Center Cockpits

[Mabel Gee]

What are the pros and cons of CCs relative to similarly sized stern cockpit sloop rigs?


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[Moody46CC]

Type center cockpit into the search engine and stand back. Been a lot of conversation on this lately.

[nesscapade]

I've owned both. Here's what I've seen with our Hylas 54, a CC:
1) you are closer to the bow so for longer boats you have better visibility and can communicate with crew on the bow
2) you won't be able to quickly reach out and secure a stern line like you can with an aft-cockpit design. You can though get to a midship line more quickly.
3) generally better room down below, especially in the stern where the aft-cockpit would limit clearance
4) can be wetter in bad weather because you are closer to the waves coming off the bow
5) the movement is a little more comfortable in bad weather because you are closer to the center of movement
6) the cockpit itself is a bit smaller than a similar sized aft-cockpit but there's so much more room on the aft deck which is where we spend all our time
7) needs shorter running rigging than aft cockpit, though not that much

I'm not necessarily partial to either one. Both have advantages. We do love our Hylas and the space we get down below. We spend a lot of nights on the boat and the extra space below is very nice.

[Cheechako]

CC+: Engine room size, better accommodation aft stateroom, water wont Run down the side decks into the cockpit.
Aft CC +: easier to steer and deal with a man overboard situation probably. Possibly a shorter ladder to below.

[barnakiel]

I think often view is better from a cc. You are sitting higher.

I think you may get more affected by roll. You are sitting higher.

b.

[a64pilot]

I love CC's, just they don't "work" in my opinion on 40' boats, takes a pretty big boat for one to show it's benefits


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[FamilyVan]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I love CC's, just they don't "work" in my opinion on 40' boats, takes a pretty big boat for one to show it's benefits


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I'm not sure I agree with that. I have a 35' centre cockpit double ender, it's the most spacious 35 foot sailboat I have ever been on. 2 state rooms plus a workshop? Not bad space wise. I'm a long way up from the water, and don't take spray, even though I'm closer to the water for and aft- I'm higher. My wife likes it because when we're heeling over it gives the sensation of being a long way from the water. Cockpit is nice for the little guy because, first he would have to crawl out of the cockpit, then crawl across the side deck, if for some reason we let that happen. Excellent motion at sea.

I'll grant it's she can be a bit of a PITA to sail. All sheets, are lead aft of the cockpit then forward- even Genoa sheets, so that can be awkward if you're doing a lot of sail handling.

[Reefmagnet]

CC gives you a cricked neck looking up at the sails

[Terra Nova]

Cautions regarding many center cockpits:

greater windage

higher center of gravity

higher center of effort

uncomfortably low cockpit seat backs

tall, steep ladder

[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by Mabel Gee

What are the pros and cons of CCs relative to similarly sized stern cockpit sloop rigs?


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You probably want to define the size range you are interested in. The pros and cons in comparing small CC vs AC are not necessarily the same as comparing larger CC vs AC.

[Mabel Gee]

Size range would be <40 feet.


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[Reefmagnet]

Originally Posted by Mabel Gee

Size range would be <40 feet.


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Ok, then in that case I can offer an opinion having owned both with the latest being a "walk through" style 33' CC.

Here's a rambling of the pros and cons...

pros: Heaps of interior room; a separate rear cabin for escaping the significant other at times; a decent bed even an old coot can extract themselves from without contorting into unnatural positions; 360 degree unobstructed views from the cockpit; less pitching motion in cockpit; arguably drier cockpit; mainsheet traveler to rear of helm; nice rear patio aft of cockpit; good engine access;

cons: Cricked neck from looking up at mainsail; high boom; lack of storage space for the stuff that would normally go in the cockpit lockers; cockpit not as comfy as an aft cockpit (ours is nice and long, but coamings are shallow; others have short cockpits but decent coamings); more rolling motion in cockpit; taller ladder to cabin; cockpit and engine in widest part of the boat; the interior, although more voluminous overall, has less wide open space then the comparable aft cockpit; some boats are butt ugly.

[Steadman Uhlich]

I like Center Cockpit boats, and would like one for three main reasons:

1. Typically more headroom in aft cabin and usually a wider aft cabin berth

2. Aft Deck (poop deck)

3. Better visibility forward on longer boats 45+ LOA

But…

Some look better than others. Often it is a matter of scale. Bigger boats often look nice with a CC. Smaller boats (less than 38 feet), not so nice sometimes. Some 40+ boats look "too tall" for my taste, but not all.

But there is a match out there for everyone if you look hard enough.

[Cherp]

We need to remove the word "cockpit" from the sailing vocabulary. It refers to cock- fighting, where roosters are forced to fight to the death in a pit. It is no longer an acceptable practice in the western world, although it is still popular in south East Asia and maybe other places. How about the "control box"?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Cherp

We need to remove the word "cockpit" from the sailing vocabulary. It refers to cock- fighting, where roosters are forced to fight to the death in a pit. It is no longer an acceptable practice in the western world, although it is still popular in south East Asia and maybe other places. How about the "control box"?

"We" dont need to do anything.

How about we just keep the word cockpit as most of didnt know the origins and know what it refers to on a boat.