a.) it was condescending to women,

b.) all lines led aft both dramaticly increases friction and the chance of
failure in high wind conditions, it also makes one psychologically unable to go
forward under conditions when one HAS to go forward, and

c.) the center cockpit vs aft cockpit is a far more serious discussion that to
say it is better for the "little lady to see over".


The reason people like cc boats is that they get a full width aft stateroom.
To get that aft stateroom they get a lower performing boat, and a boat that
usually can not have an effective windwave set up. Wendy has stated she wants
an ocean going boat to go ocean going (trying to cross serious bluewater
without a windvane is kinda dumb, unless one is motoring the entire way. Also,
electric auto pilots have serious reliability issues, burn LOTS of hard to
replace amps, and don't steer well as the winds pick up, just the area where
wind vanes come into their own). She also wants something under 40 feet (ALL
cc boats under 40 ar Ugh Lee, and really poor performers to boot), and perhaps
as small as 30 feet (only really weird duck boats have cc's under 35 feet).

(JAXAshby) wrote:

Well, then, certain attributes suggest themselves: lines *already* led
back to the cockpit--maybe even a center cockpit, which is arguably
better for women due to the better visibility

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! bull**** that is.

What is wrong with better visibilty?

I prefer a center cockpit because of

a) better visibility forward (not aft because we have so much stuff on
the aft deck that we can't see aft very well but YMWV on that). We
still have a blind spot under the bow, but I have much less problem
seeing and the blind spot is less for me in a center cockpit. Except
for entering harbors etc, and even for anchoring I prefer to sit and
steer. Or rather - for most of the time I prefer to sit and let the
autopilot steer.

b) Less motion in the cockpit because it's closer to the center of the
boat.

I see nothing wrong with all lines led back to the cockpit - seems
sensible to me. If you are single handing you don't want to be having
to go up on deck to do something to the sails.

I do think someone who is doing a passage needs to have a wind vane
for steering rather than, or in addition to an autopilot. We don't
have one, but we don't do passages so we just use the autopilot. If
you have one, but sure it is big enough to handle the boat.



grandma Rosalie

S/V RosalieAnn, Leonardtown, MD
CSY 44 WO #156
http://home.mindspring.com/~gmbeasley/id2.html