Fly Bridge pro and con

[MapisM]

We are new to boating but wifey ruled out fly bridges on our first viewing, no way was she going to cart food, drinks, etc up two lots of stairs.

I'm not sure to understand the reasoning.
I mean, it's true that with a flybridge you often go upstair for dining, but that's only because while anchored in warm weather it's a much nicer place, with better view and open to breeze.
If you prefer eating in the cockpit as you would in an open boat, there's nothing restricting you to do so.
In fact, we often do whenever the wind is a bit too strong to be annoying, upstair.
And you also have the choice while underway, obviously.

Imho, it's all down to what jrudge said: open boats are fine for day trips, but not for spending real time onboard.
Let alone for actually living aboard, as I do for several months in a row: at any given size, I'd rather have the worst f/b than the best open boat.

 

[SimonD]

Your size range is 33-40.my view is the very small fly bridges don’t look right so if a fly I would make 40 the minimum.

You're clearly not familiar with the Sealine F34. Looks good to me with the benefits of steps rather than a ladder up to the flybridge and an extending cockpit that gives loads of space without paying the harbour master for it! Mind you, if you want one you'll have to be quick as they seem to be selling like hot cakes at the moment!

 

[markc]

I'm another advocate of a flybridge, although I have had both types over the years. A FB gives you more space plus an open and an enclosed helm. When using the boat in port or at anchor, a FB gives you an aft cockpit and saloon etc all on one level. In a sportsboat you have steep steps to get inside the boat and as such the saloon is a dark cave. Just one example, on a nice evening we'll eat in the aft cockpit then maybe move into the saloon with the doors open, still with great views and a sense of openness. You just couldn't do that in a sportsboat. Also, we are based in the med and have young kids. We have the AC on all day and the kids often spend time inside to cool off. This again feels much more 'together' than them disappearing off into the 'cave'. I would only have a sportsboat as a dayboat

 

[jrudge]

I have cameras in the cockpit so if the kids ( not 10 and 13) move about (a) they must ask and (b) I can watch them all the way to closing the door to the saloon behind them.

 

[jrudge]

You're clearly not familiar with the Sealine F34. Looks good to me with the benefits of steps rather than a ladder up to the flybridge and an extending cockpit that gives loads of space without paying the harbour master for it! Mind you, if you want one you'll have to be quick as they seem to be selling like hot cakes at the moment!

I am sure there are exceptions- but there are also plenty that have a helm up a ladder and I cant really see the point of that.

 

[pks1702]

I think a big part of the decsion making process would be where you boat is based.

From a personal perspective and based in blighty we started with a Sedan style boat with an internal helm it might have felt a bit claustrophobic at times if it were not for the fact it had two large opening panoramic hatches in the roof. From that we moved to s Swift Trawler and really looked forward to helming from the flybridge. In reality we did not more than a couple of times because SWMBO got cold so tended to helm from 'downstairs' albeit with the side door open. Our current Broom 42CL seems to have the best of both worlds with its 'Command Bridge' a fly bridge of sorts when the weather is good but can quickly become an inside helming postion in seconds by raising and locking the canopy. Has the raised helm position for good all round visibility particluarly when berthing.

I think it was Mike F who stated that a Broom is probably the ideal boat for UK Weather and I would certainly endorse that.

Now if we were based in the Med it would be a Flybridge every time.

 

[Momac]

I am sure there are exceptions- but there are also plenty that have a helm up a ladder and I cant really see the point of that.

I wouldn't want a flybridge boat with a vertical ladder.

 

[Portofino]

I mean, it's true that with a flybridge ......// .....while anchored in warm weather it's a much nicer place, with better view .......// .......I'd rather have the worst f/b than the best open boat.

Depends what are you looking at ?

 

[rafiki_]

I have had 2 sports boats and 2 fly.

Your size range is 33-40.my view is the very small fly bridges don’t look right so if a fly I would make 40 the minimum.

we had a great time on our Targa 40 but a fly gives a lot more space and flexibility for summer / winter use. We are in Mallorca and even in the day coming into an air con saloon is nice.

if you want day trips buy a sports boat. If you want to spend real time on it I would get a fly. The space does matter. As above do bear in mind if you are with other boats people all migrate to the biggest boat !

Azi 39? Lovely looking boat Jeremy, but you know I’m a bit biased.

 

[markc]

Depends what are you looking at ?

View attachment 97888

Yep, sports boat owners are right pervs! ?

 

[Greg2]

Some interesting comments. The only point I would take issue with is the suggestion that a sports cruiser is only good as a day boat and no good for spending long periods of time aboard - absolute balderdash! ?

I understand personal preference but many spend long periods on sports cruisers and myself and SWMBO felt that we could quite happily live on our last boat, a Sealine S34, for a couple of months during the summer.
.

 

[ShaneAtSea]

Depends what are you looking at ?

View attachment 97888

 

[Portofino]

Some interesting comments. The only point I would take issue with is the suggestion that a sports cruiser is only good as a day boat and no good for spending long periods of time aboard - absolute balderdash! ?

I understand personal preference but many spend long periods on sports cruisers and myself and SWMBO felt that we could quite happily live on our last boat, a Sealine S34, for a couple of months during the summer.
.

Agree
Vikings managed . .....in the N sea and beyond.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We are new to boating but wifey ruled out fly bridges on our first viewing, no way was she going to cart food, drinks, etc up two lots of stairs.

