would you keep the full volume of the ww hull, like the space to lee behind the back cushions ?

  You could save a few feet by getting rid of that space and using the flip-up cockpit seats in the original Ex40F.  For daysailing that might be nice.

  For anything overnight, that extra room helps a lot:

    - It turns the ww hull from a double (if you drop down the big table an put a cushion on it) and a single (by the galley/bar), to two doubles.

    - It also provides potential room for a few duffle bags.  Without that space, the only storage in the ww hull would be a locker in the full-height section opposite the head.

  That additional space, combined with the flip-around stool seats, turns the Ex40F into something with storage, a galley, a stand-up dressing area, and a proper in-cabin head and shower. 

  My wife is very tolerant of my boating and housing choices, but if we're going to spend more than $50k, the boat has to have a galley and a stand-up head, and I can't really argue with that.  Even if you're only daysailing, on rainy afternoons it's nice to be able to make some tea or coffee, and then later go pee, without having to go outside.  Say, if the weather changes unexpectedly, or perhaps if you want to curl up with a hot tea and a good book while your less-sane husband and daughter brave the elements.

  Anything bigger and it won't be trailerable or marina-friendly.  Anything smaller and it won't be nearly as pleasant when weekending in less-than-perfect weather.

  Unless you go with a Dragonfly 28, which will have a bit more of an interior, but cost more than twice as much, have lower performance, be less seaworthy, and have another hundred points of failure. 

  I love the Dragonflies, but every time I get tempted, I think about all the rigging, swages, shackles, and turnbuckles, then I think about getting pinched by a lee shore and unable to tack, and then I think about trying to mess with a jammed foresail, and my temptation goes away.

        - Mike

 

Mike, would you keep the full volume of the ww hull, like the space to lee behind the back cushions ?

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Posted by: lucjdekeyser@telenet.be

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Posted by: Mike Crawford <mcrawf@nuomo.com>

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