Nutsy,

Your R&P system has a very bad drawback. Location of the Helm; as on
your 35s5. The Helm location is determined by the location of the Rudder
Post. Hence; the lack of space between the Transom and the Helm on your
boat. Now if they had lengthened that cramped cockpit by moving the
transom back and using a cable system to the Rudder Post you'd have a
truly 35 foot boat. However, they elected to save money by the use of
that cheap-O Swim Platform to lengthen the water line and call it a 35.
A French forgery 35 footer is what you got.