Mister E
Well-known member
It would be relatively easy to add a stainless rail around the top of the backs of the lockers.
Also a rail could be added to the doghouse.
Also a rail could be added to the doghouse.
Safer cockpit?
- Thread starter Stemar
- Start date
Neeves
Well-known member
I was used to helming a performance yacht with a tiller. Steering a cat with a wheel was a whole new ball game.
I quickly found as you have found that when one hull was climbing over a wave the other hull had found a trough.
Hand steering was debilitating as it was impossible to have both hulls climbing a wave - or surfing down the back of a wave - you (I) always got it wrong. I gave up and left it to the autopilot. Big seas, swells, or flatter water in wind were different you were more focussed at sail control - and again the answer was to leave the steering to the autopilot. One implication is that your power usage for the AP is higher than it would be on a monohull - but if you get it right the compensation is - off the wind (and who sails hard to windward when they become ... less agile) - you'll outsail the mono.
Jonathan
Stemar
Well-known member
Thanks. That gives me a bit more confidence that I could build my own. We either have to tow the flubber with OB attached or stow the OB and put the flubber on the for foredeck, where it's in the way if we want to anchor or pick up a buoy, including our mooring. Since the OB is too heavy to get back on the dinghy from on board with any degree of confidence that neither the OB or I will end up swimming, davits seem to be the way to go, but the off the shelf ones wouldn't be a straightforward fit, so a bespoke setup seems to be the way to go.
The "bimini" wouldn't be a bit thing, only about 2m long by 1.5 wide, fitting over the existing GRP windscreen and side screens, as much bigger would get in the way of the mainsheet, so I think it shouldn't be too demanding; I think the hardest bit would be thinking about what needs to be built in - hand holds, wiring for a light, etc. Part 2 of the project would be to make a cockpit tent to cover the entire cockpit, even if we can't use it at the same time as the mainsail. Madame would far rather we had a motorboat anyway, so we don't use it a lot anyway.
C08
Well-known member
The coming around the 8/9m Catalac cockpits is not very high and most I have seen have a retro fitted wooden or steel rail around the cockpit about 15" higher which pretty well eliminates the possibility of anyone being pitched overboard. My wooden rail on my 8m is on stainless supports makes a good mounting point for aIS aerial, dinghy outboard mounting pad, stern light raised a little, danbuoy mount etc. I also have a genoa track mounted on it as I have a larger additional genoa for light winds etc.
Neeves
Well-known member
Building something, I found, was relatively easy. The difficult part is fitting what you want and/or need (the 2 might not be the same) within the confines of the existing design as it is unlikely you will want to make any structural alterations.
Advise is easy, check what others have done on the same yacht (is there an owners forum?), look at what others have done on similar yachts - and then make it in cardboard - to see if it actually works.
Jonathan
Stemar
Well-known member
There's no owners' association, but I did find a rather slow forum
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - Catalac Owners Group
Via that, I found CatamaranSite – Cruising Catamarans For Sale, primarily a sales site, but with a useful reference page for several makes of cats, including Catalacs - References – CatamaranSite
I like the idea of making something in cardboard first, Now off to hunt down some big boxes!
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - Catalac Owners Group
Via that, I found CatamaranSite – Cruising Catamarans For Sale, primarily a sales site, but with a useful reference page for several makes of cats, including Catalacs - References – CatamaranSite
I like the idea of making something in cardboard first, Now off to hunt down some big boxes!
Refueler
Well-known member
An old solution in wide cockpits - kicking strap similar to a dinghy along the centreline .... you can stick your feet against ....
dunedin
Well-known member
But a fixed table with space to hold your winch handles / beer / books etc much better
Refueler
Well-known member
But a fixed table with space to hold your winch handles / beer / books etc much better
OK .... but I do like to have a large open space in port .....
My 38 has a large teak table to rig in cockpit but is based on a single central post .... I don't think would be strong enough to stop a falling body ...
ylop
Well-known member
You can probably do yourself quite a lot of harm without actually falling OUT though.
geem
Well-known member
Beanbags. Getting wedged in a corner is also so much easier and more comfortable with bean bags in the cockpit. We have used them on our last boat, a Prout .Snowgoose 37 and our current monohull. We wouldn't be without them. They also make a handy life preserver if anybody was to venture over the side since they are full of polystyrene beads
Gsailor
...
Another vote for a central tether u-bolt (or similar - something you can’t trip over or stub toes on)
ashtead
Well-known member
Continuing the theme of beanbags are square cubes approx 15inches square to sit on either at the table or facing forward under sprayhood on watch
penfold
Well-known member
You can get plates with tapped holes that you can screw eye bolts into, then they're removeable in port or during good weather.
Refueler
Well-known member
Why not just have a fold down eye .... similar to hatch finger eyes but designed as safety attachment points.
Or as posted earlier - have a 'kicking strap' rigged centrally along cockpit length.
penfold
Well-known member
The only decent ones I've ever seen were from Wichard and were pretty expensive for what they were. They'd do the job fine though.
thinwater
Well-known member
The answer is hand holds and learning how to use them. I know the motion, but it is all about learning how to move. I've sailed my PDQ is some beastly chop and never felt it dangerous. But you do have to think before you move. YOu should be able to get from point a to point b with a good solid grip at all times, like the monkey bars. A cat does not heel much.
On a cat, you must rig the sheets so that all of them can be released from the helm. Period. Perhaps not trimmed, but released. This can require adding some cam cleats, or perhaps, just putting a back wrap on the self-tailing winch.
And as Neeves pointed out, learn to use the autohelm quickly and reliably. Makes it much easier to move around.
We wrapped may of the holds with line for better grip. Stainless is slippery when wet.
On a cat, you must rig the sheets so that all of them can be released from the helm. Period. Perhaps not trimmed, but released. This can require adding some cam cleats, or perhaps, just putting a back wrap on the self-tailing winch.
And as Neeves pointed out, learn to use the autohelm quickly and reliably. Makes it much easier to move around.
We wrapped may of the holds with line for better grip. Stainless is slippery when wet.
Refueler
Well-known member
"learn to use the autohelm quickly and reliably. Makes it much easier to move around."
I am a total devotee to autohelm .....
I am a total devotee to autohelm .....
thinwater
Well-known member
Even if you have crew, they can be ...
- sick
- sleeping
- using the head
- not interested sailors
Stemar
Well-known member
That's pretty much my situation. Madame loves the boat, but isn't very interested in the mechanics of sailing. She's also disabled. which has robbed her of strength causes her to get tired easily. She'd rather we had a motor boat, so a Catalac with twin diesels is a good compromise; we motor or motorsail most of the time, the sails only go up if it's easy.