For those that owned or once owned a trunk style aft cabin, how is docking from the lower helm, ...
We operate our boat only from the lower helm. We never drive from the flying bridge anymore for several reasons.
But even when we did, we would dock from the lower helm. We both find we can judge our boat's position better from down below than from up above, which may seem counterintuitive because of the wider view from up top. But we both feel very disconnected from the boat when we're on the flying bridge.
So even though we can't see the stern or the port quarter from the lower helm, and our view out the starboard aft window of the main cabin is largely blocked by the sailing dinghy we carry on the aft cabin top, we can sense exactly where the boat is from what we do see. So we are both very comfortable docking and maneuvering in tight quarters from down below.
Interestingly, we have a slip neighber who has a tri-cabin cruiser similar in layout to our GB. He likes to drive from the flying bridge and does so whenever the weather permits. But a year or so ago i noticed that when he comes back to his slip, when the boat is still in the fairway he comes down from the flying bridge and performs the docking itself from the lower helm.
So I asked him about this, and he said that he finds that he can judge the exact position and movements of his boat better from down below than from up above.
A big advantage in our view to docking from the lower helm is immediate access to the main deck should the other person need a hand with lines because of wind or current or whatever.
To both of us, driving from down below is just like driving a vehcile. Even though one can't see the front of the car, or the sides, or the rear, one learns to judge where they are from what they do see, and pretty soon they can drive down a narrow street at speed with cars parked on each side while looking straight ahead.
A good friend who we boat with a lot has a lobsterboat. While it has a rudimentary flying bridge, he almost always dfrives from the lower helm. And even though his boat has no aft cabin, his visibllity aft is restricted by the size of the two windowsin the aft bulkhead and door of the main cabin. And he has no problems at all judging his maneuvers from the helm seat on the starboard side of the boat.
I'm certainly not suggesting that docking from down below is better than from up above. It is for us, our lobsterboat friend, and apparently our dock neighbor, but every boater should operate from the position they are most comfortable and confident in. There is no right or wrong, only what works best.
But in our experience, docking a tri-cabin boat from the lower helm is very easy.