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Post by NZL50505 on Jan 26, 2023 22:11:04 GMT
In rubbish weather I’ve often thought it would be great to have a comfortable place to perch at the top of the companionway steps - both at anchor and underway. Has anyone ever devised something for this? As per the pic, I often simply sit on a padded cushiony thing but it’s not great - I imagine some kind of seat that locates into the same aluminium frame that the washboard drops into, perhaps. Any thoughts?  |
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Post by Tafika II on Jan 27, 2023 1:35:06 GMT
I made a plywood mockup that slid into the sides and bottom aluminum slots. It was stable & comfortable, but I scrapped the idea as it would be just another thing to stow away.
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Post by Charlie-Bravo on Jan 27, 2023 9:26:00 GMT
I also made an upholstered plywood seat, and like Tafika ll above found it doesn’t get used much, yet another thing to stow, and obstructs the companion way, but was a good idea and I haven’t actually thrown mine out ….. yet.
CB
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Post by NZL50505 on Jan 29, 2023 5:49:08 GMT
Mmmm, maybe it’s just the appalling summer we’re having in NZ that makes me consider a companionway seat.
Scratch that. The weather actually makes me consider selling the boat and buying a motor sailor instead…
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Post by zaphod on Jan 29, 2023 6:13:25 GMT
I'm not sure why you would want to sit in the companionway instead of the cockpit. Is hot summer weather we pretty much live in the cockpit.
The companionway seems a very uncomfortable place to sit.
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Post by bereboot on Jan 29, 2023 9:14:41 GMT
Yes, but it is closer to the bar.
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Post by MartyB on Jan 29, 2023 18:07:24 GMT
I sit here frequently motoring with Otto at the helm.. As I don't have a doger or Bimini, it warmer and out of the weather. I sit on a typical 18" SQ by 2-3" throwable pfd cushion. Just as I move it about to cocpit seats in long hauls motoring. This stores in a cubby below my nav desk. I have onbof these I bring on overnight club/roundezvius weekend type things. I've not tried in the companionway. I believe too wide for my boat. Comfortable on cocpit seats. I also don't have cushions made for the bench seats either. I rely on portable items like this if I want, feel the need to sit on a soft item. www.westmarine.com/west-marine-go-anywhere-chair-with-arms-P014979363.htmlMarty |
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Post by zaphod on Jan 29, 2023 19:13:36 GMT
Mmmm, maybe it’s just the appalling summer we’re having in NZ that makes me consider a companionway seat. Scratch that. The weather actually makes me consider selling the boat and buying a motor sailor instead… Surely the weather can't be THAT bad! I'm still not clear why the weather makes you want to sit in the companionway. Perhaps the better solution would be to upgrade your canvas? |
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Post by NZL50505 on Jan 29, 2023 21:29:48 GMT
Mmmm, maybe it’s just the appalling summer we’re having in NZ that makes me consider a companionway seat. Scratch that. The weather actually makes me consider selling the boat and buying a motor sailor instead… Surely the weather can't be THAT bad! I'm still not clear why the weather makes you want to sit in the companionway. Perhaps the better solution would be to upgrade your canvas? We’ve had 3 cyclones in 4 weeks. Auckland is in a state of emergency. If you’ve not seen the news try this: |
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Post by zaphod on Jan 30, 2023 19:03:48 GMT
Surely the weather can't be THAT bad! I'm still not clear why the weather makes you want to sit in the companionway. Perhaps the better solution would be to upgrade your canvas? We’ve had 3 cyclones in 4 weeks. Auckland is in a state of emergency. If you’ve not seen the news try this: That's a lot of rain! I always laugh at the footage of drivers that can clearly see the road is severely flooded, yet try to drive through it anyway and act surprised when they float away! So you are saying you are trying to shelter from the rain by sitting in the companionway. I assume you have a dodger, and in the pic it looks like you have a bimini, so maybe the solution is to connect the dodger to the bimini. We are no strangers to heavy rain here on the Wet Coast of Canada, and we can stay dry in our cockpit through heavy downpours with just the bimini, dodger and the connector between the 2. Sailing in heavy rain still requires foulies because the rain comes in sideways, but at anchor or under power we stay pretty dry. |
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Post by Charlie-Bravo on Jan 30, 2023 21:09:42 GMT
Does look pretty bad weather wise, perhaps a good time to move to a hillside property, taking your life raft with you.
