Keeping a safe lookout.

[dancrane]

Thank you Angele, I realised that, otherwise I wouldn't have suggested it...I only mentioned it here because conventionally speaking, the cockpit is set well back to escape from the inevitable spray...but as there's already a fully-protected helm inside, there's no necessity for this yacht's outside helm to be stuck aft, where the view ahead is compromised.

Judging by the styling at work, I doubt that a forward cockpit was too ground-breaking for this designer.

 

[Angele]

Thank you Angele, I realised that, otherwise I wouldn't have suggested it...I only mentioned it here because conventionally speaking, the cockpit is set well back to escape from the inevitable spray...but as there's already a fully-protected helm inside, there's no necessity for this yacht's outside helm to be stuck aft, where the view ahead is compromised.

Judging by the styling at work, I doubt that a forward cockpit was too ground-breaking for this designer.

Actually, if they were a bit more imaginative, they might have come up with a flybridge design. The helm up there would have an excellent view. If only that pesky sail weren't there.....

 

[rotrax]

Oh, I want to see Cuban-heeled Sperry Topsiders. :biggrin-new:

Doubtless anyone of reasonable height can peer (somewhat uncomfortably) over the roofline...but I was thinking the illumination in the cockpit would have blinded the helmsman.

I'm slightly surprised the designer didn't go the whole hog, and move the deck saloon back a couple of yards, to make room for a fair-weather cockpit behind the mast...

...that would free up loads of headroom in an enormous aft cabin behind the deck saloon...and if the spray grew intolerable up forward, the boat could be helmed from inside.

We took on an Island Packet SP Cruiser in late May this year.

It has the outside cockpit behind the mast and in front of the pilot house. The boat can be steered from here if required using the Raymarine remote for the autohelm-not tried that yet.

The only other, and main, steering position is the inside one, and very nice it is too, with side by side seating in nice pilot seats for helm and crew.

Not so posh as the Moody but fits our needs-and has great visibility during the daylight hours. The plotter and instruments reflect on the centre windscreen but testing with a sheet of cardboard over the top fixes this. A proper shield is in progress as I write this..............................

Good visibility is important for the helm. If verticaly challenged like First Mate and I, looking down the side is useful for mooring and good quality clear panels in a sprayhood are perfectly good in most cases for sailing, even at night in our experience. The sprayhood and clear panels on our last boat-which we had and sailed extensivly for six years-were as good when we sold her as when we got her. Washing salt crystals off with warm soapy water was a regular chore, and must have helped avoid scratches.

Raindrops on the spectacles are a bigger problem IMHO!

 

[pathfinderstu]

Yes very easy to see over the top, stars, aircraft, balloons etc. haha.

 

[Al Dickson]

We had a 45 DS - If you were between 5'5" and 6'2" the coach roof was directly in line of sight standing at the helm.

Looking through the saloon out the big windscreen was okay for spotting large obstacles but not so good for pot markers etc. Close quarters required the helmsman to stand on the seat to get a decent 360 view of what was going on. I did hear of one owner who bought one of those baby step things but didn't fancy that flying about!

As with all boats it was a question of compromise - the big saloon was a fantastic, social place to be with great views plus a great inside helm station for nasty days - plus she sailed very well - often single handed while SWMBO had a cup of tea and read her magazine.

Since we sold her & bought the Nimbus, Mrs D still maintains if we ever go back sailing I will be required to buy another one of those Moody's.

The 45DS was a big boat to park esp in a breeze (the newer ones don't have the fold out bulwark steps, although I guess you could smack it on a power pole, we used ours the time for getting on/off & going alongside) as others have said they are expensive new & more Hanse quality than anything else, but there are a lot of plus points as a family cruiser and prices will be dropping now on older ones.

Note on the new 54 they have the helming area set higher (you can see on that pic the guy can see over comfortably) & this is a big improvement IMHO. Think they have got this particular size model absolutely right - probably taking lessons from the 45 & the 62 - maybe it works better at the intermediate length.

 

[Daydream believer]

The ' clear ' plastic windows on all the sprayhoods I've come across are useless for lookout purposes; there could be a flying saucer 10' in front with the aliens hanging out of the windows making rude gestures and one wouldn't notice !
.

Worried me when I first saw them a few years ago, but i would quite miss them if they did not visit me at least once a day now when i am sailing on my own.

 

[pathfinderstu]

We had a 45 DS - If you were between 5'5" and 6'2" the coach roof was directly in line of sight standing at the helm.

