Re: Lower helm visibility.
Who cares what’s behind you?
Seriously, short of docking stern in, it’s really not an issue IMO. You can always install cameras if that bugs you. Even when there’s no bulkhead behind you, your view is very limited. You also have radar (I assume) if you want to keep track of what’s coming up behind you.
Re: Lower helm visibility.
Oscar, I understand your concern. I sold my 1982 48 MY to my Niece and her husband and they are
not happy with the rear view while backing into the slip. It is a single station (flying bridge) boat. They
installed a couple of camera's but were still not happy. I convinced them to install an extra set of shift
and throttle controls in the aft cockpit for use in backing into the slip. It's a fairly simple fix for not a
lot of money. The 53 without the pilothouse bulk head is not too bad. My former 43 DC's were wonderful
because I had 360 deg visibility from the lower station and the boat behaved very well while docking.
Walt
Re: Lower helm visibility.
Hi Oscarvan,
Good luck with your hunting. We also came back to an older Hatteras time and time again
I steer downstairs in my crowded mooring bay. Once another moored boat is past the wheelhouse door I forget about it and move on to the next obstacle.
I can reverse side onto the T of a marina without issue and without thrusters. This does require me to look out the wheelhouse doors and also to view from the rear door if space to the next boat is limited. So you can do all this yourself.
It is possible to back up to a marina jetty, but only from the flybridge with my wife standing on the rear flybridge edge signalling the number of metres with her fingers. I would love to have a pair of rear controls, but would have only used them twice in four years.
A swing mooring is much easier than a berth and boat only needs yourself.
Re: Lower helm visibility.
Thanks for the responses. I should have been more clear, this is not about docking or fixed objects. This is about being underway and faster moving traffic coming up the stern. I guess radar is indeed the answer.....
Re: Lower helm visibility.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
oscarvan
Thanks for the responses. I should have been more clear, this is not about docking or fixed objects. This is about being underway and faster moving traffic coming up the stern. I guess radar is indeed the answer.....
Radar is an answer, not THE answer. If there is a THE answer, it would be situational awareness. You are required to maintain a visual lookout and by any other means available. Radar is decidedly two-dimensional. It can't tell you if the boats coming up behind you are LE or are driven by reckless or impaired operators, for example. Often, boats behind you need to know you know they're there to gauge each other's intentions in tight situations. Even if you are in the right, you are not absolved of responsibility for what the other guy does--especially if you aren't fully aware of the building situation. You wouldn't drive a car without a rearview mirror. So maybe it'd be a good idea to take measures to be aware of your surroundings for your own protection.
Any navigational device's manual will tell you on page 1 to not depend solely on one input for navigation. The recent spate of US Navy collisions more than justifies the foregoing.
Re: Lower helm visibility.
The only time it matters is when you are about to change course then yes you should make sure nobody is overtaking you or about to overtake
Under way in a straight line you are fulfilling your obligation as stand on vessel by maintain course and speed so it s up to the overtaking vessel to stay clear
Radar helps but a stern cam is even better. At the lower helm you don’t even need a daylight monitor you can just use a basic computer monitor
Re: Lower helm visibility.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
racclarkson@gmail.com
Radar is an answer, not THE answer. If there is a THE answer, it would be situational awareness. You are required to maintain a visual lookout and by any other means available. Radar is decidedly two-dimensional. It can't tell you if the boats coming up behind you are LE or are driven by reckless or impaired operators, for example. Often, boats behind you need to know you know they're there to gauge each other's intentions in tight situations. Even if you are in the right, you are not absolved of responsibility for what the other guy does--especially if you aren't fully aware of the building situation. You wouldn't drive a car without a rearview mirror. So maybe it'd be a good idea to take measures to be aware of your surroundings for your own protection.
Any navigational device's manual will tell you on page 1 to not depend solely on one input for navigation. The recent spate of US Navy collisions more than justifies the foregoing.
Seriously?
I get your point, to a point, but... seriously?
What about running the boat singlehanded? It’s pretty unrealistic to think in terms of leaving the helm to look around to see what might be outside your field of vision. I would characterize that as unsafe operation. Radar and a VHF is more than sufficient.
Re: Lower helm visibility.
One other cheap option for you is to install retractable, wide angle mirrors. You want to talk about limited visibility, I ran a 85’ houseboat for some folks who had a dinner party cruise last weekend, and visibility from the lower helm was extremely limited. It had stern cameras, but they were pretty much useless.
I’ve run others with such mirrors, and they were very helpful.
Re: Lower helm visibility.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Freeebird
Seriously?
I get your point, to a point, but... seriously?
What about running the boat singlehanded? It’s pretty unrealistic to think in terms of leaving the helm to look around to see what might be outside your field of vision. I would characterize that as unsafe operation. Radar and a VHF is more than sufficient.
Well yes, seriously. Yes, you'd probably be ill advised to leave the helm of a planing boat in traffic. But, I imagine all of us have left the helm briefly to check the ER or grab a loose line or maybe a quick head call. I'd be pretty suspicious of someone claiming they never left the helm underway. Anyway, I thought we were talking about stepping a few feet over to the side deck when necessary. Doesn't seem overly unsafe to me assuming you've got the way ahead clear. You'd leave the helm and look before you changed course, right?
Your post about mirrors and VHF is well taken. All too many folks run without their VHF, particularly sailboats.
You may be in the right (responding to Pascal), but I have seen too much to just assume the other guy has a clue.
All good input.