes.

 

[Toutvabien]

I have an emergency stay that can be quickly fitted and a storm jib hanked on if the going gets tough- No runners/checks either ;-) To be honest, I've never needed it, when it gets a bit sporty I just put the mizzen up, a scrap of genny, COE aft and off she goes.

Ditto, works very well but need to muck about with balance to get the Hydrovane working smoothly.

 

[TerryMac]

Ditto, works very well but need to muck about with balance to get the Hydrovane working smoothly.

Agree'd - Have you got extra ballast above the rudder post? A modification that was made to mine that seems to help improve the performance of my hydrovane.

PM me for pics/details if required.

 

[capnsensible]

Me an er have spent 15 years on a Moody 33 centre cockpit, been around a bit including 4 trans atlantics. Like.

 

[geem]

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!

Hi Chris, will be putting it to the test next season. Atlantic crossing proposed. They really are great boats. Glad you agree

 

[fandancer]

We love our Canadian built Northstar 40 centre cockpit, designed by Sparkman and Stevens. Huge aft cabin, huge beam making a spacious saloon. Very wide decks, aft deck big enough for beach deckchairs. Excellent cockpit with hardtop wheelhouse. Sailed from UK to Greece via the French canals north to south. Currently in Samos.

 

[Tengy]

I think you were right at the beginning...Westerly Oceanlord - you can't beat 'em! Though I am biased as that's what my boat is

 

[jonic]

I think you were right at the beginning...Westerly Oceanlord - you can't beat 'em! Though I am biased as that's what my boat is

Yup, excellent all round cruiser.

 

[SailingDestiny]

I have a Halberg Rassy 352 for sale, presently on the hard at Gouvia Marina Corfu... great boat well up together with a new teak deck in the last 4 years. We have had her since 2003. Can be seen on Transworld Yachts site in UK ..or Pinnacle Yacht sales in Corfu, its S/Y Destiny, We took her to Lebanon and Israel last year and she has looked after us well in the med for the last 10 years

 

[Kukri]

Yup, excellent all round cruiser.

Thanks to Tengy and jonic;

the only remaining issue is Sealord or Oceanlord....

 

[Robin]

Thanks to Tengy and jonic;

the only remaining issue is Sealord or Oceanlord....

Oceanlord if you can afford it... There is a Sealord however over here in Fort Pierce, Florida for sale that could probably be bought for $60,000 tops (asking is $74900) , we looked at it but liked another boat better that qwe just bought, but I the Sealord was a seriouss contender on our list. It had a replacement Yanmar 40'ish hp fittedabout 10 years back which is good as the original Volvo 2000 series fitted were imo the worst marine engines made. . It has had all the treadmaster deck removed so needs sanding and painting with non-slip or new treadmaster. http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatMergedDetails.jsp?boat_id=2549735&ybw=&units=Feet&currency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=1783&url= Opportunity to cruise the Bahamas and Caribbean and sail home with a bargain??? It coulfd always be shipped to the UK, lots do that.