Looking through the saloon out the big windscreen was okay for spotting large obstacles but not so good for pot markers etc. Close quarters required the helmsman to stand on the seat to get a decent 360 view of what was going on. I did hear of one owner who bought one of those baby step things but didn't fancy that flying about!

As with all boats it was a question of compromise - the big saloon was a fantastic, social place to be with great views plus a great inside helm station for nasty days - plus she sailed very well - often single handed while SWMBO had a cup of tea and read her magazine.

Since we sold her & bought the Nimbus, Mrs D still maintains if we ever go back sailing I will be required to buy another one of those Moody's.

The 45DS was a big boat to park esp in a breeze (the newer ones don't have the fold out bulwark steps, although I guess you could smack it on a power pole, we used ours the time for getting on/off & going alongside) as others have said they are expensive new & more Hanse quality than anything else, but there are a lot of plus points as a family cruiser and prices will be dropping now on older ones.

Note on the new 54 they have the helming area set higher (you can see on that pic the guy can see over comfortably) & this is a big improvement IMHO. Think they have got this particular size model absolutely right - probably taking lessons from the 45 & the 62 - maybe it works better at the intermediate length.

Sensible reply to the OP, to me some of our fellow seafarers posting on here have a very flippant attitude towards safety, beyond humour.
The old saying that " The good lord looks after fools and drunks" springs to mind.
I am very surprised that designs like the 45 model (pics of the larger models seem to have a raised platform on the stern helm positon) are not subject to more regulation about forward vision. To me its like having a car with no windscreen and relying to sticking your head out of the side windows to see ahead.
I think the problem could have serious legal consequences if for example there was a fatality leading to criminal proceedings.

 

[Daydream believer]

Actually all this talk of looking ahead reminds me that in all the years of sailing 2 recent near misses have come from the stern quarter right behind my back, when i have not turned enough to swivel my view the full 360 degrees whilst helming.
Last week I came less than 200 feet of a ship without realising & 2 years ago a container ship passed from behind less than 2 boat lengths in the Black Deep. My first indication of it was when its bulbous bow appeared in my left hand vision.
In both cases I had regularly turned & looked to the left then turned & looked to the right but having no point of reference had not realised that I had not picked up a section of horizon with the ships in it

 

[[163233]]

To me its like having a car with no windscreen and relying to sticking your head out of the side windows to see ahead.

Whilst I'm sure one can single-hand a 50 foot boat, they aren't typically designed to be, it is important to remember that with boats the whole crew is driving it, not just the guy with the wheel.

Cars are typically designed for single handing, hence the greater visibility requirements from the helm, although I have noticed that in some larger designs visibility whilst mooring is compromised to the point that crew or electronic aids are required.

 

[Uricanejack]

Actually all this talk of looking ahead reminds me that in all the years of sailing 2 recent near misses have come from the stern quarter right behind my back, when i have not turned enough to swivel my view the full 360 degrees whilst helming.
Last week I came less than 200 feet of a ship without realising & 2 years ago a container ship passed from behind less than 2 boat lengths in the Black Deep. My first indication of it was when its bulbous bow appeared in my left hand vision.
In both cases I had regularly turned & looked to the left then turned & looked to the right but having no point of reference had not realised that I had not picked up a section of horizon with the ships in it

Have you ever wondered if they can see much passed all those stacks of box's in front of the wheel house.

 

[{151760}]

Have you ever wondered if they can see much passed all those stacks of box's in front of the wheel house.

The containers are stacked so as to give a line of vision forwards, but there is a blind spot immediately ahead of the ship, perhaps of a few hundred metres, I understand. They have at least two radars running, set at differing ranges. And the lookouts are well trained, usually. But I am always happy to keep well away from them.

 

[pathfinderstu]

Whilst I'm sure one can single-hand a 50 foot boat, they aren't typically designed to be, it is important to remember that with boats the whole crew is driving it, not just the guy with the wheel.

Cars are typically designed for single handing, hence the greater visibility requirements from the helm, although I have noticed that in some larger designs visibility whilst mooring is compromised to the point that crew or electronic aids are required.

You have obviously never driven a car with my wife as a passenger,!

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Not my experience when approaching the Lizard in thickish fog and hailed by one of her majesties customs cutters asking for passage details etc After passing over my details that I was on route to Falmouth direct from the Azores I asked how visible was I on radar to be told that they had first picked me up at a range of 20 miles south and west of Ushant and had monitored me since.

That's why they make the pilots drive and don't let them touch the complicated things in the back...