Being English, the smaller cockpit is the only one I have ever known. The larger cockpits look too insecure in terms of both keeping me in and keeping water out. I'm sure they must be perfectly functional in reality but, to me at least, it just wouldn't look or feel right. When it comes to boats, subjectivity counts!

Francis.

: Why do you want the "English-style" small cockpit? Performance?
: Panache? Double-jointed knees? I don't see how a small cockpit could
: perform better than a keyhole cockpit with an implosion bar-equipped
: sprayskirt. Thoughts anyone?

: I could see if you are used to using a knee tube right in the center of the
: deck that you use for knee braces--wider knee braces as found in a keyhole
: cockpit would change your bracing and rolling style quite a bit.

: Shawn