Roberts 30 flush cockpit and other puzzles

Hello one and all, I am new to this site, 23, live in Australia and am a third year unofficial boat building apprentice.

I have just purchased a reasonable Robert's 30 (34 LOA) built in 1973 with the intention of fixing it up and going a sailing.

The Cockpit is practically flush with maybee 400mm of coaming around it, It has cavernous storage below and raised seats on top which use netting as backrests.

The raised seats are almost aft of the tiller so i assume that when i am sailing i am supposed to be sitting on the coaming or the cockpit floor.

I did a little research and found that flush cockpits are good for cruising but you lose out on the comfort factor a little bit.

I think it is a good design because it allows lots of storage below and good visibility however if water does come in to the cockpit there is no step between the cockpit and companion way hatch, and it could be easier to fall off of.

Anyone have any insights in to the world of flush - semiflush cockpits, comments or suggestions for modifications?

 

If you can, picture will be nice.
Daniel

 

Here's one, the angle of it is a little funny but you can see the raised seats and the tiller. cheers.

 

Really baaaaaaaaad
But the blue bucket is apropriate

 

Is that "Roberts" probably "Bruce Roberts" ???


Daniel,
thats not bad! Thats insane.

Regards
Richard

 

I think the bucket is for sitting on if you want to steer fwd of the tiller Ok, It's bad... I can accept that.. Insane... i almost like that. any constructive criticism :idea: for making it safer? apart from turning it back in to a normal cockpit. on the plus side theres plenty of space below if you survive it. yep bruce roberts is the designer, sorry I should have been clearer on that.