Why do so few cruising sail boats have a protected helm?

wipe_out said:
Discovered the Sirius 35DS and 40DS last night which seem to have some good ideas..
]
Click to expand...


Excellent machines, I have only ever seen one of them at sea. Certainly a much better option for inshore cruising than some of the thinly disguised, warm water, charter boats sold into the UK.

Someone will be along in a bit to burst the bubble by telling us what they cost. -)
 
KellysEye said:
Because we are men not girls.
Click to expand...

I almost envy you, KellysEye. :ambivalence:

Personally, I really like taking girls out in a boat, but it's always very clear that they'd rather be behind glass with the heater on, when it's cold and raining. Funny coves, these women.

How fortunate you are, to sail only with men. :rolleyes:
 
On round the world sailing race boats there seems to be exposed helm when someone is hand steering all the time., plus crew to constantly trim the sails as in the Volvo, whereas the Vendee Globe yachts all have protected areas and are steered mostly by the autopilot.
Is there a message in this?
TudorSailor
 
tudorsailor said:
On round the world sailing race boats there seems to be exposed helm when someone is hand steering all the time., plus crew to constantly trim the sails as in the Volvo, whereas the Vendee Globe yachts all have protected areas and are steered mostly by the autopilot.
Is there a message in this?
TudorSailor
Click to expand...
You can put up with almost anything during a one hour watch. It's when you're stuck out there for half a day or more that it becomes a problem.
 
wipe_out said:
Looking at their website they seem to be semi-custom so my guess is they are expensive compared to the "production" boats..
Click to expand...

Something like 3 times the price of my boat for a similar size one - before you go mad with the extras list!

The Sirius 42DS tested in YM in March 2015 was £512k, when the £ bought you 1.35 euros! A 35 base price from memory is over 350000 euros.

Perhaps explains why they make only around 20 boats a year!
 
Last edited:
Tranona said:
Something like 3 times the price of my boat for a similar size one - before you go mad with the extras list!

The Sirius 42DS tested in YM in March 2015 was £512k, when the £ bought you 1.35 euros! A 35 base price from memory is over 350000 euros.

Perhaps explains why they make only around 20 boats a year!
Click to expand...

Ouch!! That's certainly up there and there are probably a shed load of other options once you get up to those numbers..
 
Last edited:
Sybarite said:
There are some nice retrofits available for aft cockpit boats.
Click to expand...

I think a bolt-on hard-top is a very good way to go; the only downside is their reputation as aesthetic disasters. I doubt there's any necessity for a hard-top to look awful; it's only that one-offs made in garden-sheds haven't always been the last word in slickness.

A bolt-on wouldn't require anyone to permanently forego sleek sailing lines, but could be added at the end of summer to extend the season into late autumn...and is sure to make families a lot happier to start the following season, earlier than in an exposed cockpit.

Quite how much of the cockpit would/could/should be covered by a bolt-on top may be a matter for trial, error and personal choice.

Even a low doghouse-roof with windows all-round, would allow a skipper with an auto-helm joystick to sit high in the companionway, enjoying the heated cabin while keeping a lookout. Quite welcome for the slog home under auxiliary on a cold evening, I'd think.

A bolt-on that permits use of the sails, needs much more thinking about. Not by people who don't believe they want one, of course. ;)
 
prv said:
It's functional, and I have seen uglier - but I certainly wouldn't call that one "nice".

Pete
Click to expand...

Yes. Must be galling for the designer who put so much effort into making the coachroof look so unobtrusive and in proportion to the rest of the boat - and then somebody plonks that monstrosity on top!
 
I don't know, Mr T...we've been disagreeing ad nauseum about this for years. But I don't understand why.

I believe it's natural for me, as a wheelhouse fan, always to contribute enthusiastically to wheelhouse threads...I want one.

But why would anyone who has decided absolutely that he doesn't want one, still be equally quick to comment on them? :confused:

I suppose if I had convinced myself that I didn't want a wheelhouse, and that I valued performance and looks more than four-season comfort, there would always be a bit of me that could still see the other side, and slightly hankered after what I'd turned down...

