Aft cabins.

[PhilipF]

Interesting response by MBM's editor in the May issue to a letter from Broom Boats regarding aft cabins.

To my mind it would be good if more of this design were placed on the market - certainly in the smaller range. Best use of a limited space would be my main reason, not only within the cabin itself, but on top as well - surprising how useful that is. There is also the alternative to the front cabin in the avoidance of the "slap, slap" sound of the water - this the subject of a recent thread here.

Our boat is only 8.8 metres in length, yet it has a perfectly usable aft cabin. Shame that these are no longer being made, and not any others of any were near this small size that I can see.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Broom represents the real UK motor boat design IMO
there is also Trader and Pearl, I particularly like this last one evolution too
in some time Princess and Fairline did aft cabins too, now they abandoned this part of the market
Fairline did try catch with the 43 Phantom AC a few years back altouth this was a failure for them
they said people did not want this type of boat but I would mostly give the blame to the high price they gave to it

 

[Nautical]

The AC43 was actually a nice design, the problem was it was only two cabins and a heavy premium on the price killed it before it got going. having said that there is life in the old girl yet as good second hand ones sell well so there obviously a demand at the right money. You could have a late 90's one for around £150k at the moment which is a lot of boat for the money.

The Pearl 60 knocks a lot of FB boats into a cocked hat (for me anyway) that palatial aft cabin is fabulous and you have another three cabins up forward, the aft cockpit works as well as any other FB boat, good flybridge if a bit smaller than a 60 FB. Its the sheer interior volume that really strikes you though. Very well put together 60' probably one of the best I ve seen in a long while and with the euro as it is a bargin for euro buyers which is why the yard is still busy even now. One of my favourite boats.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I am a fan of aft cabin boats and have owned 4 of them but they have their downsides too. The builders say they cost more to manufacture so they cost more to buy. I guess that's down to the extra cost of designing and fitting out the aft cabin. Second, the seating area over the aft cabin ie the cockpit is often smaller than an aft cockpit boat and often exposed to the elements although later designs have are better in this respect. Boarding an aft cabin boat is often more difficult from a pontoon than an aft cockpit boat because of the higher sides although, again, some modern designs have shallow steps from the bathing platform. For stern to Med mooring, the stern ropes can be more difficult to handle on an aft cabin boat and the main cabin is then adjacent to the quay which may inhibit privacy.
But IMHO, the biggest problem aft cabin boats are going to have in the future is pod type drive systems like IPS and Zeus because with these systems, the engines are located further aft ie where the aft cabin is. So, if the boating world goes completely IPS/Zeus, then I don't know what is going to happen to aft cabin boats and, particularly, aft cabin boat builders like Broom

 

[mainshiptom]

What is a cocked hat?

Tom

 

[Wiggo]

It's what you get from a three point fix /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

[ QUOTE ]
But IMHO, the biggest problem aft cabin boats are going to have in the future is pod type drive systems like IPS and Zeus because with these systems, the engines are located further aft ie where the aft cabin is. So, if the boating world goes completely IPS/Zeus, then I don't know what is going to happen to aft cabin boats and, particularly, aft cabin boat builders like Broom

[/ QUOTE ]

completly no a portion of it sure...
I think pods will have a 50% market share, in flybridge baots and in 10 years time and I think ZFs share will be bigger to Volvos
I have still seen not many big Euro builder use them on its flybridge boats (Azimut, Fairline, Princess, Sunseeker, Ferretti)
the Spanish ie Rodman and Astondoa did use them on there smaller models but..
in Italy Enterprise Marine is using them too
a big builder which did use them is Riviera on its 51 Sportfish style putting a triple IPS 600 option on its Flybridge Series II here , they had to do a whole hull change aft for this going from an 18 degrees deadrise to a 15...

 

[oceanfroggie]

It's early days yet for pod drives, it will be interesting to see what market share they have in ten years time. Currently we're aft cabin and intend to stay that way, or perhaps in the future would be happy with a full beam mid cabin and big low windows, but never a forward cabin ever again.

While this photo was taken last year I spotted another one of these on the Shannon last weekend - Fairline 43AC

 

[alt]

Wow, that's gorgeous.

Have to say, having seen OF in the flesh, the out-door helm really takes my fancy. Gives the sports cruiser feel, and a bit of a sociable area (easy to clean down afterwards too since it's 'outside') with a full boat downstairs to enjoy

 

[AndieMac]

Great looking boat Ocean Froggie, I think you already know that, though! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Must admit I'm a big fan of aft cabin, especially with guests on board (even ones that snore loudly). Certainly in sub- 45 feet.

