A Fast Offshore Cruiser - 14. General arrangement.

Many general arrangements have as many berths squeezed into them as possible; this makes for a crowded feel to the cabins. This type of layout is not appropriate for this design, there is no need for that many berths when typically there will only be two people on board.

The boat is being designed with a crew two in mind but with a possibility of two more for short periods. So a minimum of 2 dedicated sea berths is required and normal berths for 4 people. The saloon is to be spacious for dinner parties and be able to be used as sea berths if required. The galley must be able to be used safely at sea with large heel. The navigation station will have large amounts of stowage for charts, instruments, books and computers etc. The crew must be able to use, safely, the entire GA in normal conditions with normal heel angles.

Starting at the bow. Firstly there is the crash compartment, with a small amount of deck stowage. Aft of this is the fore deck lazarette; this has stowage for sails, fenders, anchor chain etc.

Now the accommodation starts, aft of the watertight bulkhead (bh B), with the full width owner’s cabin. Here there is a centreline double bed, 2*1.5m; this has a large stowage volume below. There are two full height cupboards and a dresser.

In between the 2nd and 3rd bulkheads (bh C & D), there is the second sleeping cabin (sea cabin) and the heads. These are both in this forward location, rather than the more typical aft placement, nearer the LCF, under the cockpit. This is because of the limitations in available space, due to the nature of the hull shape. As outlined in Chapter 7.2 the boat should have reduced pitching motion, so the adverse effect of positioning the sea berths further away from the LCF will be not as noticeable.

The sea cabin is to port and has two berths that are parallel to the centreline, stowage and a full height-hanging locker. The heads is to starboard. This has a WC, storage, separate shower and sink. There is no need for a second heads because of the small number of crew. The fwd cabin is joined to the saloon by an offset corridor between the heads and the sea cabin.

The saloon is full width. To port is the L shaped seating and to starboard there is the straight seat. Both are easily long enough and parallel to the centreline so they will be comfortable sea berths if required, with lee cloths. Here it will be noticeable why the water tanks were kept low. There is much greater visible length, out to the hull sides, giving the feeling of greater volume; a large shelf is formed above each tank.

The deep web frame splits the saloon with the galley, to port, and the navigation station/office to starboard. Both of these stretch back under the cockpit, to bh E, this allows a large expanse of workspace, especially for the navigation station. The navigation station faces out board and aft, this allows full sized charts to be used along with laptops, almanacs etc. There will be a large stowage bin forward of the navigation table in the peninsula.

The galley has the gimballed cooker out board, in the ballast tank recess; the sinks are near to the centreline, so that they can be used on both tacks. There is plenty of room for a fridge etc if required under the worktops.

The engine box and the companionway split the galley and navigation station. The engine will have good access from the sides and front, by removing panels and there is enough room in the box for ample sound and heat proofing. The companionway is quite steep, so to keep its foot print minimal.

Aft of bhE is the first cockpit locker. Access to this watertight compartment is via a hatch in either cockpit side benches. The after most compartment is also a watertight cockpit locker but also has the stock etc in it. Having the stock in a small volume compartment will limit any flooding if there is damage to the stock or surrounding hull.

This GA is adequate for the needs of the two normal crewmembers and even the times when there may be four of the crew aboard. The three separate areas of sleeping, relaxing and working will make it very usable.