Pilothouse forum has been quiet for some time... Maybe someone will notice and have ideas for me. Two topics here: How to do a sea birth in the pilothouse and should I take a pass and stick with my 365 project?
Has anyone figured out a good sea/pilot birth on a Pilothouse? The setee birth setup with a lee cloth, even at 1/2 width doesn't seem ideal 'cause you would still loose the table. I think you could remodel the outboard facia to hinge up and make a narrow pilot birth. Moderately high design and build effort. After the pilot birth is setup then the galley table could be raised back up and 1/2 available. The ownside that I can envision is the the raised pH and then up further to this pilot birth, you would still have a pretty big motion in a seaway (when compared to using the port setee in the 365 as a sea birth!
Has anyone seen and used a functional sea birth in a 36 Pilothouse?
I looked a a 1980 pH for sale yesterday. It does likely need some repair on the pH roof (deck?). The hull and deck sounded out good, but it sounded punky from the hatch over the inside helm station after and front a few inches outside the sliding hatch to just outside the grab rail, stbd. The roof was also soft and I could deflect it leaning on my sounding hammer handle. The port side sounded solid and had no deflection. If I go for it, I would negotiate down significantly for this. I have the experience and tools to resolve this myself. Otherwise it appears sound. Good standing rigging. Nicer than on my 1977 365 ketch. Sails are also much nicer.
She's also a lifetime freshwater boat. I'd have to setup a heat exchanger.
Besides the punky PH roof and heat exchanger, all the winches need service. Britework. A tather poorly done roll and tip topside repaint. Deck repaint failing due to inadequate prep.
Besides the sea birth connundrum the big showstopper (besides the admiral's approval) would be transport. The boat is in the Midwest and I'm birthed in S. Oregon. The broker said he recently shipped a boat to Seattle and the bill was $15,000.
Even with the discount for the punky roof, the shipping makes the total cost of acquisition feel too high.
I like the idea of inside helm sailing in January, February and March. What are your thoughts?