caltexflanc
Guru
Pete, I am not sure what you mean by the loss of space due to steps. There are going to be steps down anyway on almost all cruising boats. Plus steps provide great storage.
It just blows me away that statements are made like one shoe fits all...there are so many different styles of boats being discussed and no reference to size...
Well.... heck I prefer the galley to be on the second deck close to the elevator that can bring meals up to the dining or sun areas or down to the master stateroom....now.....really?
I prefer it up or down...depending on the style and size of any particular boat....so what's the REAL question??? and again...what's your cruising style and love of cooking and NEED for cooking?
I always said all a bachelor needs is a microwave and a grill....who the heck needs a galley anyway?......
The best is pulling into marinas...the first 20 sentences out of the harbormasters mouth is where are the 10 best places to eat...above all else...so what you do might be one thing but it seems the vast majority of cruisers cook very little for dinners anyway. Yes of course serious ones do...but again....is the OP gonna fit one or the other category????
I love that layout. Those are beautiful boats.Here's a good compromise on the Sabre 42 saloon express Just 2 risers down from saloon.
I realize that this is a very individual sort of thing. I was just curious to see if there were any reasons for choosing one of the other that I may not have considered.
Those are all excellent questions. I really have no idea what kind of cruiser I'll be. I'll be living aboard, so I'll want to do a lot of cooking. I love eating out as much as the next guy, but I'm fat enough as it is... I'd need decent storage and enough counter space to not bag my elbows constantly. I'm looking in the 35 to 45 foot range at this point. I still have much research to do to try and narrow that all down a bit.
I love that layout. Those are beautiful boats.
The Ad seldom cooks on the boat, and on our Sundeck the three steps down to the fridge for a bottle of water or to mix cocktails starts to add up to knee pain. That being said, I still like the galley down as it adds another "isolated area" that a Sundeck seems to provide so well. View attachment 32530
1983 Present 42 Sundeck
Twin Lehman 135's
This is an old chestnut, in fact there is an identical thread on here even now, which I think best merged, if I can remember how to do it, as a mod.
I realize that this is a very individual sort of thing. I was just curious to see if there were any reasons for choosing one of the other that I may not have considered.
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Galley up is what we have and it suits us just fine. But Don't know if I prefer it over galley down because I've not owned a boat with one. That said,I would like to have a boat that has the saloon, staterooms, galley, head and cockpit on the same level. I'm not old, but I already dislike steps.
There are a few models out there with a single floor layout. My own boat has the salon, head, galley and stateroom on one level. The size of the galley allows for three actual countertop work stations when entertaining. Two can prepare gormet meals without interfering with each other. The window through to the salon allows one to be part of or separate from the action,..your preference. There are two pass through hatches in the ceiling, big enough for full sized dinner plates, that one can pass meals to the pilothouse. Headroom in the galley is 7 ft..
Everything is big on this boat, but the compromise for the space and single floor layout is that the pilothouse is a second deck affair, and is the only helm station. Unless one has the optional inside access, the standard pathway is out to the veranda and up a ladder through a close-able hatch. Normally, it's no real challenge, but in downpours or in rough seas, it can be. Here's a pic from the salon looking through the galley window, and a photo of the galley space.
Galley up for us.
Wheelhouse, galley & dinette all on same level (although sloping with deck).
Provides easy access and seating when under weigh. When only one is on watch they can go to the stove for coffee, fridge for a pop or stand at the counter to make a sandwich and still "keep an eye out". Slow boat, 7 to
7 1/2 knots, with an autopilot.
Saloon is aft and down.
Ted
The land equivalent of galley up or galley down is open concept or separated rooms. Watch a show like House Hunters and you'll find everyone feels very strongly just half each way.
The land equivalent of galley up or galley down is open concept or separated rooms.
What impressed us about the GB46's galley-down arrangement is that there is just a cabinet between the aft end of the galley and the forward end of the main cabin. So someone working in the galley is not cut off from the people in the main cabin or the person at the lower helm.
Pete, I am not sure what you mean by the loss of space due to steps. There are going to be steps down anyway on almost all cruising boats. Plus steps provide great storage.
Steps remove same area from horizontal floor space. Not so important if just a central companionway, but to access a galley down, they come out of saloon floor space usually, or galley floor space, or bit of both, and also usually opposite the lower helm in many boats, so another hole to fall down in a seaway, or entering the boat in poor light. Take it from me, I've done that...
Ted, I like that layout. The pilot house is still separated a bit from the galley.
The galley down pic in post 136 seems to me the "normal galley down" arrangement as it is what was on every boat I looked at in the 40-45 range such as Albins, MTs, and some brands I don't remember maybe like Present. Not sure what the "other" type of galley down is and maybe a pic or floor plan would help people understand some of the opinions and issues.
This is colloquially known as the bachelors galley
There are a few models out there with a single floor layout. My own boat has the salon, head, galley and stateroom on one level. The size of the galley allows for three actual countertop work stations when entertaining. Two can prepare gormet meals without interfering with each other. The window through to the salon allows one to be part of or separate from the action,..your preference. There are two pass through hatches in the ceiling, big enough for full sized dinner plates, that one can pass meals to the pilothouse. Headroom in the galley is 7 ft..
Everything is big on this boat, but the compromise for the space and single floor layout is that the pilothouse is a second deck affair, and is the only helm station. Unless one has the optional inside access, the standard pathway is out to the veranda and up a ladder through a close-able hatch. Normally, it's no real challenge, but in downpours or in rough seas, it can be. Here's a pic from the salon looking through the galley window, and a photo of the galley space.
This is colloquially known as the bachelors galley
I've been following this galley up-galley down thread with interest as I am still in search of my (dream) boat. On my dream boat it would be simple_ galley up would be on the fly bridge, galley down would be on the aft deck!! as on a dream boat the sky is always blue and the sea is always calm !!