Safer cockpit?

[Stemar]

We were out in a bit of wind the other day, coming out of Chichester Harbour, punching the tide, and 20-30 knots on the port bow. Jazzcat, a Catalac 8m was dancing a jig, one hull on the crest, the other in the trough, then swap. If I'm at the helm, I can reach the port genny sheet, but not the main, nor the starboard one, so moving around is essential under sail. The cockpit is a big open space, the best part of 3m across the beam and 1m60 in the length of the boat, and, while I'm reasonably secure at the helm, Madame can sit at the side and get wet, or find somewhere else to be, risking being bounced. It's also quite shallow, low seats and low backs as well, maybe 90cm in all, so it isn't hard to imagine getting flipped over the side.

Neither of us is as agile as we used to be, and we're at an age where we don't bounce too well, so any suggestions for making the cockpit safer?

 

[lustyd]

Remove a hull?

 

[Norman_E]

Its a special problem of catamarans that the two hulls can be dancing as described, and the wide cockpit does not help with safety. My solution to rough weather sailing in a monohull was to fit stout U bolts that I could clip on using a three hook safety line. The U bolts were spaced so that I could if required by conditions attach to a new position before unclipping from the first one. In a wide catamaran cockpit you either need a central table with attachment points, or a series of points arranged around the outside of the cockpit.

 

[Martin_J]

We also added clipping on points (as per the Offshore Regulations used in racing) so that we could clip on before even coming out of the companionway.

As you step out into the cockpit, not fully aware of the wind/waves, it could be easy to miss a handhold.

 

[Martin_J]

Good handrails with no sharp edges also help.

 

[Boathook]

Never heard of anyone falling out of a catalac cockpit, but there is always a first time. What about some extra handholds ?

 

[alahol2]

Maybe a sort of 'Granny bar' spanning nearly the full width of the cockpit sole. Leave room to get around each end. Good hand hold, could clip onto it and reach almost anywhere in the cockpit...?

 

[dunedin]

Not sure the layout of your cockpit, but a big solid centre cockpit table helps in many modern cruising monohulls with wide cockpits.
Gives more to brace against- and very practical for storing books, holding beer etc

 

[Poignard]

Sell it and buy a Twister.

 

[TonyMS]

On Razzmatazz, our 9.3m X 6m Dazzcat, I have installed steering wheels on the cabin bulkhead above each hull, with swivel seats just aft of each wheel. The 2 winches with all their clutches are on the roof ahead of the wheels. We each sit behind one of the wheels, and can carry out most manoeuvres without moving from our seats.

 

[Mister E]

We put fake grass down to stop the dog sliding about on out Catalac.
This helps people as you have a gripping surface under your feet.

 

[penfold]

Is a permanent bimini frame feasible? A quick look at google images suggests maybe yes. Such a frame might have a pole in the middle of the cockpit, or more than one distributed as appropriate, or if you wish to keep the space open then Underground-style overhead grab handles might work.

 

[steveeasy]

Sell it and buy a Twister.

Well you make a good point, Just the right width so you could get your bum on the coamings and tiller in hand with the mainsheet close. Feet secure on the opposite cockpit seats. very secure in all conditions.
In my new boat while im having great fun and feeling extremely at ease, the cockpit just does not work in the same way unless your 7ft tall or have an extra arm. sat up on the coamings, where You want to be, you just cant get anywhere to get a foothold on too. you end up holding on to a Stanstion. Very easy in heavy seas to end up being thrown across the cockpit. Quite amusing when you end up on top of other crew!! Not ideal but hey what is. thinking of making a triangular block for the feet to rest on from both Port and starboard sides.

Steveeasy

 

[Minerva]

Maybe a sort of 'Granny bar' spanning nearly the full width of the cockpit sole. Leave room to get around each end. Good hand hold, could clip onto it and reach almost anywhere in the cockpit...?

You could be onto something here.

Make it rectangular / box type
Shape. Meybe insulate the inside and add a fridge compressor to keep the tonic and ice cold. Could even add a wee light to help find the gin of an evening…

But you know, it’s all about cockpit security really.

