Downeast with steer in middle of windshield

[Alison Tuna]

Would this drive you nuts? Cabin entrance is on starboard side... Steering station is in middle...

I'm not commercial pulling pots etc... I would use as a personal boat. Standing on motor box my head hits the ceiling slightly...

 

[sailor of fortune]

The steering from the middle wouldn't drive me nuts, the head hitting from standing on motor box certainly would.

 

[Toolate]

Would think you would have to drive sitting and a swivel chair would be the way to go so you could be in any position you want.

Are you really tall or is the box really high? SOunds like a wierd setup

 

[plowin]

Not sure if it would drive me nuts but thats only because I have never run a center mounted helm boat. One thing worth noting if considering a center mounted downeast or other POWER boat is that the highest portion of the boat that you need so see over is in the center unless you are only jogging along. Standing to port or starboard helps with visibility quite a bit. Sailboats run flat so center doesn't influence them much.

 

[Alison Tuna]

I can tolerate it... Entire boat needs to be rewired

 

[Raider Ronnie]

Center helm would really suck with an ugly engine box

 

[duxbait]

I personally think that on a boat of that size (is that a 28 BHM?) it is an inefficient layout of the house to have the wheel in the center. That aside, I would have no issues driving from the cnter of the boat. Beam isn't wide enough to cause any visibility issues docking

 

[hntrss]

I think the center helm would drive me nuts, but I KNOW the controls on the left side of the wheel would drive me nuts!!

 

[BillD]

My plan is to have a center helm on the 25 T Jason.

It's short hull, helm bulkhead is forward in the hull and the boat runs flat.

 

[cb34]

wheel

BillD, much easier to pull your pots with starboard station

 

[plowin]

CB34,You took the words from my head!

 

[BillD]

BillD, much easier to pull your pots with starboard station

CB34,You took the words from my head!

Gentlemen,

I enjoy sitting while driving. I'm not as young as you two.

I've pulled my 10 traps off a swim platform requiring a "crew" who were real good at tangling lines in the props and then after the addition of the ghetto davit having to "quickly move" from an elevated helm around a seat grabbing the hook pole while watching the buoy sail by.

This boat I bought is not big. The wheel, controls and hauler will ALL be within an easy reach.

And most importantly, if I find it doesn't work out, I'll move it around next winter!

 

[plowin]

Sounds like you have thought it out already Bill, I should have known that. You do not miss much.

 

[Brooksie]

My FL boat has a port helm and I find I am able to watch my "danger zone" more easily. A center helm should do the same thing.

 

[Alison Tuna]

I'm in North Carolina now. Everyone has Carolina skiffs.... Lol... Or sea rays.... Danger zone is not a problem.... The skiffs bounce right off