Ron Heron wrote:
After several years of cruising with pilothouse and without I've
concluded that pilothouse sailing offers tremendous advantages over
sailing in the raw. Here is what I have found:

1. Much less cockpit glare in a pilothouse - less fatigue, less
sunburn, better visibility.

2. Better environment temperature and sun wise. Can sail for much
longer periods comfortably.

3. Higher position allows for much better visibility.

4. Higher position allows for much greater "feel" of the boat. I can
sail much better from a pilothouse. The sailtrim is easier to get
right and its easier to detect wind and current changes.

5. Access to instrumentation is far superior, no clouded plexiglass
covers.

6. Better airflow through the cockpit of a pilothouse.

7. No wacky tiller to deal with. The wife can't handle a tiller but is
a champ on the wheel.

8. Great view of things going on up on the foredeck. You can see
everything, rather than being down in a "hole".

9. Stuff can be stored out of the weather in the pilothouse.

10. Pets less likely to be washed overboard.

11. Greater protection in strong seas.

12. Excellent for entertaining and getting out of the bugs.

I find a pilothouse sailboat just can't be beat for cruising and would
encourage any serious cruiser to look at them before commiting to a
cockpit boat.

Ron Heron
S/V Seven C's
Biloxi, MS

I sail on both a 50-foot Beneteau cruiser/racer, and a 65-foot pilothouse
ketch, and you can keep your pilothouse boat. They are bloody awful to sail.

Slow to respond to the helm, won't point, and require an engine the size of
the QM2's to make any progress thru wind and waves.

They are simply downwind flat-water cruisers with no propensity to
seaworthiness.



Dennis.