NC 895 Sport passenger seating

[VickeyS]

Hello all,

I am planning to take 4 friends out for a ride in my NC 895 Sport tomorrow. I think one or two may want to sit in the foreword cockpit while cruising but the owners manual shows under way seating only in the aft cockpit. Is there something unsafe in sitting up front (the view & seats are great) or some problem with distributing weight further forward?

thanks in advance for your comments.

[lynnardm]

VickeyS

Welcome to the forum. I see that no one responded so I figured I should even though it’s been some time since you posted. I have a standard 895 but have a friend with a beneteau sport. I’d say those seats on your sport are there to be used. At least if conditions are good. There are times you should not allow people there like in really rough conditions when the boat is rocking and rolling. Or when there is a chance of large swells swells such as from boat traffic. Or when going fast (anything other than hull
Speed or a slow planing speed). People should be required to stay seated when at planing speed. Some captains might require passenger to always wear life preservers when outside the salon. That’s a choice the captain makes. On my 895 I don’t require it in the cockpit except for children 12 or under. I only allow people on the bow seat during smooth conditions and at Hull speeds as on a regular 895 it would be easier for someone to fall overboard than in a sport. When someone is outside the cockpit it does require extra attention by the captain to assure they are not doing anything unsafe. And when passengers are sitting forward of course the captain has to work harder to be able to see ahead. And one more thing... a couple
Of People Up front is fine and should not adversely affect handling under good sea conditions and with slow
To moderate speeds. Just don’t allow the entire crew. In summary, using the forward seats can be fun and safe but it’s up to the captain to make the right decisions and monitor crew and conditions and other traffic.

Capt’n Lynn