Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Heron
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
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RIGHT ON!
You forgot to mention, added buoyancy that high up drastically improves ultimate stability, the equivalent, in the inverted position, of adding thousands of pounds of ballast to the keel.
You also forgot to mention the reduced risk of the helmsman being washed overboard, or dying of exposure, or making mistakes due to the clouding of the mind caused by such exposure to the elements.
There is no rule which says pilothouses or pilothouse windows must be large and fragile.
I'm embarrassed that I spent so many foolish years in an open cockpit in bad weather, freezing my ass off, the equivalent of driving a pickup truck which can only be steered for the open box.
I'll never go back to such masochistic self abuse.
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