Port side aft showing the cockpit arrangement. The tiller goes under the aft deck, the pump handle shown in the center of the cockpit sole is removable. The cockpit seats are wider in the area that the helmsman sits so he (I) can brace his feet on the edge of the leeward seat when the boat heels.
The cockpit sole is below the water line hence any water falling into the cockpit makes its way into the bilge through the slatted sole. I had just scrubbed the boat (beads of water showing on the sole and seats in the picture on the right), which is why the pump handle is showing in the center of the cockpit sole. Normally it is removed.
The coamings make effective back rests as the cockpit itself is quit deep
and the seats are raked back at about an eight-degree angle. The picture on the
right is most recent. The box in
the center of the cockpit used to be for a compass, now there is a removable
drink holder that drops in that area.
The black ball on the forward side of the box is a mount for the
GPS. The white mushroom aft the
mizzenmast is a DGPS antenna. And
yes, I still use a traditional compass.
I have a good-sized compass that mounts on the cabin bulkhead that is
closer to eye level when looking forward.
The GPS isn’t very useful in trying to steer a steady course, but the
GPS does graphically locate me within a few feet of where I am, give me cross
track error and speed. If you look closely at the picture on
the right you also will notice that there is a traveler track and a clam cleat
mounted on a swivel directly in front of the mizzen. The picture on the right
is more current. All of these
changes were made to make to boat easier (and safer) to sail and single hand.