Practical Sailor Implies CD27 cockpit design is Unsafe!!

[Bill Goldsmith]

For anyone that does not get Practical Sailor, here is what the publication says about the CD27 cockpit design in its most recent edition (vol 24 No. 14, July 15, 1998. page 6), in an article about cockpit design:

"Considering consumer concern over toy safety, household appliances and other products (410,000 injuries annually are related to chairs, sofas and sofa beds, most as a result of falling), the somewhat severe and uninspired cockpit of the Cape Dory 27 makes us wonder what the statistics might be for sailboat cockpits! While the seats are long enough to lie down on, all of the angles are square, and the teak coaming, while attractive, is low (especially aft) and is too thin to sit on"

Photograph to left of caption shows a CD27 cockpit with wheel installed.

These comments are completely irresponsible and unfounded. Certainly the author is entitled to an opinion as to aesthetics. However, these comments would make many readers believe that CD27 cockpits are unsafe. Perhaps PS should have actually researched sailboat cockpit safety statistics (which would have been more helpful to the reader) rather than pick one design and simply "wonder" what the safety record might be.

The only substantive criticism here is that it is not comfortable or feasible to sit on the coaming. Apart from "wondering" about sailboat cockpit safety statistics, PS makes no substantive observations of any safety issues arising from the CD27 design.

My "opinion" is that my CD27 is so stiff and secure that I've never felt the need to sit up on the coaming to balance the boat or to get a secure position, even in a good blow.

In view of the similarity between the CD27 cockpit design and most other CD designs, I would suggest that this organization sign a letter to the editor of PS asking for a correction or retraction of this thoughtless journalism. A story like this can affect the value of our boats. As I said, opinions are fine, but this review implies that Cape Dorys have a safety problem, with no evidence whatsoever!



goldy@bestweb.net

[Paul Grecay]

I agree that the comments in PS were assinine...they were reviewing cockpits as if they were appraising lawn furniture. In my opinion, the curvacious corners and edges the author holds in such esteem are a perfect way to lose footing...I like to know where the edge is when I'm balanced on the cockpit tying up the sail in a seaway. I have found that PS seems to sometimes scrape the bottom of the irrelevancy barrel from time to time...maybe they are having a problem getting contributing authors. I will give the authors comments as much consideration as they are due (an email sarcastic glyphic should go here).



rfurman@dmv.com

[John Phillips]

Good luck at getting PS to print a correction. Several years back they printed a review of a new boat (Hunter 23.5) with all kinds of comments about it's sailing characteristics in heavy air. Unfortunately, the author had sailed it only in very light air which he failed to point out. It made a better story to make it up. When confronted with this, the editor just stonewalled it. Consumer Report type magazines are helpful when then do unbiased, controlled tests, but too often you just end up with the editor or writer's personal bias.

For anyone that does not get Practical Sailor, here is what the publication says about the CD27 cockpit design in its most recent edition (vol 24 No. 14, July 15, 1998. page 6), in an article about cockpit design:

"Considering consumer concern over toy safety, household appliances and other products (410,000 injuries annually are related to chairs, sofas and sofa beds, most as a result of falling), the somewhat severe and uninspired cockpit of the Cape Dory 27 makes us wonder what the statistics might be for sailboat cockpits! While the seats are long enough to lie down on, all of the angles are square, and the teak coaming, while attractive, is low (especially aft) and is too thin to sit on"

Photograph to left of caption shows a CD27 cockpit with wheel installed.

These comments are completely irresponsible and unfounded. Certainly the author is entitled to an opinion as to aesthetics. However, these comments would make many readers believe that CD27 cockpits are unsafe. Perhaps PS should have actually researched sailboat cockpit safety statistics (which would have been more helpful to the reader) rather than pick one design and simply "wonder" what the safety record might be.

The only substantive criticism here is that it is not comfortable or feasible to sit on the coaming. Apart from "wondering" about sailboat cockpit safety statistics, PS makes no substantive observations of any safety issues arising from the CD27 design.

My "opinion" is that my CD27 is so stiff and secure that I've never felt the need to sit up on the coaming to balance the boat or to get a secure position, even in a good blow.

In view of the similarity between the CD27 cockpit design and most other CD designs, I would suggest that this organization sign a letter to the editor of PS asking for a correction or retraction of this thoughtless journalism. A story like this can affect the value of our boats. As I said, opinions are fine, but this review implies that Cape Dorys have a safety problem, with no evidence whatsoever!

sailboat@gpcom.net