It is often confusing when talking about center cockpit sailboats when certain models come along into discussion. When I talk about center cockpit yachts, I mean yachts with full width aft staterooms. The assumption is that these two features: a full width aft stateroom and a center cockpit deck mold go hand in hand. But there is a rare class of yachts that mess up this simplified categorization of sailboats. While all center cockpits have aft staterooms, some aft cockpits have full width aft staterooms. There are serious trade-offs including low headroom and a likely lack of overhead hatches. Here is a list of some of the most well known models with this arrangement.
- Baltic 38 – The Swan split-off offers high quality construction and fast lines like on this 38-footer.
- Beneteau Idylle 11.5 – Old school Beneteau before they went all the way to mass production.
- C&C 37/40+ – The inspiration for this list with her spacious centerline queen aft. I should note that the earlier model C&C 44 was the prototype for the 37/40 and had a similar arrangement.
- Hunter 40 Legend – Amazing value and performance, typical Hunter build issues.
- Hylas 42 – Classic Swan style German Frers design.
- Mason 44 – Comes in her original 43-foot version likewise with an aft stateroom.
- Swan 46 – Low freeboard and athletic lines make this a spectacular racer / cruiser.
I have been struggling for a while to put together this list which according to to my records I first drafted on December 14, 2010. Please offer your suggestions in the comments below or any feedback on the current selection.
Hi Richard,
As you have included boats up to 46 feet in length in this list you probably should include the C&C 44 as well. First produced in 1985, it was in ways the prototype for the later 37/40+, differing mostly by having a dedicated forward facing nav-station with seat and two heads where the 37/40 has just one larger one.
http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/brochures/44foot/44b1pg01.htm
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=2769
Ken H.
C&C 37/40 Salazar – CAN 54955
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Thanks Ken. I like the 37/40 design. I will add in a note about the C&C 44
in the corresponding bullet above.
You will get some arguments on this one, but the mid 1980’s Hunter 40 Legends had a decent aft centerline berth and didn’t sail all that bad either.
Ken D
Good call Ken. I had a friend with a H40 Legend. He said she sailed great. Only complaint was leaking forward? RJ
Sent from my iPad
Hi Richard. The Beneteau Idylle 11.5 is a great boat. However, the aft cabin is not full width, probably more like 2/3 or 3/4 max. It’s great for big guys like me for sleeping alone and might be OK for a couple if one is short enough or a couple of kids. Aft cabin to port, aft head to starboard of the companionway and there is a huge cockpit locker aft of the head. Excellent access to the engine. It’s really a great boat. Beneteau should have built at least 1,500 of them.