55 Flybridge

[lrenes]

Boaters,

I am getting ready to buy a 55' Flybridge. Am thinking of a 1-3 year old Fairline Squadron 55 or a Sunseeker Manhattan 56. Anybody out there with experience with these? Pros/cons? Any other models to look at? We are a young couple with 1 year old kid. Will be cruising the Mediterranean during holidays, often with 2 friends coming along. Have been sailing 40-44 footers (Beneteau, Bavaria etc) in the past years.

Your input is appreciated!!!
L

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[Renegade_Master]

Think Princess do a 55, would be worth considering that also

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Have a look at the Azimut 55 and Princess 56 as well

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[DavidBunn]

IMHO you don`t need a flybridge boat in the Med, you need a Sports Cruiser. Lots of one level deck space for entertaining, and ideal for keeping an eye on young children. Flybridge boats are for Northern waters, and MoBo instructors. Regards, David.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[capsco]

Re DavidBunn
This sounds good in theory, but wait untill you have to put the canopy up and down a few times

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[DavidBunn]

Ah, there you go. Never use a canopy, got rid of it, only use a Bimini, just to get some shade and keep the odd spot of rain off. Tanneau cover goes on when we leave, keeps everything nice and clean. Regards, David.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I cant agree with you either, David. We had a Targa 48 in the South of France last season and we are swapping it for a flybridge boat this season. Maybe if you already have a property and you use your boat mainly as a dayboat, then an open cockpit boat makes sense but if, like us, the boat is effectively also a holiday home then a flybridge boat is better IMHO. Yes, during the summer, we just used the canopy as a bimini but, out of season, the weather in the Med can be changeable and you do need the full canopy which then is never watertight so you cant sit under under it anyway . We found ourselves still using the saloon a lot, not only during poor weather but also sometimes to escape from the heat and chill out in the a/c.
The other advantage of a flybridge boat is just that, the flybridge, which is much better for catching any breeze thats going especially in a stuffy marina when you've got high sided boats either side
I do agree with you about kids though. An open cockpit boat is much better for keeping an eye on what they're up to

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[Renegade_Master]

David I see from your profile that you show Duquesa as your winter retreat? We are in Duquesa.

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[DavidBunn]

Hi Mike, I take your point, but we stay on the boat for between 2/5 weeks at a time (no shoreside home), perhaps being ex sailley boat peeps we just got used to it. However, my son has just changed from a flybridge boat, to a one deck boat just because it worried him (and me), if all was well down below with the wife and young children when underway. Regards, David

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[DavidBunn]

Hi Clive, if you remember we tried too late to get a Winter mooring in Duquesa, perhaps this year, so we are still at Marina del Este. I thought you were going to have a pop at me for my remark about flybridge boats and MoBo instructors. Regards.David

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[lrenes]

Thanks for your replies!

Since I will be selling my apartment in Malta to be able to buy the boat we will be using the boat as a second home, spending a couple of weeks per year on it. So that´s why the flybridge is appealing. Do you recommend taking the boat out of the water for the winter? Are there any flybridge owners that can share their experiences with these models? What about registering under Maltese flag?

This is a great forum!

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