Here In the yard and I am looking to solve some of the discomfort in my cockpit before relaunch. So I thought I would ask, if anyone has comments, or pictures of a great cockpit.

I asked Bud and he has sent 4 pics on (Thanks) and I have reviewed the WOA, Jacks site and google, for tid bits. All were some what helpful, but not quite enough.;

my thoughts

Making it in 3 or 4 parts 

1.) the coamings  with the following

•  19" seat bottom depth
  
• 15 Deg slant on the back
• place for the jib sheets to fall (store)
• Issue (working around the bulworks mounted winches for the design)
  

2.) the seat front addition (where the shin busting boards were = removed)

• narrow the top of the well to 27" max (foot rest for healed side)
  
• rounded so as not to beat up the person
• removable so as to allow the floor to come up  
• Not sure there are any issues with this design?
  

3.) the sole in the cockpit

• An addition so that under the new seat front overhang 1.5" at the back and 4" at the front; the sole is angled 20 deg (= no more foot jamming in the down wind corner of the well)
• Integrated into the removable floor section (one part or 2?)
• I am leaning to 2 part and bolting the sole down from underneath
• Issue The angle 20 = flat on heal or 45 deg = opposite slope and no sharp corner?
  

Where I am not sure,  The very aft end.  as the coamings will end in the bulworks just aft of the gallows, a second part will be needed for a backrest. Tiller clearance, hatch access and general access will have to be thought of.

(Any pic's or comments in this area would be helpful)

Making this out of foam and glass is the simple choice but if others were to do it (Mold for the parts?) 

Norm

Mark thanks for the info, but I think I had seen the teak boards (internet) nice, but they are wood and I really hate exterior wood!

My cockpit mod is for comfort!  less wet, better seating at harbor and at sea some what more room, and hopefully I can lay back while at the tiller and just enjoy the dry and comfy sail? the loss in butt room is no issue and the backrest would be great.

some notes:

ending the coaming at bull works = the water must shoot up and out overboard in the rear or flow back forward.  I have done the full cockpit fill thing :( it does not happen that often but) the coaming will have a curved design on the outside to assist the water getting off (flowing right on by) and not into the foot well.

I also am going to have drains for the seats both fore and aft.

For mock up I am going to use styrofoam cut, sanded and roughed into shape for all parts. This will allow the checking of all lines and the tiller as well as looking at access in and out of the cockpit.

The current thought on the aft coaming (separate from the seat backs) is to run it just infront of the hatch with little curves backward on each side to tie into the bulworks.  But this is the area I would like to see other solutions. as this is where the loss or gain of room in the cockpit will come from.  

an additional note; I have no boomkin, It is gone and I have never ever missed it one bit!! not even a little.

as for the hatch I am thinking of a way I can use it as a cockpit table when at anchor = yes I think the flush is great but I may not go that way.

Mike:

Thanks for the info (I substituted a full sail bag for the bean bag (less storage required, but yes a very great Idea!))

as for narrowing the cockpit (I see this as one of the big issues at sea); it is to far a reach for the feet,  when healed. Please note; I am not narrowing the floor of the well, just the removable top, on the floor I want to add a wedge to the edge of the floor hatch so as not to jam my bare foot in the corner of the well which hurts this old guy.

as for the Laying down in the cockpit; that is what I am shooting for!

The yes or no to that question, is located at the aft end of the well and the cross (very back coaming) part and it's design.

as for reduction in the side decks the loss will not be missed as you would have a backrest which trumps no back rest with wet butt.

I have some CAD stuff I am thinking of, but it is not done (or close)  as I have to resolve the winch areas and the very aft of the cockpit.  For me it means relocating the aft cleats which are even with the back of the well.  (I plan to move them to the sides of the aft hatch and behind any coaming that is installed) 

as for the tip up seat I am less keen on these (at least under sail) and for storage.

and for the access to the engine room I have a marine hatch much like the one on sundown  which will still fit within the narrower seats. And yes I am still working on the design, but hope to have something near the end of the week. (not sure I can get everything I want but I will try)

Any information on what other people have done at the very back of the cockpit (sides) would be great.

Thanks:

Norm

Ryan Thanks for the picture.

Update for me:

I will be cutting the high $$$ foam for the back (across the aft end of the cockpit) this next week. I thought this would be the hardest and it seams to be the easy sell for my wife?? and the mockup looks and feels great.  I will post pictures when completed and painted.

the wife has said no to what I wanted to do for the side coamings so back to the drawing board for those?  She did not want to step over the mockup, so ? :(  = still thinking about it

Any other pictures would still be welcome as my full coamings were shot down.

Thanks:

Norm