Pilot house - functionality

[globaldude]

"This forum topic is about making life comfortable for females inside boats I think, but on this one, I am VERY close to my female side.
Today we had lunch atop the table/engine bay while it ran at 1250 rpm.
It was OK, and the heat was welcome."

Hmmmm !???, one wonders What it was you had for lunch ? I suppose your engine hits a "sweet spot " @ 1250 rpm does it !!??, not TOO much vibration I hope .

[VASCONY]

Originally Posted by globaldude

I'm building a pilot house 50' yacht and was reading in an old " practical boat owner" magazine, that working boats, EG tugs, don't have the spoked wheel type steering wheels, but rather a truck type steering wheel set up at much the same angle as you'd find in a truck / car .
The article claimed it was more functional and comfortable as opposed to the old salty type spoked version mounted vertically on the bulkhead.
Sound good to me, with room for your legs to go under the wheel I'd say , while seated in your high backed, adjustable armrests, suspention seat .

Now regarding the windows angle ;1; the trawler/ fishing boat forward angled windows VS 2; the sleeker raked back aerodynamic look.

Comments made were, type 1; shaded, wind blows water off the glass, no glare , more agricultural look.
Type 2; suffers from glare - & faded interior, wind blows water up the glass restricting visibility, less wind resistance, smoother looks .

The trawler forward facing [ top ] windows sound more practical to me, but do you think ------ well what's your opinion ?

The question is whether you like to feel like a fork lift driver, or a real mariner.
Definitely, my choyce would be a vertical mounted spoked wheel. Check
www.nordhavn.com
I can't understand why those guys have replaced theyr destroyer type of wheel on NH40 and NH43 with a truck type.
After all, it obstruct the view right behinde, so you wouldn't put your plotter there.

[FAST FRED]

For cruising there is little need for a wheel as most folks have an autopilot , and "steer" with the remote. A side stick works well too.

So with the major need for a wheel for docking , the ability to see the dock becomes as important as the size or shape or pattern of the wheel.

For a 30 to 50fter the vertical stick as used by launch operators , works rapidly , with good feedback and is takes little room.

Just be sure its on the correct side for your prop rotation.
FAST FRED