dje67
Well-Known Member
In support of the Pilothouse!
As an Evasion owner, I can vouch for the flexibility that the Pilothouse arrangement offers. As mentioned earlier, the inside steering postion is not used that often, but when I do use it, it is for good weather-related reasons. If I don't have full wet-weather gear on, being able to nip below whilst a shower passes is great. Also, if sailing with crew and it is wet, everyone can go into the warmth inside, without leaving the poor helmsman on his(her) own outside.
I've often sailed her from inside as well and can see all the sails through the Evasion's sunroof, including the wind indicator. I might not get the optimum sail adjustment, though, because I would slightly over-sheet the sails meaning that small wind direction changes don't leave the sails flogging. All sail adjustments are immediately outside the cabin door, so adjustment is actually no problem.
Combine a pilothouse with a warm-air heating system and you've got a lovely balance between helming outside as normal against keeping warm and dry if required. The main cabin table also allows charts to be viewed from the helm which is good.
My evasion was also used a race committee boat on one particularly foul evening - it beat the pant off other boats because all the race paperwork, binoculars, race information etc. etc. could all be laid out in the warm and dry whilst watching the race progress from inside...lovely!
As an Evasion owner, I can vouch for the flexibility that the Pilothouse arrangement offers. As mentioned earlier, the inside steering postion is not used that often, but when I do use it, it is for good weather-related reasons. If I don't have full wet-weather gear on, being able to nip below whilst a shower passes is great. Also, if sailing with crew and it is wet, everyone can go into the warmth inside, without leaving the poor helmsman on his(her) own outside.
I've often sailed her from inside as well and can see all the sails through the Evasion's sunroof, including the wind indicator. I might not get the optimum sail adjustment, though, because I would slightly over-sheet the sails meaning that small wind direction changes don't leave the sails flogging. All sail adjustments are immediately outside the cabin door, so adjustment is actually no problem.
Combine a pilothouse with a warm-air heating system and you've got a lovely balance between helming outside as normal against keeping warm and dry if required. The main cabin table also allows charts to be viewed from the helm which is good.
My evasion was also used a race committee boat on one particularly foul evening - it beat the pant off other boats because all the race paperwork, binoculars, race information etc. etc. could all be laid out in the warm and dry whilst watching the race progress from inside...lovely!
