the pearson 323 companionway

[Weatherhelm]

I love my 323  and I appreciate the nice high bridge deck  but my friends always give me grief about going into/out of  the cabin.

Cheers
Ron Wolfgram
Saint Paul MN

[Dolce_Vita]

That high bridge deck gives me peace-of-mind too, but when working on a project, you really get a workout going up and down that ladder a hundred times in an afternoon.  That and climbing down into and back out of the sail lockers!

Some friends looked at those steps and said "Definitely not dog friendly!"

[Alma]

This girl never had any trouble climbing up the companionway steps.

Sadly she is gone now. She also would jump into the inflatable and make her way back up the boarding ladder with a spotter.

Sailing this year without a dog has some freedoms yet I'd rather have Winnie with us again.

Not only does the 323's bridge deck make down flooding less of a danger, the complex shape molded into the cockpit makes the boat very strong amidships.

[Wandering_bill]

It reminds me of breaking my pinkie toe.    Which I think I did a few weeks ago, and then a week after that...I find that if I just tape my pinkie toe to the one next to it, I'm at least reminded to take it easy going through there.   

[Libations Too]

I like the bridge deck...one of the reasons that I was drawn to the 323. But it, combined with a dodger, does make moving between the cockpit and cabin a real chore at times. I find it most troublesome when fully suited in fleece to stay warm, covered with foul weather gear, and topped off with a pfd. Add a little heel to the boat and the transit between cockpit and cabin gets to be a real commute. But, as Dolce Vita said, it gives great peace-of-mind...especially when running in big seas.

I have also found that the top step of the companionway stair makes for a perfect seat for long night passages or in nasty weather. I slip in the lower wash board for a back rest, tuck myself in under the dodger with a steaming cup of coffee, prop my feet on the bulkhead forward of the nav station, and enjoy the ride.

If I were to make any design changes I would not touch the bridge deck. But I would consider raising the boom a few inches to allow a higher dodger that would make it easier to take that first step when going below.

[SailRxSin]

This girl never had any trouble climbing up the companionway steps.

Sadly she is gone now. She also would jump into the inflatable and make her way back up the boarding ladder with a spotter.

Sailing this year without a dog has some freedoms yet I'd rather have Winnie with us again.

Not only does the 323's bridge deck make down flooding less of a danger, the complex shape molded into the cockpit makes the boat very strong amidships.

That is crazy she could make it up and down the companionway ladder without any problems, what agility!!  We have a 65lb English Bulldog who has no agility.  He will never scale the ladder

[Alma]

Yes Winnie was as agile as a circus dog. Amazing with the companion ladder, really unbelievable was her climbing the boarding ladder up from a tender.

I had built her a ramp- but when she saw other dogs jumping into the tender she didn't need the ramp.

Our new rescue Bernie needs to learn to go up the companion ladder- He's over 80 lbs now-

[jmcmonagle]

I find going down the companion way concerning with large waves.
I'm contemplating some sort of hand hold but have not come up with how to do it yet.

[popeye323]

I agree. I had thought of installing a 1 inch, stainless steel, floor to ceiling post in the little corner where the nav station and the back of the starboard settee meet. You could grab it with your right hand as you come down the companionway.

[Alma]

You'll see a similar hand hold adjacent to the nav station here somewhere. It is a good idea and can also stabilize the coachroof if engineered right. You won't believe what a great asset a little $20 stainless handhold on the hatch makes! I saw one on Sailing UMA and got mine on Ebay. You'll need to grind the ends to match the camber of the hatch. Now I don't know how we lived without it!