Fly Bridge Boats

[paul salliss]

I am on the brink of a boat upgrade from my much loved Fairline Targa 38. There is a debate raging in my house about Fly Bridges between my wife and I, and one school of thought is that a Fly Bridge is the worst of both worlds, or is it?

The negative view is that it always very windy up top and often freezing cold, and down below they are not great to drive and a bit hard to berth re visibility etc etc. The positive view is clearly the ability to swap helms re weather conditions etc and the added space up top. The alternative for british NOT Med use it to go down the single helm position route in either a sedan or rear cabin stylie. Has anyone gone away from a fly bridge and can empathise with this, or moved to a fly bridge and found it to be a revelation, I would be most interested, if it helps we are looking at moving to a 42 in terms of size.

 

[volvopaul]

Were always having the debate going the other way from flybridge to sport boat, thought it would have to be a hardtop version.

My old 410 has a great screen across the flybridge with virtually zero wind when sat down in your face, I've lost many hats at 20 knots when I've sat up and forgot to hang on to it.

However all mor modern fair lines and princess boats seem to be really windy when on the move, which in my view need a taller screen.

If it's out and out room you want then you need a flybridge if 42ft is your max length, I'd love the 42 over any other boat, a v 45 or v 48 would be ideal but I'm no fan of drives and 48ft would b heavy on the mooring bill.

I'd insist on a good length sea trial before you make up your mind, have you also factored in the fuel bill will be half a much again going to shafts on a 12 tonne boat.

 

[paul salliss]

Fly bridge boats

Hi Volvo Paul. Would you be good enough to drop me over a contact number to Paul.salliss@btinternet.com. Best wishes Paul S

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I had a Fairline Targa 37 for a couple of years, and then upgraded to a Princess 42 flybridge. In the end I didn't enjoy the flybridge experience at all, and sold it after 8 months, and bought the Fairline Targa 40 which I still have (and am sitting on now, as I type this).

I prefer the low c of g of the sportcruiser; I like the fact that the downstairs saloon is quite private; and that the cockpit provides a big single social space outdoors. I found the driving experience from upstairs on the flybridge a bit remote and boring.

I think Volvopaul's advice is good: try before you buy. Consider chartering one for a few days if you really want to be sure.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[paul salliss]

Fly bridge boats

Hi Jimmy I agree with a lot of your thoughts and like you prefer the low c of g style. My wife loves the Squadron and I am not so sure don't get me wrong it's lovely but I am not sure at all about the whole fly bridge thing but I will be getting a sea trial.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Yup, it's a tough one this. The questions you have to ask yourself are these.
Do you enjoy struggling with cockpit canopies every time it looks like rain or you're a bit cold? Do you enjoy living in a dingy coal hole of a saloon with no view out? Do you enjoy being looked down upon by people on taller boats next door and do you enjoy it when those boats block the sun out or stop any cooling breeezes wafting into your cockpit?
Or do you enjoy having the choice of whether to helm the boat out in the sunshine and fresh air of the flybridge where'll you'll get an unimpeded 360deg view or maybe you prefer to helm from the nice warm dry saloon when it gets a bit parky or there's a bit of spray about? Do you enjoy loafing about in a large airy saloon with a great view out or maybe you will enjoy lounging in a cockpit with a nice flybridge overhang to shelter you from the rain and wind? Do you enjoy having about twice the square footage of deck space when you have loads of guests on board and a nice big lazarette to store things in.
Once you've answered these questions, you'll know what to do

 

[paul salliss]

Fly bridge boats

Dear Deleted User. Your post was a classic and made me and the Mrs laugh I think the bit that got missed was that we are thinking of moving to an aft cabin style or a fly bridge and will be moving away from sports cruiser all together.

 

[just add water]

fly bridge

Paul easy its called engagement or try it before you buy it ,wow what a change to your life more space, 360 view,easier to berth, or as what really the fly bridge was invented for at home we have a garden shed trust me on water the fly bridge is the garden shed just with no telly have one life is bliss just remember the wd40 for the steps

 

[John100156]

We had a Targa 34 in UK then moved it to the Med in 2008. It was great fun, I loved the way it handled and we thoroughly enjoyed it. In the UK we had her in Brighton then Torquay, we had to take it out several times because of poor weather with the covers on, it was harder to helm than my F43 from inside.

Then we moved to the Sealine F43 - whilst I do miss the T34 from time-to-time I musy say I do prefer it, a great boat with loads of space (obviously compared with the smaller Targa).

The F43 is actually quite good to helm down below, we did a trip in some very wet weather in January 2010 in Gib and because of heavy rain had to go below. We then did 500NM a month later to get the boat to SCM and did this all from the fly, it was great.

Another less important issue, if you visit a marina that has a lot of noise or lots of mozzies, it's great to put the AC on, shut the patio doors and relax in greater space.

I personally find it much easier to helm a boat from the Fly, the F43 though does hasve blind spots particularly the STB quarter and bathing platform. Sometimes tricky when reversing into a new berth - in some heavy winds earlier this year I had three attempts to get the hoat into a new closed berth (could not go past not enough room) in our marina but eventually had to abort to an empty berth opposite and move the boat into its new slot later!

So whilst I do miss the Targa (and the 40+ ones are fantastic boats) I do prefer flybridge, for now.......

 

[oldgit]

Yup, it's a tough one this. The questions you have to ask yourself are these.
Do you enjoy struggling with cockpit canopies every time it looks like rain or you're a bit cold? Do you enjoy living in a dingy coal hole of a saloon with no view out? Do you enjoy being looked down upon by people on taller boats next door and do you enjoy it when those boats block the sun out or stop any cooling breeezes wafting into your cockpit?
Or do you enjoy having the choice of whether to helm the boat out in the sunshine and fresh air of the flybridge where'll you'll get an unimpeded 360deg view or maybe you prefer to helm from the nice warm dry saloon when it gets a bit parky or there's a bit of spray about? Do you enjoy loafing about in a large airy saloon with a great view out or maybe you will enjoy lounging in a cockpit with a nice flybridge overhang to shelter you from the rain and wind? Do you enjoy having about twice the square footage of deck space when you have loads of guests on board and a nice big lazarette to store things in.
Once you've answered these questions, you'll know what to do

Amen .

 

[Wavey]

I had a flybridge cruiser for 19 years, now I have a command bridge. I'll never go back.

Do you enjoy struggling with cockpit canopies every time it looks like rain or you're a bit cold?

Unnecessary when some thought goes into the design. On mine just undo 4 turnbuckles, pull the pram hood forward and snap 3 clips into place. Takes seconds and I've actually done it while maneuvering in a lock, it's that quick.

Do you enjoy living in a dingy coal hole of a saloon with no view out?

My saloon is very light and airy. Very spacious too as no space is taken up by an internal helm I never used. It's amazing how much room is lost to an inside helm.

Do you enjoy being looked down upon by people on taller boats next door and do you enjoy it when those boats block the sun out or stop any cooling breeezes wafting into your cockpit?

My bridge is virtually the same height as a fly bridge. I'm not looked down on and there's no problem with lack a breezes.

Or do you enjoy having the choice of whether to helm the boat out in the sunshine and fresh air of the flybridge where'll you'll get an unimpeded 360deg view or maybe you prefer to helm from the nice warm dry saloon when it gets a bit parky or there's a bit of spray about?

In 19 years of ownership I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I used the lower helm. I hated the restricted views and was on the flybridge whatever the weather. In dodgy seas I also didn't want to mess about swopping positions and carting all the bits and bobs from one station to the other, especially if it involved going up and down a ladder when the boat was moving about a bit.

Do you enjoy loafing about in a large airy saloon with a great view out or maybe you will enjoy lounging in a cockpit with a nice flybridge overhang to shelter you from the rain and wind?

The saloon bit I've covered already. If you're lounging in the cockpit on a flybridge you're down low. Mines higher and is very useable space, even in winter as the least bit of sun warms it a treat and you've got panoramic views all round. It's a bit like having a conservatory on a boat And it's got heating up there too.

Do you enjoy having about twice the square footage of deck space when you have loads of guests on board and a nice big lazarette to store things in.

I can comfortably seat 10 on my bridge, which is the maximum allowed by its RCD. There's acres of storage there too in huge under seat lockers which are readily to hand from the helm position unlike a lazarette.

