My cockpit measures . . .

Five feet long, by two feet wide by 16 inches deep.

Let's figure the total area that can flood with water in
boarding sea conditions. Five times two is ten times 1.5
(rounding up a couple inches) equals fifteen cubic feet.

A cubic foot of water weighs 52 pounds, fifteen times
52 equals 780 pounds. That's a lot of weight - about
the same as four men in the cockpit. It won't swamp
or sink the boat but it will put the transom down about
four inches.

Now you do some measuring and calculate the volume
of water that fancy pants C&C 34 XL can hold. I bet
it's an order of magnitude of mine times at least five because
in its case you've got to figure the volume including the
coamings because it doesn't have a cut out in the transom
like my fine, seaworthy Coronado has. Any boarding wave
will quickly pour out the "Cut the Mustard's" transom while
a crummy C&C 34 XL cockpit will fill to the top of the
coamings and the water will stay there until it all can drain
from what are probably very inadequate scuppers prone to
becoming plugged up. Before it can even think of draining
all the way here comes yet another wave to fill it up to the
top again. Bwahahahahaah!

If my fine yacht can hold 800 pounds of water in her
cockpit they your precious 34XL can probably hold
4000 pounds - enough to sink the stern and keep it
sunk. Think again about your cockpit parties at the
dock. Are they worth it when your "perfect" boat isn't
even seaworthy?

S.Simon - knows all facets of sailing and dangers thereof.

"Bobsprit" wrote in message ...
Most of us sail coastal waters where a tiny blue water style cockpit is
pointless. Capt. neal's cockpit is 7 feet long.

RB