Fairline Squadron 50

The one thing that SWMBO always talks about with the current batch of 50ft boats is that you seem to be climbing steep stairs wherever you go.

That's fine at boat shows but in real life the chances are you will be carrying something up or down! The one level approach has merit therefore.

I also like the galley out of the way - best arrangement was Sq58 where its out of the way but allows the user to keep in with conversation etc in the saloon. I do not like the galley as you walk in past the 'patio' doors.

Reminds me of the entrance to aircraft where you are 'welcomed' at the galley and toilets.
 
Stick up a couple of colour CCTV cameras and display on the E120 with split screen. If positioned correctly you should see the whole of the dive platform and beyond. A must for Med mooring in my opinion and will cost around £75ea for the cameras which plug straight into the back of the the E series display. I even fitted one to my current catamaran as I couldn't see the port transom steps.

This way it doesn't really matter if your FB helm is port, starboard or central. It also cuts down on a lot of shouting from the crew trying to tell you how far to go.
 
A must for Med mooring in my opinion

Certainly not a must on a 50' flybridge, maybe a nice to have. I'm always standing up when berthing so it takes a second to move to either side of the flybridge to look over, or down through the hatch opening. I have a docking camera on the P57, but have never really felt i'd benefit by using it.
 
Bring on the cigars (or give me a slap for being thtupid!)
Darn, here I am, contemplating my already low stock of 2006 vintage Monte #2... :D

I must admit that I would have never thought of this, because I've moored stern to for many years, with no chance to see the platform and no need to ask anyone to shout how far to go.
In fact, I'm puzzled by people considering "a must" or "essential" this or the camera trick. :confused:
Apologies if I'm teaching anyone to suck eggs, but what is really essential in Med mooring is to stop FAR from the quay, secure the bow line(s) while it's slack, and only afterwards tighten the stern lines.
By that time, normally I've already turned off the engines and left the helm...
The only scenario when it's necessary to go near the quay is when nobody is there to take the stern lines and pass the bow line, but that's very rare indeed.
 
Ah ! The med moor vs pontoon type rears its head again.

In my case (and most in UK) I turn in a narrow fairway and reverse to my berth - in my case port side alongside - so I can use the stern door to get ashore (tender on the platform restricts using the stbd side). The end of the pontoon to which I tie has to be avoided during the swing and I simple look aft as I manoeuvre and glace down the F/B staircase to check once I'm clear before stopping the swing and reversing back parallel to the floating pontoon.

I have been amazed at the number of boats I have looked at that do not offer that view without the need of cameras etc
 
Certainly not a must on a 50' flybridge, maybe a nice to have. I'm always standing up when berthing so it takes a second to move to either side of the flybridge to look over, or down through the hatch opening. I have a docking camera on the P57, but have never really felt i'd benefit by using it.

Actually, I have experienced the opposite, Nick.

I fitted docking cameras before the boat left the UK because I couldn't see the bathing platform. I fitted two cameras - one over each rear quarter. Its really easy to switch them on - no complicated menus etc - just push one button. As a result, I actually use them. Most of the time, we are docking alongside and they help there as well. My style is the same as you Nick - I tend to give the engines/thrusters a kick and then walk across the FB to see if it needs any more but the docking cameras make the whole thing easier - I would definately fit them on larger FB but maybe not that necessary on a 50 footer.
 
Absolutely, mine is to port on the F/B and I think on most Princess boats I have seen all provide a view of the swimming platform corner. Essential IMHO

Every Ferretti I've seen also has the f/b helm on the same side as the flybridge steps, according to them also to afford a view of the bathing platform as you're reversing into a mooring. Actually I dont think its a big deal because you sort of know how far away you are from the dock after you've moored a boat a few times and you can see the dock if you look over the side. In any case, on my boat, its the job of the crew handling the stern lines to tell me how far away from the dock we are
 
I must admit that I would have never thought of this, because I've moored stern to for many years, with no chance to see the platform and no need to ask anyone to shout how far to go.
In fact, I'm puzzled by people considering "a must" or "essential" this or the camera trick. :confused:

It ok for you guys with these thruster thingies. You try Med mooring a 46ft long 25ft wide cat with 20knots blowing across the gap and having no thrusters at all. As far as leaving the helm, you must be joking until the two stern lines are on. Thats why I say they are a must have.
I suppose with bow/stern thrusters and a walkabout engine remote, a camera probably isn't a necessity, as someone else said probably a nice to have.
 
Worng assumption, I'm afraid...!

It ok for you guys with these thruster thingies. You try Med mooring a 46ft long 25ft wide cat with 20knots blowing across the gap and having no thrusters at all.
Glad to arrange an experience exchange if you wish, but be warned: even if my 53' trawler, which is not even aware of the thrusters existence, MIGHT take a bit longer to be moved by crosswind if compared to a 46' grp cat, when she begins to move sideways, she really does. And at almost 40T when loaded, there's no way on earth to stop her, unless the bow line and the upwind stern line are both secured before she starts moving.
In fact, I never said that I turn off the engines and leave the helm before the stern lines are on, just before they're eventually tightened.
Which is a winch job, btw. Again, no way to do that by hand in xwind.
 
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