When you are into the bigger sizes, the midship cabin serves the same purpose.

 

[oceanfroggie]

That is another serious consideration, having the two main cabins and associated heads at opposite ends of the boat gives much better visual and more important audible privacy during the night. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I also like the full walkaround island double bed which is low down rather than high up with floor stepping up as in many forward V berth cabins, and most importantly of all, large windows mounted low down for bright cabin and view outside from the berth (ie without having to stand up). Lying in the cabin at 5am watching a sunrise is a special little pleasure of boating, especially after a night swinging on the hook.

Fairline 43AC moored on Lough Derg

Broom 38 in Kinsale

Best of all worlds - mixed sports cruiser social cockpit layout but with the palatial aft cabin

I have yet to see a master cabin on anything under 55ft to rival this for space

But it's very much a "horses for courses" thing, aft cabins don't really suit hot climates, but really suit the British isles. The extra expense is really worth it for all that extra living space inside especially for cruising in our less than perfect climate.

PS: I prefer the way broom maximise the full beam aft cabin to Atlantic who use the entire of one side for shower and head making it narrower than the brooms. Also like the use of a decent rib tender on the electric davits that some aft cabins can facilitate

 

[blueglass]

totally agree with your comments except Im wondering why you think aft cabins are not suited to hot climates? We have an aft cab atlantic 38 in Greece and find it is suited there as it was in colder.
I know what you mean about the use of some of the beam on the atlantic being used for shower and WC, but against this, upstairs, above the cabin atlantic use the full width ( and length) for the raised deck which gives much greater useable outside social area than the broom with its inboard coaming.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Aft in Med? I suppose the cockpit needs more a bimini than a UK style canopy which can suffer from "green house" effect in warmer climates. (ie sun shade v's shelter from rain). Some ACs have this.

Yes it's swings and roundabouts, it would be great to get all the best design features and mould them into one amazing boat - a "Brolantic" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The Broom 50 and 530 have the option of coaming or full beam aft deck space as does the 450. Their new 395 which is a replacement for the 38/39 has a full beam aft deck. They've ditched the walk around aft section replaced with wide moulded steps each side of the bathing platform facing out for rear or side boarding. Clever as it makes the aft deck area even bigger than the 42/425. I do like the Atlantics too /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

But on the 395 and 425 Broom have sacrificed the port side door from the saloon to the walkaround decking due to the newer glued in windows. Many Broom owners I've spoken to refuse to do without the invaluable side door which can often be the primary means of access and certainly for provisioning the boat and getting luggage on and off.

 

[blueglass]

if they'd had the full beam aft deck when I was buying, they would have had a sale - it was the one thing put me off. Be a few years before the new ones are old enough for my wallet though!
Incidentally we do have a bimini which shades the deck well.

 

[AndieMac]

They are great boats from what I see, and you are clearly a big fan.

My preference is definitely a side access door next to the helm. In smaller boats, not too high in the topsides, it makes single handing easy with mooring lines back to the midships, and just allows quick access onto the deck, then back to the helm for any reason.
Travelling at night, sometimes you might see a rain squall on the radar which comes up like a land mass or a large ship, its reassuring to be able to pull open the door and step out onto the deck for a look.

Incidentally the surrounding countryside looks stunning, I know your boat is in Ireland, it must be a great spot.

 

[Coupe]

Good post OF and nice pics especially the Fairline 43AC.

Agreed about the practicality but they just don't look right around the bum - there's is nothing quiet as sexy as a nice flybridge /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

or better still

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I love the Fleming 55 too but it has it's compromises also. The saloon is relatively small compared to the overall length of the boat and the master cabin is forward rather than amidships like for example, the Marlow 53. I've yet to find the perfect crusing boat!

 

[Coupe]

Agreed the saloon is small, even SV feels bigger and the dark wood makes the cabins look smaller too but the main gist of my reply to Froggie was feck the practicality - just look at those lines /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

"Perfect cruising boat" - agreed, it dsoen't exist /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Nautical]

Goregous machine, but if you want the ' Daddy version' ....'

 

[Coupe]

Jeez, that Outer Reef makes the Fleming look tiny.

I see they are using "your" tender - mind your step /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif