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We were waiting out weather in a harbor on the coast of Wales, filled with interesting craft with good examples helm sight lines. A variety of helm positions are in evidence on vessels which almost certainly started life in the commercial realm, but now work at the leisure trades.<\/p>\n

This got us to thinking about the complex tradeoffs of optimizing sight lines and comfort; two inherently incompatible requirements.<\/p>\n

We’ll start with this handsome vessel.<\/p>\n

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Ideally your bridge will be on or near to the pitch center of the boat, and as close to the roll center (i.e. low) as possible. The more lively the hull at sea the more critical the placement of the watchstanding area becomes.<\/p>\n

In this configuration we have ideal placement for motion. The helm is low, and just aft of the pitch center.<\/p>\n

Now a word on sight lines. If all you are worried about is other vessels, your size or larger, then sight lines are not that important. But, if you want to see close in to the bow, looking for ice, logs, shallows, lobster pots, swimmers, kayakers, etc., then how close to the bow you can see becomes important.<\/p>\n

Optimizing for sight lines means going higher and further forward, neither of which are good for motion. Or, you can reduce obstructions and freeboard forward.<\/p>\n

Back to the photo above. If this vessel had less shear (rise) forward, the visibility over the bow and closer in would be improved. This brings up the subject of buoyancy forward, wave shape, and speed, a subject left for another time.<\/p>\n

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Another configuration, this obviously was a local fishing trawler. The helm is well positioned for motion. But there is even more structure forward than with the previous configuration, so sight lines to the water are basically nonexistent here. Someone is going to have to keep watch from the bow working in ice or coming into a port crowded with moorings or lobster pots.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Perhaps an RNLI life boat in its previous life, the sight lines to the water are excellent. But there is going to be significant more motion forward than if the helm were further aft.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Another converted fishing boat. This one has good sight lines with the low bow and the helm is a little further aft than on the preceding vessel.<\/p>\n

One last item for the stew. You also want to consider sight lines forward, sideways, and aft for docking and close quarters maneuvering. Many modern motor yachts cannot see aft from the helm; an obvious issue with docking and also an uncomfortable feeling when being overtaken by ships.<\/p>\n

We’ll cover sight lines with sailboats in another blog.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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