Does size really matter?

[Erichills]

The general opinion of those I've spoken to is that it does. I've been thinking of moving up to a mid thirties flybridge cruiser but a general concensus seems to be that nothing under 40 feet long is worth considering. Stability seemed to be most pundits concern and I can see some validity in thier arguments. Given that I've had very little experience on board flybridge boats - just been on a couple of mid thirty footers (Birchwood Challenger & Colvic 35) as a guest and in good weather, I'm not really in a position to judge other than to say, seemed fine to me. I wonder if some of those arguments for must be 40 feet plus is a valid argument at all?

 

[studgies]

as owners of a 33 foot outdrive flybridge which is supposed to be the worst possible combination we can say we ar happy, compaired to a sportsboat sharp turns etc feel very odd at first but you ge tused to it. Ours is a Sealine F33 and we have no regrets but we were limited on boath length and drive type by our mooring which is only just long enough for the F33 and dries to mud that is not quite deep enough for shafts.

 

[hlb]

An older 35ft boat is about the same size or bigger than a newer 40ft boat with integral swim platform. But 35 ft is plenty big enough for most seas. To big and there just a bloody nuisance. Wont explore loads of places, difficult to find moorings.

 

[Fire99]

purely from an outside perspective, why is a 33 flybridge with outdrives meant to be the worst combination?

With such a variety available between 30 and 40ft surely you dont need to go over 40ft to gain reasonable stability on a flybridge?

 

[studgies]

The opinion of many is that a boat of this size will be unstable etc, due to it being a little top heavy and not having much in the water. Not a problem we have notices I have to say but it does suffer a little when manouvering at low speeds in high winds as it is moved quite easiy by the wind. Again not a problem is you are expecting it and you learn to deal with it.

The F33 is perfectly stable enough to keep us happy and as HLB says boats like his Princess 35 are even better, loads of beam and weight and a good hull makes it perform better than many far bigger boats.

 

[hlb]

Thing is, towards 40ft you get shafts, much below and it's out drives. Shaft driven boats handle the sea much better, also much better in tight spaces, weight and windage are all factors, as is beam.

 

[mont]

33 flybridge, planing on drives here also ...
Windage can be interesting but you get used to it and predict / allow for it. Unsure or worried then get a bowthruster - got me out of jail initially but now only use occassionally.
Good economy - 2.3 mpg at 22 knts cruise over 100 nm in F4/5 last week, cheaper on berthing, sporty when you want it - 22 knts cruise /32 knts max, less to clean etc. 3.35m air draft on ours also very handy. Outdrives are more to service / maintain though before its said.
Big seas - stay in port or order a Nordhavn.
Always tighter on accomodation but dont want to pay just to please very occasional visitors.
We prefer to use our boat and therefore like its reasonable fuel economy with sporty performance over bigger accomodation - its a compromise.

 

[Kawasaki]

Big seas - stay in port or order a Nordhavn.
Always tighter on accomodation but dont want to pay just to please very occasional visitors.
We prefer to use our boat and therefore like its reasonable fuel economy with sporty performance over bigger accomodation - its a compromise.

Well said.
K

 

[Bajansailor]

There are some very capable flying bridge cruisers around that are less than 40', and less than 35' as well, often with shaft drives instead of stern drives.

The one I am thinking about in particular is the Bertram 31, although I doubt there are very many in the UK.
This was apparently the very first deep vee offshore powerboat, designed I think by Ray Hunt (and I think Jim Wynne was involved as well).
There are a couple of them here - wonderful offshore cruisers, and exceptionally seaworthy.
Have a look at http://bertram31.com.
And there is a very fine photo of one underway at http://bertram31.com/mac.htm - this one is 'Miles Away', and is apparently owned by a couple (Mr & Mrs Miles....) from London.
The only 'disadvantage' to a 31 as far as I can see is a singular lack of accomodation in comparison against other 31' boats.
The Fairey Huntsman boats have a similar pedigree re hull form, but they dont have flying bridges.......
To me, a Bertram 31 is classic in comparison to run of the mill flybridge cruisers in much the same way that the original Mini was a Classic when compared against most other types of cars.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

32' command bridge so no downstairs helm so more accommodation. Shafts.

 

[Wiggo]

The difference between a 30' sportsboat and a 40' (nearly) flybridge is huge, both in terms of accommodation and seakeeping. We went Fairline Targa 29 to Sealine F37, and we're very happy. We've cruised extensively with an F43, and in big seas, he takes as much of a beating as we do, so I don't think 6' makes much difference. Go closer to 50' and I would expect to see significant changes, but they come with a high price tag and more trouble finding a berth on spec.

 

[Bajansailor]

Sorry Andrew, I should have also mentioned your Coronet 32 which is a very fine and capable offshore cruiser - with shaft drives and absolutely stacks of accomodation down below!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I don't think it's a matter of length as a matter of drive system. A flybridge boat carries more windage than a sportscruiser so it's going to be easier to handle at slow speed with shaftdrives than sterndrives. I once had a Sealine 305 with sterndrives and it was easily the most difficult boat to moor I've had but then that was in the days before bowthrusters were common
There are plenty of excellent sub 40ft flybridge cruisers with shaftdrives. Fairline Turbo 36, Princess 35, Fairline 38 Phantom, Broom 37, Sealine F37 to name just a few