"Vomit'orium" is another name for a pilot house.

A pilot house is common up here in the Pacific NW where it rains so much and
you really need some shelter will steering.

However, out on the open ocean, the majority of the time you want an open,
fresh air cock pit with a canvas or hard dodger and Bimini the just keep the
sum off and nothing else to block the breeze.

Another down side to a pilot house is the windage it presents along with
wide expanses of glass windows that could be easily be stoved in by a
boarding wave.

If you have a pilot house on a passage making vessel, it should be something
that won't sink the boat if you loose it.

Just some generally held opinions, by some. You will hear others of course.
(you know what they say about opinions.)

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

One thing I neglected to mention and I didn't note that anyone else
mentioned, 'the boom hieght'.

If a pilot house is added to a boat either by the designer or after market.
This everiably involves raising the boom height. This either reduces the
sail area or may increase the mast height. Either way, the sailing
characteristics of the boat will be changed. The center of gravity is
raised, both by the boom/mast and sail height. The boat will be much more
tender under sail and roll deeper if additional ballast isn't added.

Generally, a dodger cause these problems to a much lesser extent since
their installation is not normally intended to provide full standing head
room. In most instance the design boom height is not effected since the
designer has anticipated a normal dodger and bimini.

There is one other advantage of the pilot house over the dodger, and that is
the structural strength is usually sufficient to handle the main sheet
travel on the roof top.

Just my thoughts. FWIW.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 06:55:45 -0800, Steve wrote:

One thing I neglected to mention and I didn't note that anyone else
mentioned, 'the boom hieght'.

If a pilot house is added to a boat either by the designer or after
market.
This everiably involves raising the boom height. This either reduces
the
sail area or may increase the mast height. Either way, the sailing
characteristics of the boat will be changed. The center of gravity is
raised, both by the boom/mast and sail height. The boat will be much more
tender under sail and roll deeper if additional ballast isn't added.

theoreticly yes...but my 'experience' is not so. The sail was taken to the
top of the mast and the boom (mine is on a track) was fixed there.
a well designed boat can withstand a few extra people on one side or the
other..a J-29 might not but most boats tka e that in stride.

nerally, a dodger cause these problems to a much lesser extent since
their installation is not normally intended to provide full standing head
room. In most instance the design boom height is not effected since the
designer has anticipated a normal dodger and bimini.

i have full standing headroom.
snip...
Rick

Steve
s/v Good Intentions





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