rocker

   I used to sail an OK in my teens, now I sail a Blaze. I've just got to thinking about the way the cockpits are laid out in older boats compare to more recent designs.
The OK and Solo for example have an area limited, usually by the mainsheet traveller/thwart, that keeps the helm in the aft part of the boat (no further forward than the widest mid section and behind the centreboard).

I think that is because older boats have more rocker than more recent designs and, maybe, don't need weight as far forwards to keep the transom out of the water in the light stuff (and nobody can argue that a Solo is slow in the light.....). In the Blaze it definitely pays off to sit next to the mast in a drifter (and I seem to remember sitting on the foredeck facing backwards in the OK but that's nowhere near as far forward as in the Blaze).....

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Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Topic: rocker Posted: 15 Mar 18 at 11:25pm
	I used to sail an OK in my teens, now I sail a Blaze. I've just got to thinking about the way the cockpits are laid out in older boats compare to more recent designs. The OK and Solo for example have an area limited, usually by the mainsheet traveller/thwart, that keeps the helm in the aft part of the boat (no further forward than the widest mid section and behind the centreboard). I think that is because older boats have more rocker than more recent designs and, maybe, don't need weight as far forwards to keep the transom out of the water in the light stuff (and nobody can argue that a Solo is slow in the light.....). In the Blaze it definitely pays off to sit next to the mast in a drifter (and I seem to remember sitting on the foredeck facing backwards in the OK but that's nowhere near as far forward as in the Blaze).....
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

zeon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 20 Aug 16 Online Status: Offline Posts: 316	Post Options Post Reply Quote zeon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 12:27am
	. Edited by zeon - 16 Mar 18 at 8:35am

Pierre Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pierre Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 8:04am
	..... Edited by Pierre - 16 Mar 18 at 9:30am

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 8:22am
	Rocker and deadrise. But is the cockpit then designed like that to allow movement, or is it simply that a double bottom means you don't need decks, thwarts or other bouyancy tanks?
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 9:18am
	Skiffy boats aren't designed with light winds in mind so I suspect the latter but we take advantage of the space in a drifter, obviously it's irrelevant once you are sitting out. Edited by Sam.Spoons - 16 Mar 18 at 9:20am
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6661	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 9:35am
	You also need to consider structural requirements. The thwart across the middle of an old style plywood boat tends to be a major structural member supporting the centreboard case and the sides. Without that support a boat would bend in all sorts of undesirable ways. A double bottom boat, especially one with bulkheads under the false floor, is much stronger.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 3:53pm
	Yes understood. My curiosity was regarding the need/effectiveness of sitting forward in the light stuff. The supposition being that old boats had more rocker and deadrise you don't need to sit as far forward to avoid dragging the transom.
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

turnturtle Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 05 Dec 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2538	Post Options Post Reply Quote turnturtle Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 4:38pm
	Hate to break it to you ... but your one just has a really fat arse.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 4:43pm

	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6661	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 18 at 5:05pm
	very easy to over simplify... As a very sweeping generalisation older style boats have the mast much further forward, fuller bows and more rocker, which means that the cockpit is more amidships and more movement is required to make the same trim change.