Outremer 45, do they have a helm enclosure?

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by Augi

I have never seen an Outremer with an enclosed dodger. I would never do it on any of the above, but I am not the op.

There is one and maybe the only one on a really well equipped O55 standard. They say she was the first cat to make it to the Antarctic Circle. This one can be yours for $440K.
https://www.yachtworld.com/core/list..._id=79103&url=

[Toys_with_time]

Originally Posted by Augi

A lot of cruisers carry a spare auto pilot or have a wind vane as a back up. But I don't think you can rig a wind vane on Cat or if you can it is likely more complicated than on a mono.

Windvanes work fine on cats - see Hydrovane website - and no more complicated to fit. Just need to buy the extended vane model

[AZUS]

A real full enclosure (and for us a real windscreen) is not so important when coastal sailing of Caribbean chartering, but we consider it vital on a voyaging cat.

We crossed the Atlantic 18 months ago on our Antares 44i with a real glass windshield (and wipers) and full enclosures. Even in gale conditions, and 14 foot following seas, we were warm, dry and comfortable in shirtsleeves on watch at the helm.

[boom23]

I consider cockpit full enclosure an absolute priority for long term cruising. During storms, someone needs to be at the helm, even with the autopilot ON.
I can deal with an exposed helm in a storm, if I have to, but I don't expect, or want, my wife to do the same. Why suffer when you don't have to? Cruising is supposed to be fun. But, that's me...

[Thalas]

The Antares is a true bluewater cruise and one of the few cats I believe can handle higher latitude sailing. I wish they had the resources to improve the design more frequently as I feel the current iteration is a bit dated these days.

The Nautitech does have an aftermarket bimini option and it's every bit as awkward as you would imagine. Not only is an aft helm incredibly exposed, but it is the single most obscured view position on a boat and I would not sleep well knowing the person on night watch was 1 foot from the edge and 3 feet from the sugar scoops even if they were tethered in.

I agree that the Outremer could easily accommodate any aftermarket bulkhelm bimini and clear option that works for FP, Lagoon, or Leopard with very minor adjustments.

[Hoodsail]

Good foulweather gear, gloves, boots should suffice for all seasonal sailing in new england. havent figured out a good method to keep eyeglasses free of rain/fogging up...cant speak to Antarctic bound tho. Our bimini more useful for sun protection than foul weather as it covers about 30% of cockpit. Autopilot is nice but battery drain could be a problem if only power source is engine driven alternator. Saving up for a wind vane, but have experienced flukey winds with rain storms so not certain utility there. After being at the helm for hours in the rain, really appreciate when the sun comes out.

[AlfaGTV]

Have you contacted Outremer about this? I've seen an Outremer 5X with 2 small bimini's over the helm stations, mainly for protection against the sun.

[davedindubai]

We have a Lagoon 450 but the Spor Top model which has a 'halfway' helm position instead of on top of the fly bridge. We have the full enclosure from Lagoon and couldn't be more protected or feel safer in bad weather. I don't feel too comfortable being inside the saloon when on watch (in bad weather), the vision is never as good, I can't see the sails and I feel quite disconnected from the weather when indoors.

[AZUS]

This is big reason we chose Antares - full enclosure and real windscreen - instead of exposed rear helms like Outremer. They are great for racing in nice weather or day sailing. But when crossing the Atlantic a year ago, even in a gale, we were warm and dry. To me keeping warm, dry and safe at the helm in all conditions (and not counting on your autopilot never being out) - this is basic seamanship.

On a major crossing, I particularly did not like the idea of the Admiral sitting out on the ass end on a night watch while I was sleeping below.

There are plenty of lively passage-making cats with good all-element protection. Don't believe that you are either totally exposed or driving a barge - untrue.

[smj]

Originally Posted by AZUS

This is big reason we chose Antares - full enclosure and real windscreen - instead of exposed rear helms like Outremer. They are great for racing in nice weather or day sailing. But when crossing the Atlantic a year ago, even in a gale, we were warm and dry. To me keeping warm, dry and safe at the helm in all conditions (and not counting on your autopilot never being out) - this is basic seamanship.



On a major crossing, I particularly did not like the idea of the Admiral sitting out on the ass end on a night watch while I was sleeping below.



There are plenty of lively passage-making cats with good all-element protection. Don't believe that you are either totally exposed or driving a barge - untrue.

The newer Outremer 45 has twin tillers towards the outer rear corners but they also have a bulkhead mounted wheel, which gives you the choice of the protected steering or the sportier tiller steering when the conditions are nice.

[CookiesnTequila]

We live aboard our Catana 50.

[CookiesnTequila]

Originally Posted by CookiesnTequila

We live aboard our Catana 50.

I'll start again!!

We live aboard our Catana 50, which has an open helm station on each hull outboard aft, and I love it!!

Here's why:
- clear and full visability all round.
- clear visability of sail trim regardless of which tack you are sailing on.
- all sail controls to the aft end and sides of the cockpit, which means you stand up to trim sIls and easily reach all winches.
- the entire cockpit is covered with a rigid bimini and we always have full side panels deployed when sailing in any weather without them getting in the way - so the whole cockpit is always dry and out the weather.
- our cockpit is wide open for living when not sailing (no helm in the cockpit), which is 98+% of the time.

We have 2 complete auto pilots, and ability to do everything from the inside nav station and protected cockpit. Visability from our inside forward facing nav station is every bit as good as any raised cockpit helm, and we can do almost everying from inside, out of the weather Including dump wind, head up, etc.

But occasionally, we (I) do donn wet weather gear and sail from the helm in the open... usually with a rather large smile on my face!!

[emoji16][emoji16][emoji16]

[CookiesnTequila]

Originally Posted by AZUS

This is big reason we chose Antares - full enclosure and real windscreen - instead of exposed rear helms like Outremer. They are great for racing in nice weather or day sailing. But when crossing the Atlantic a year ago, even in a gale, we were warm and dry. To me keeping warm, dry and safe at the helm in all conditions (and not counting on your autopilot never being out) - this is basic seamanship.

On a major crossing, I particularly did not like the idea of the Admiral sitting out on the ass end on a night watch while I was sleeping below.

There are plenty of lively passage-making cats with good all-element protection. Don't believe that you are either totally exposed or driving a barge - untrue.

Don't knock it until you've tried it!! Antares was my dream livaboard for years - it is sn awesome livaboard!! But before we bought we chartered every configuration possible, and ended up choosing a design with outside helms - a Catana 50. The Catana 50 was, just like the Antares, purpose designed and built for short-handed (a couple) globe trotting. I would not go back to a cockpit helm configuration unless there was no other choice. I listed why further on....

Different strokes for different folks!!

[Sand crab]

I've never seen a C50 cockpit enclosure. Can you post a pic or 2?
Thanks

[Shenan]

Hello !


We do offer helm protection as an option on the Outremer 45', here is an example. She is a Norwegian catamaran, owner intend to charter the boat North of Norway...
We don't recommand it though, since to have it you need to lift the boom, reduce the mainsail, and you loose efficiency on the sailplan by increasing the gap between the boom and the bimini top.

As usual, it's all about compromises...
The tillers are great in nice weather to have a good feel steering, the wheel is perfect for docking, with great view on the four corners, but in bad weather you will be better with the autopilot at the chat table, where you have 360° visibility and better protection !