Center Cockpits or aft?

Let's look at the design considerations

Thoughts on center-cockpits…

  As I’m sure you are aware, there are differences in opinion about everything nautical!  My intention here isn’t to point out the virtues of one type of boat over another, or even to present any arguable information. I’m simply pointing out some of the facts that I have experienced or had others express to me about center-cockpits over the 35 years I’ve been in business.

  I would start by saying that at various times, I have represented manufacturers who have offered excellent center-cockpit models and so I have considerable experience living on them, servicing them, and talking to owner’s and charterers.

  One thing that I will report is that there is a trend in the industry in other directions, notably towards the Deck Saloon type of boat as is offered by Jeanneau, Wauquiez, and Oyster as well as by many custom builders. Why this change?

 NOTE: These pictures are of an aft cabin, Deck saloon boat, not a centercockpit. You can have a fantastic cockpit and a fantastic aft cabin!

Those of us in the industry have observed some disadvantages inherent in the Center-cockpit type, but overcome in the Deck Saloon Type. Chief among these are:

• A center-cockpit design puts the helmsman further forward where there is more spray. Of course his passengers are even further forward! A good dodger or fixed windshield is a must for any but the most calm weather, and in nice weather these devices tend to block the cooling summer breezes.
• The cockpit itself is smaller. Today’s cruisers spend much of their time in the cockpit and with today’s excellent Bimini’s (offering exceptional sun and rain protection) do this in almost any weather conditions. The center-cockpit offers minimum livability.
• In order to get the room under the cockpit to allow adequate living space in the typical, aft owner’s cabin, it must be raised considerably. This in turn, causes the coaming to either be too low for comfortable back support, or alternatively, if it is raised to a normal height, it makes it difficult to step over to reach the deck, and presents excessive windage. In addition, most aft cockpits which are able to utilize the full width of the boat, have room for a substantial table in the middle, often with a cooler built in. This, again, increases livability and offers a great hand and foot hold for bracing when moving about or while healing.
• One of the big advantages to aft cockpits is the ability to create a walk through to an aft swim platform. This back porch is essential to Charterers and those who enjoy cruising in Southern latitudes. It makes for easy dinghy access, and swimming off the stern. (Not to mention the safety of having a low, water level platform to retrieve a lost hat, or even a person who has fallen overboard!)
• If the coaming (backrest) is rounded at the corners(Most Beneteau models, etc.--an affectation to make the cockpit appear more inviting), it’s even less comfortable as there is no corner to snuggle into for reading or steering when you want to relax, lay back and occasionally kick at the wheel with your foot.
• This is an unexpected point, but one that bears checking out—because most center-cockpits appeal to entry level sailors the designers often use hull designs which offer large volume, extremely shoal draft, simplified rigs, etc. Winches are not optimally placed for convenient operation because they are so far inboard and the angles and heights are not ergonomic. All features that compromise sailing performance. Center-cockpits as a genre generally have the reputation of poorer performance—earned or not, and often this too affects resale.
• Move below. The aft bulkhead of the main cabin has now been moved forward to accommodate the forward placed cockpit and large aft owner’s cabin. This creates new compromises: