Our Hood 38 has the Swan-style center hatch. We've had the boat for 12 years and we are used to it. Having just returned from 6000 miles of sailing in the boat, the last 2000 with various pick up crews, it's not for everyone, since it takes some flexibility and agility to get below between the main sheet and the mini-dodger while the boat is heeled and pitching in a seaway. But it allows for a nice aft cockpit with private aft cabin arrangement, as well as being relatively poop-proof. And since the aft cabin has ports that open into the cockpit, the watch stander can always wake up the off watch by shouting through the open port or bangin a winch handle on the closed port.

The later Hood 38s had a more conventional companionway. I understand some of the ladies did not like exposing their legs and butts to the men belowdecks on that long steep ladder.

--Karl