Tiki21 cabin top bench

[Jonathan Van Vuren]

I saw this in another thread concerning the possible issues with the wingsail in the rain, and wanted to ask some questions about it without hijacking that thread.

I really dig that cabin top bench. The Tiki21 has spoken to me for many years, and I'm in a spot in life where a build is possible in the garage, and he could live in the canal behind our house. Two things with the Tiki21 have usually dampened my enthusiasm for jumping in setup time from the trailer and lack of more comfortable seating. The trailer piece is solved by having it moored nearby, but the seating always made me look to the Tiki8M, Tiki26 or Tiki30. When I saw Boatsmith's Tiki30 and the comfortable cockpit I almost swooned it was so well done and well conceived. Really those seem to be more boat than I want, and while I may be able to justify a build as big as a Tiki 21 (big jump from my 18' cedar strip outrigger) once I start thinking about being mobile when we really want to sail in the Keys, or head up to NC outerbanks I really like the thought of keeping it simple and smaller.

These cabin top seats look pretty cool. Part back rest, part rail, relatively little added windage. No need to compromise wave clearance by modifying the simple deck panels. I could see doing something like this in laminated strips like my iakos. Perhaps a hammock-like bench instead of the slats, but I like it the way it is. Looks like they are secure but still removable as well.

I can't tell if that is the original style hatch, but it looks like there is clearance for it to open, maybe even slide forward.

I'm a fan of building to plan first, then modifying if I find the need/desire is really there after using the boat. These seem like they could be retrofitted easily.

Interested to hear thoughts on Tiki21 comfort for seating during day sails and weekend trips, and any pros/cons to cabin top benches like these. Thanks to Andres for sharing!