Cockpit remodel musings

[Eddie Offermann]

Between the lazzerette deck blocking post and this one about cockpit layout I've been obsessing over a cockpit remodel. I noticed, for the first time, that the side benches on mine aren't the same height. The portside bench is roughly an inch taller: nobody notices it until I point it out... They look identical, just not quite the same height!

I am thinking more seriously about removing the movable side benches and replacing them with integrated benches that run the length of the cockpit, joining with the Cleopatra. The Cleopatra and the side benches will get topside hatches and the hatches on the faces will be removed and sealed. This will dramatically increase the usability of the storage under the Cleopatra and make the storage under the benches larger and less cumbersome to get in and out of. I also want to widen the side benches so that they're comfortable to lounge on.

I am debating about the following:

The current cockpit sole grid has a raised area just aft of the steering station (it's about 4 inches higher). This raised area gives enough additional height to get a decent view over the pilothouse roof - but the wheel is sufficiently out of reach that I have to lean over to handle it thus negating the height gain. I could fix this by getting a larger wheel: I could add another 8 inches diameter, probably, but that brings the side of the wheel 4 inches closer to the side of the cockpit - where a future extension of the side bench will pass, thus making this area narrow to pass through. Since the side benches will be more comfortable, and the Cleopatra is definitely more of an "I'm going to lay here a while" sort of area, maybe that's not important. I'm not sure yet.

I could make the side bench extension narrower there - and I think I could make that transition really attractive.

The other option would be to raise the wheel instead of making it larger. I can take it up another few inches, bringing it in reach when standing on the raised sole grid.

[Clyde A. Phillips]

Then I would think your boat was originally delivered with propane aboard; at least built for its inclusion.  Some people are shy of gas, in their house or in their boat.  I know that my wife will not have natural gas piped into our house and we had our line taken out years ago.  She won't even now and I'm having a natural gas line installed to run a whole house standby electric generator (outside, of course).  Those types would not want gas in their boats.  I don't want (read: not allow) gasoline on any of my commands. Even when the university bought a gasoline 110 volt generator for one of our PhD level investigators to do his work on board the research vessel they owned (of which I was captain) he had to keep it and its fuel on deck.  I've seen too many explosions!

Pressure alcohol is the safest, I understand.  Apparently a former owner of your So Nice understood it that way, too.

[Eddie Offermann]

That's *exactly* what my setup looks like, cross-section and all.

[Clyde A. Phillips]

The type of stove may be one of those changes in "standard" items that happened through the years.  All Newporters that I have have been aboard have had propane stoves, including the few west coast built boats that's been my joy to sail.  If "So nice" has seat boxes similar to my drawing and  if there is a locker of sorts behind the seat boxes similar to the the cross section shown, then I suggest that it orginally had propane.  Except, of course, she may have had an alcohol stove (even if propane was standard) if the original owner so specified.  Note that #71 was built at Dorchester before I started with these boats. 

Regardless where you decide putting propane tanks remember the ventilation needs of such a locker and find any Coast Guard (or other) requirements for a proper set up.   

[Eddie Offermann]

I should probably also note here that the previous owner removed what was possibly the original stove - an alcohol stove. So it's likely that in the case of my Newporter propane had never been used.

That's something that's definitely going to change soon - but I'm looking at different ideas on how and where to mount the tanks.

[Eddie Offermann]

Always interesting, Clyde! I had wondered what that storage area might have been intended for. There are, on mine, no indication that propane tanks were ever installed - and the present seat boxes are unattached in any way - the remain in place on mine because the grid wraps around them. They're less stable than I like on my boat, though I've had no mishaps in association with them.

The long curving corner is similar to my own thoughts - cuts into storage some but makes a nice line. Compromises! ;)

Interestingly, I usually steer from starboard as well - though I am right handed, I usually handle the helm with my left. I think I picked that up single-handing my other boat. I can handle the tiller with my left hand or a knee or something, but pulling sheets is right-hand work!

[Clyde A. Phillips]

Eddie,

There is one thing to keep in mind in changing (what we called) the seat boxes.  The designed seat box is actually the door to the propane locker.  We installed a tank about 10 inches in diameter and 30 to 36 inches long that was designed to be used in the horizontal position.  The seat  box forward end hooked behind a cleat fastened to the bulkhead that is the after end of the dog house (deck house, pilot house) and secured with a cap screw through its after end to the side of the cockpit.  The back of the box had a foam gasket that encircled the propane locker outboard of the cockpit side.  This half-round fiberglass molding had a tubing set up to drain any propane that escaped the tank overboard and out of danger.  If your propane is stored in these lockers maintain the system to jettison escaping gas overboard and make sure that gas can’t get into the cockpit.  This requires a removable seat box.

   I’ve spent a lot of time riding on these boxes and never was uncomfortable, but thinking of it now, widening them would make them a better seat.  Changing from a front entry to a top entry would make them easier to use as storage units.  For design ideas look at some of the modern cockpits that have a T shaped cockpit.  That may help in maintaining a passage way between seats and wheel.  A long (just long enough) radius curving corner would be easy to look at, though the longer the radius the more it cuts into the storage area.

   Raising the wheel is also a good idea.  Check out the amount of the rudder post sticking up above the quadrant to see how much height you can gain by sliding the quadrant up the post.  If you need more height you could mount a short shaft above and parallel to the present wheel shaft and connect the two with sprockets and chain.  A two shaft set up would allow for offsetting the wheel to your favored side for steering.  I’m left handed and always favored steering from the starboard side of the wheel.  The higher the wheel the higher the standing platform can be.  The higher the standing platform is the lower you’ll have to duck to have the boom miss your head when you come about.  Change one thing and something else is affected; boat design is one compromise after another.

   This is what make ownership so fun; you can change anything to suit your fancy!