Having gone from a 39 ft flybridge to a 42 ft command bridge the extra space is amazing, especially inside with no space lost to the lower helm. And I also now have what essentially counts as another living space up on the command bridge which gets used year round as much as the saloon does.

At the end of the day it's personal preference as to how many boxes either configuration ticks for you. Usable space was as important to us as sea keeping qualities and the ability to use the boat comfortably on the Thames. It had to be as we essentially live on it and plan some very extensive cruising for the future. For us it was a no brainer.

 

[DAKA]

used to have a sports boat.
Moved to 31 foot flybridge (corniche ) never looked back, now have Princess 360, would really like a Princess 42.

waves seem much smaller from up there.
waves that break over you just land on the lower windows, very seldom make it to the flybridge.
(they did on Saturday) and we admitted defeat and cut the journey short.

There were only two boats that cast off from our pontoon on Saturday, both Flybridges.

As far as I am aware no sports boats cast off from the whole marina but I could be wrong.

we always helm from upstairs.

I have tried to get my wife and daughter to go downstairs when it rains but we all enjoy it .

There is not doubt you will spend more on fuel.

(sports boats tied up dont use much at all)

 

[MRC]

We have just bought a flybridge. I do hope it was the right decission after years of sportsboats.

 

[oldgit]

"My bridge is virtually the same height as a fly bridge. I'm not looked down on and there's no problem with lack a breezes."




..do not think he was having a go at command bridges or Brooms,just sports boats where standing on tip toe or stooping to peer through a steeply sloping windscreen,while holding on to your medallions to stop them getting tangled in yer chest wig is the norm.

 

[DAKA]

"My bridge is virtually the same height as a fly bridge. I'm not looked down on and there's no problem with lack a breezes."




..do not think he was having a go at command bridges or Brooms,just sports boats where standing on tip toe or stooping to peer through a steeply sloping windscreen,while holding on to your medallions to stop them getting tangled in yer chest wig is the norm.

Been there done that , you forgot.............. opening front plastic sheet to stick you head out so you can see while everyone else sits in the dry trying to hold on.

If anyone really enjoys that sensation they can still have it on a flybridge, just ask one of the kids to stand on your deck chucking buckets of cold salty water in your face

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

..do not think he was having a go at command bridges or Brooms,just sports boats where standing on tip toe or stooping to peer through a steeply sloping windscreen,while holding on to your medallions to stop them getting tangled in yer chest wig is the norm.

Yes quite right. As an ex Broom owner, I know how good they are. The canopy system over the helm is way easier to erect than a sports cruiser

 

[Wavey]

I thought the OP was discussing sports cruiser helm positions versus flybridge, and missing out the command bridge option. In my view a well executed command bridge should give you the feel and layout of a sports cruiser helm but it's raised to allow additional accommodation underneath.

Mind you, with the summer we're having here I'm beginning to think the best option is to buy a submarine

 

[AdeOlly]

Our last two boats have been hardtop sports boats, current one has an electric roof. This removes lots of mucking about with canvas. I've yet to go on a flybridge less than 50' where the view has been as good as that on just about any sportscruiser, which explains why they are driven from the roof even in the spray and rain. During one of our recent lovely (not) weekends we followed an F43 out of Portsmouth in a drizzly F5. All the crew were on the roof enjoying the wind, rain and spray. I was sat inside roof closed, perfect view ahead. We followed them a good few miles I must say the F43flattened the sea very nicely for us

With two young kids the thing that puts us off flybridges are the steep steps and low coamings, neither does SWMBO like the exagerrated side-to-side motion evident on the shorter flybridges.

 

[DAKA]

I thought the OP was discussing sports cruiser helm positions versus flybridge, and missing out the command bridge option. In my view a well executed command bridge should give you the feel and layout of a sports cruiser helm but it's raised to allow additional accommodation underneath.

one petty observation with command bridge is they tend to be further back , the bow can scoop up a wave and the wind then dumps it back on the command bridge.

Flybridge tends to be further forward an dteh waves usually havent time to gain enough hight to dump on the flybridge.

 

[asteven221]

Flybridge over a targa? Flybridge wins it for me - which is why I always had one.

Targas? Too much canvas which is a hassle and doesn't last very long whilst quite expensive to replace. It also leaks. Downstairs is similar to a yacht i.e you can't see out.

Flybridge? err I can't think of any disadvantages over a targa!