"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Now you've got me curious. How much time do you have in older "dangerous"
boats? There is certainly a convenience issue with all cockpit control and
it made sense for the retired couple who sailed this boat by themselves.
I'm not sure about the danger though.

The close overboard calls I had during my last quarter century of sailing
were mostly in the cockpit where there are few handholds when you stand up
to do something. At the mast, there are all sorts of handholds and they
are at and above your center of gravity. The shrouds are between you and
the ocean and there is this big solid thing you can lean against.

On your other point: It's not the rope coils that take up the space. It's
the person standing up to grind the winch and sticking his or her butt in
the face of someone sitting in the cockpit. Then there are the flailing
arms as the lines are coiled up. Believe me, it takes up a lot of space in
a cockpit.

--

Roger Long




wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, just cuz it was done in the past doesnt mean its a good idea now.
You could argue that real seamen sail with canvas sails butpeople
would laugh at you for such an assertion. Technological advances are
made for good reason and in this day there are few reasons for mast
mounted winches. Old boats just are old, not better.
I know thata Endeavor has an engine, do real seamen EVER use engines,
of course they do although all boats do not have them and real seamen
did not use them in the past. Auxiliary engines, like cockpit led
control lines were a good idea.
As far as getting room int eh cockpit for guests, simply coil the lines
and put em on the cabin top when not in use.
Creating danger for purely arbitrary reasons seems odd to me but I was
simply suggesting based on my experience. Its your boat, set it up
your way and enjoy.
My appreciation for my cockpit led controls increased last month when I
sailed from Sarasota to N. Florida across the Gulf of Mexico. After
dark, the wind got up a little so I decided to reef. The guy who was
sailing with me thought i had to go up on the cabin top to reef,
instead I simply slacked the halyard and pulled on the reefing line and
Voila, I never left the safety of the cockpit at night.


In my experience, the dangerous time is moving from the cockpit to wherever
you're going, including standing up. Most boats have few handholds, the path
is slippery, on an incline, and the boom is always an issue, not to mention
various lines either under tension or lazy. After you get where you're
going, it's not so bad, but then you have to return.

I think it makes a lot of sense to have all lines led aft. It's not a
complete solution, but it's helpful.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com