Having made my seat, I used it on bad weather long stretches, where I could while away the hours peering through a partly unzipped centre spray hood (dodger) window, keeping watch and away from the lobster pot markers and their pesky ropes. The companion way is comfortable , and well protected from the weather apart from in following winds and rain being deep into the spray hood, bumpy waters or unexpected heel moments feel secure, the saloon heat wafting up as well, and a prime position to accept beverages from below, so not all bad.
But , now wiser, look for more favourable conditions in which to sail, the challenge of poor weather is losing its appeal, and with the better judgment now acquired, the seat seems to stay tucked away ……. till I get it wrong again no doubt, so it stays on board until the space is required.
CB
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Post by rene460 on Jan 31, 2023 10:43:35 GMT
Before we bought the SO30i, we had a lightweight 7.2 m trailerable. I made a seat to fit in the companionway, as loose cushions were less than comfortable on the narrow edge, but it was my wife’s favourite place to sit, as it gave her considerable shelter and security, and, being near the centre of the boat it was much more stable.
We did not have a dodger, but due to relatively mild winters, we sailed all the year through. A southerly often felt like it came straight from the Antarctic, so the shelter was welcome. Also the small boat was the very definition of tippy, so the difference in motion was also appreciated. Due to the size of the boat the hatch cover and companionway sides gave a nice secure seating position.
On the SO30i, we had a dodger but the extra shelter was still appreciated. Couldn’t join the dodger to the bimini as the main sheet went through the gap to the cockpit floor. The larger companionway and the width of the opening and the large drop to the floor of the cabin felt like an ever present danger, let alone the distances on a larger boat. A back strap securely mounted in the side tracks of the companionway would be a big improvement in safety, but would make the thing more difficult to make and stow. Other things took precedence and I didn’t get to making something. Too late now unfortunately.
For longer passages a seat in the companionway with a suitable back rest, possibly flexible so it could be used either facing forwards or to the stern can be very comfortable. If it adds to the Admirals comfort, I suggest it would be worth while. We all have different priorities.
In summary, it’s a comfortable stable place to sit with extra shelter, but needs careful design so the occupant is not propelled head first down to the cabin floor.
rene460
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Post by NZL50505 on Feb 1, 2023 5:33:45 GMT
Yes even with a joining screen between dodger and bimini the wind can blow rain into the cockpit even at anchor or under power. The top of the companionway is also a place of slightly less mention as well as being dry. A couple of days ago I did a long (12hrs) fast (av speed 8.5 kts 😳) and uncomfortable (3m swells 🤢) all day run from Northland back to Auckland to beat the latest ‘weather event’ and I found perching on the companionway sill a good spot. I think I’ll pursue the idea. Keep you posted…
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Post by jdl01 on Feb 1, 2023 18:40:07 GMT
On our 379 we installed a rail across the companionway 10 inches aft of the door boards at the same height as the lip for these boards. We then sewed a line bag between these two points to contain all the lines from the cabin top rope clutches. Adding a hinged panel on top of the bag gives us a companionway seat under the dodger. It is easy to step over to reach the companionway stairs and is the favoured crew seat in bad weather, offering good lateral support on either tack and a great, dry view forward. It is a good spot for reading printed material or using hand held electronics that you wish to keep dry and clears up all the loose lines in the forward end of the cockpit.
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Post by NZL50505 on Feb 2, 2023 0:36:39 GMT
👍
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