...is it possible you're still trying to convince yourself? :p
 
dancrane said:
I don't know, Mr T...we've been disagreeing ad nauseum about this for years. But I don't understand why.

I believe it's natural for me, as a wheelhouse fan, always to contribute enthusiastically to wheelhouse threads...I want one.

But why would anyone who has decided absolutely that he doesn't want one, still be equally quick to comment on them? :confused:

I suppose if I had convinced myself that I didn't want a wheelhouse, and that I valued performance and looks more than four-season comfort, there would always be a bit of me that could still see the other side, and slightly hankered after what I'd turned down...

...is it possible you're still trying to convince yourself? :p
Click to expand...

Never said I did not want one, and have been sorely tempted in the past by the Griffiths designed boat that sybarite referred to early.

No, my objection is that the compromise on smaller boats of the size I can afford is too great. I am clearly not alone given all the examples of builders who have tried - and failed to meet this apparent need. It is one of those things many say they would like, but when it is actually available fail to buy. Completely rational as they look at what is offered compared with what else they can buy with their money and realise they are poor value for them.

As you go up the size range and get over 40' it changes and if I could afford it and could handle a boat that size I would have a Nauticat 42, such as my mate had for a number of years. This assumes boating in the UK as if back in the Med I would buy something completely different.

You should by now (I hope) realise that I think rationally and try to buy what is right for the job, not what I dream I might want. I don't believe lack of a wheel shelter constrains the use of my boat. I keep it in commission all year round - as with my previous boats and have used them regularly for pleasant day sails out of season. A good sprayhood provides more than enough protection and an Autopilot means you rarely have to be tied to the wheel for long periods. Clearly works for others as if you walk down a marina full of 30-40' boats (and many smaller) you will find this setup is almost universal.

So, in a sense a wheel shelter is a solution looking for a problem - or rather the problem is not big enough to offset the know compromises and negative things that come with wheel shelters and houses.
 
dancrane said:
I think a bolt-on hard-top is a very good way to go; the only downside is their reputation as aesthetic disasters. I doubt there's any necessity for a hard-top to look awful; it's only that one-offs made in garden-sheds haven't always been the last word in slickness.

A bolt-on wouldn't require anyone to permanently forego sleek sailing lines, but could be added at the end of summer to extend the season into late autumn...and is sure to make families a lot happier to start the following season, earlier than in an exposed cockpit.

Quite how much of the cockpit would/could/should be covered by a bolt-on top may be a matter for trial, error and personal choice.

Even a low doghouse-roof with windows all-round, would allow a skipper with an auto-helm joystick to sit high in the companionway, enjoying the heated cabin while keeping a lookout. Quite welcome for the slog home under auxiliary on a cold evening, I'd think.

A bolt-on that permits use of the sails, needs much more thinking about. Not by people who don't believe they want one, of course. ;)
Click to expand...

Winter cruising sound great in theory. In practice, the days are too short and there isn't enough time to actually get anywhere. Up here, at any rate. Day sails can be pleasant enough but you pick the crisp sunny days for those.
 
I have posted about this before, so for those who missed it then, here we go again:-

First Mate and I changed from an aft cockpit traditional yacht with a huge well designed sprayhood to the same manufacturers pilot house motor sailer last May.

We had a 500 NM plus delivery trip from Glouster Docks around to Gosport. A friend and fellow club member who acts as crew on many long distance deliveries agreed to assist on the trip.

When he saw Jarrow Lily, our new ( to us ) boat, with its motorboat style swim platform, small rig and huge pilot house he was a bit sniffy.

At 2.30 AM rounding lands end in the pissing rain wearing shorts and tee shirt he was of a different opinion!

The bottom line is simple-what suits YOU is the important bit. If I were 30 again-fat chance-an aft cockpit fast sailing lightweight might be what I would choose.

But, fast approaching 70, bad knees and a tweaky arthritic wrist the Island Packet SP Cruiser with its big engine, modest rig and electric winch suits very well.

I have not recieved a bucket full of seawater in the face since we got her..............................
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top