 

[ashtead]

If moving around for the sheets is a concern would a self tacking headsail for use in stronger winds not help plus a mainsheet controllable from either side ? With what is termed a German mainsheet system you can happily adjust without moving about -a real revelation if you have sailed with a track in front of sprayhood. If not how about a track along back many westerly and moody had this rear track location. We also on a monohull have a steel granny bar stainless rail in middle of cockpit on which the wooden table rests -it has a top plus long oblong box base which drops over rail . I guess about 5ft long down middle of cockpit . Otherwise you could put angled wooden blocks/flap on cockpit sole to brace feet against . I guess the real issue is to have a central winching position for sheets ideally in summary .

 

[William_H]

I think Stemar's provblem is one of concern re falling over or being tipped onto hardware rather than going over board. So yes bar work across or through the middle would help. A middle table well attached perhaps with bars around the outside would also help. Or less expensive might be to rig ropes from one side to the other at a height suitable for grabbing. Perhaps from up back stay forward to cabin top. ol'will

 

[Neeves]

Our cockpit is part or fully cover. The cabin roof extends to a targa bar which is aligned to be just forward of the mainsheet.

We placed 4 x 'U' bolts into the roof, penetrating down, and rigged 12mm double braid in the form of a rectangle. We also have 'U' bolts in the cabin/cockpit bulkhead and U bolts at each set of transom steps (that then lead to the jackstays).

We can leave the saloon clipped on and move around the cockpit secured.

The 12mm rope in the cockpit roof provides a neat hand hold from the saloon door and effectively covers the whole cockpit, though can only be reached by adults. Because its soft, rope, and the U bolts are in the corners ones head is not at any risk. Hard hand holds in the roof would be a menace. It makes a really handy clothes line for wet weather gear and towels when at anchor.

Jonathan

Edit

Here is a pic taken from the port hull, aft, of our cockpit. The roof based rope 'rectangular' allows handhold for the complete cockpit. For those with sharp eyes you can also see 2 U bolts, at the 10 o'clock position from the wheel, in the cockpit/saloon bulkhead.

When we are 'at sea' our harnesses, LJs and tethers are hung from the roof located rope and are instantly available. The use of the rope as a clothes line will be easily devined.
The mainsheet, the red rope, which will normally be fed to the empty winch on the transom, its currently offset to steady the boom. The cage, in the foreground, housing the ladder is for the LR and there is another cage on the other side of the transom to hold a spare gas cylinder, the cylinder in use is in a locker under the wheel. The 'sailbag' houses the washboards.



The dinghy is raised using the blue ropes on the davits, the electric conduit that the blue ropes pass through is to allow a kayak to be housed on the davits and still allow the blue ropes to be used to lift the dinghy.

 

[Stemar]

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. ol'will is right about our concerns, we're unlikely to be tipped over the side, but a fall at our age could easily end up as a mayday.

Since we don't much like our canvas dog house top, I could well see myself doing something in GRP, and that could easily incorporate a pair of vertical poles that would provide something to hang on to. Would 30mm diameter be strong enough for that?

Jonathan, I really like those davits. Are they metal or GRP?

 

[Neeves]

Davits - GRP, made by Lightwave, who built the yacht.

Its not obvious but they can be operated by hand (each davit has a clutch), if the dinghy were light, but otherwise both use the mainsheet winch.

A GRP roof, foam and glass, would work - and be amenable to a home build. I built our helm station and the 1m transom extensions at home. You just need patience.

Jonathan

 

[Supertramp]

I think your concern is very real and many boats really aren't designed or equipped for those conditions, especially those with palatial cockpits. It might happen for only a short part of a trip but it's when accidents happen.

Inside and out I like to have handholds along every route and especially something to hang onto when sat down. Being a ketch I have rigging galore to hold onto.

Building biminis etc sounds like a major undertaking but consider where you can add teak or stainless grab bars so that you can comfortably hold something when sat down as well as moving around.