Cockpit Research Snippet
Research continues…
As you may or may not know, I have very little sailing experience. In order to compensate for this lack of experience; I research. The research defines the guidelines for the design process. Here’s one example of design guidelines I’ve put together – the characteristics of a good cruising cockpit:
- High enough over the waterline that it drains automatically even at extreme heel angles)
- High enough to see over cabin trunk
- Seats should not be at level of deck
- Surfaced with non-skid
- No long, thick cockpit cushions
- Enough room to lie down
- Seats parallel to centerline
- Inboard edges parallel to each other
- Brace feet on opposite seat when heeled
- Coamings should meet cabin at right angles
- Main cabin will be raked to form a comfortable backrest
- Watch keeping position should be secure and protected from elements and good visibility
- Seats should drain at 30-degree angle of heel
- No interference between tiller and working a winch
- Able to reach cleats and winches without too much movement
- Designed around steering gear
- Good access to lockers – able to open and close lockers without moving the lines out of the way
- Strong sole and winch bases
- Small volume
- Maximum Volume – 6% LOA x max beam x freeboard aft
- Large scuppers – drain completely in three minutes if filled to combing
- Scuppers drain through transom (rather than via through-hull)
- Comfortable seating
- Bridge Deck
- Stowage for – tools, winch handles, flashlights, tails of sheets and halyards
- Backrest stowage and winch handle holders
- Coaming shaped to fit curvature of back with no hard spot at the top
- Easy to enter and exit
- Adequate number of handholds
- Adequate number of harness padeyes
- Winches accessible from watch keeping station
- Winch mounts angled outboard (provide a fairlead for headsail sheets to winches)
- No stubborn puddles on seats
- Sea lockers have deep gutters
- Lever type lock to gasket locker lids
- Lockable sea lockers
- Means to hold open locker
You can view more research, plus questions, project logs and photos about the cockpit here – Cockpit Project Page
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