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

[rwoofer]

The more I watch the Delos videos, the more I'm convinced by a proper cockpit shelter.

I speak as a dinghy sailor who gets very wet when racing. On my cruiser we were forever huddling under the sprayhood.

 

[HighlandDave]

Hi all.
First time of posting.
Ive recently bought a Van De Stadt Norman which has a deck saloon and inside, as well as outside, helming position. I am planning to remove the inside wheel to fit a proper nav station.
My thinking is that the visibility is not good enough to enable you to pick up a mooring or coming alongside a pontoon whilst steering inside and most of the rest of any passage would be done on autohelm which can be controlled from inside or out. Also all the instruments are repeated at the outside helm position.
Any flaw in my plan?

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Any flaw in my plan?

No.

A modern autopilot gives you a virtual 'fly by wire' control for when keeping watch from the comfort of your deck saloon is preferable. You don't need the wasted space of a fixed helm position.

 

[NormanS]

My, admittedly old, autopilot is not powerful enough to cope with rough weather, and to avoid excessive loading on it, I don't let it try.

 

[Greenheart]

I like what I've read about the Kite.

There's a 2015 model here...very pretty, even the price...a pretty penny?

http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=469378

 

[Saguday]

Ipswich, Hampshire, UK?