If she's staying on the boat for any length of time, she'll soon change her mind. IMHO the flybridge v sports cruiser debate comes down to one simple factor. If you use your boat as a dayboat or only for short cruises, then a sports cruiser is fine but if your boat is also your holiday villa in the sun or you do long cruises ie weeks rather than days, a flybridge makes far more sense simply because of the far greater deck and accommodation space. Actually its mostly about the saloon. If you are going to spend long periods sitting in it, and you are if you spend extended time on your boat, far nicer to do it in a large light space with windows than a small pokey space without them

Forget any bollox about handling and seakeeping. Youre not buying a race boat. There are good and not so good sea boats in both flybridge and sports cruiser categories

 

[Sticky Fingers]

If she's staying on the boat for any length of time, she'll soon change her mind. IMHO the flybridge v sports cruiser debate comes down to one simple factor. If you use your boat as a dayboat or only for short cruises, then a sports cruiser is fine but if your boat is also your holiday villa in the sun or you do long cruises ie weeks rather than days, a flybridge makes far more sense simply because of the far greater deck and accommodation space. Actually its mostly about the saloon. If you are going to spend long periods sitting in it, and you are if you spend extended time on your boat, far nicer to do it in a large light space with windows than a small pokey space without them

Forget any bollox about handling and seakeeping. Youre not buying a race boat. There are good and not so good sea boats in both flybridge and sports cruiser categories

This is a very alarming and worrysome development, as you may recall the notion of a flybridge was dismissed out of hand by the present Mrs Scala, but she's started muttering about how much better the view is, and how much cosier the saloon must be, and whatever. So I had no idea I might be buying another boat next year but I fear it might be coming. She also thinks we're a bit on the small side.

At least it might save me the hassle of cleaning my props or eventually solving my fender stowage problems....

 

[Chris H]

If she's staying on the boat for any length of time, she'll soon change her mind. IMHO the flybridge v sports cruiser debate comes down to one simple factor. If you use your boat as a dayboat or only for short cruises, then a sports cruiser is fine but if your boat is also your holiday villa in the sun or you do long cruises ie weeks rather than days, a flybridge makes far more sense simply because of the far greater deck and accommodation space. Actually its mostly about the saloon. If you are going to spend long periods sitting in it, and you are if you spend extended time on your boat, far nicer to do it in a large light space with windows than a small pokey space without them

Forget any bollox about handling and seakeeping. Youre not buying a race boat. There are good and not so good sea boats in both flybridge and sports cruiser categories

We’ve stayed on the boat 31 days so far this year, it all comes down to personal preference of what you want from a boat, after 3 years of looking we had a list of wants, because of that list the smallest we could go was 45ft.

We looked at FB and as said, wifey completely dismissed them straight away, then looked at a sports boat with rear doors to close off the cockpit but we decided we wanted something that had lots of outside space for entertaining and sunbathing, along with feeling much more “ on holiday “, we found the FB had a bit of space on the front, a bit of space on top and mostly small seating only on the back.

All goes back to what you want from your boat, we may go fly ridge when we get older !

 

[oldgit]

If you boat alone and can put up with Hobbit interiors,tent boats are fine, you also need a penchant for zips and Dzus fasteners.
If at some point in your life you actually get some friends or a family its " fly" all the way.

 

[Portofino]

We’ve stayed on the boat 31 days so far this year, it all comes down to personal preference of what you want from a boat, after 3 years of looking we had a list of wants, because of that list the smallest we could go was 45ft.

We looked at FB and as said, wifey completely dismissed them straight away, then looked at a sports boat with rear doors to close off the cockpit but we decided we wanted something that had lots of outside space for entertaining and sunbathing, along with feeling much more “ on holiday “, we found the FB had a bit of space on the front, a bit of space on top and mostly small seating only on the back.

All goes back to what you want from your boat, we may go fly ridge when we get older !

I,am with Chris on this my wife poo poo ed FB ,
We have a small dog , which logically safety wise is a small child ,that never effectively grows up .
Med based so a huge sunpad area is a priority .
As far as the “cave “ It’s an outdoor life and the coach roof has skylights , so it can be bright , I say can because in the season we close them off , ( they have sliding blinds ) to keep the searing heat out ,Which brings me round to another Med orientated point = airco !
A “cave “ due to its lack relatively of glazing compared to a FB is easier to cool / chill down and maintained it’s temp .
Thats important .+ heat in the winter on the odd occasion we drive down .
Perhaps because ours is white down stairs and has skylights , and wooden floors ( no carpet anywhere) .....I don’t relate to the “ cave “ description.
A lot of “ green houses “ end up with covers on the acreage of gazing in the Med anyhow ....Infact they all do ! = more poppers etc Whats OG gonna do down in the Med with a FB ? covered in a “ tent “ !

Interestingly my wife did not want patio doors on a boat either .Thinks they look ugly ...her view btw .On reflection she has a point @ 33-40 ft .She has a point , how ever the patio door thing proportions out as size increases from 50 ft +

Note S/Skr et al @70 ft + or so have gone to great pains engineering wise to engineer them out .They retract , the whole thing into the floor .Done right there’s no discernible lip or step to your toes. Trendy as it is the dispersing patio doors some do it clumsily, Theres a step , gap ridge or only say a 1/3 rd hides .Next time you are @ a show take note of that detail .Its a wheat from the chaff moment. Hard to do as they have to align the threshold up top with a bulk head below ...,remember there’s shaft drive motors lurking down there with tanks etc !

We spend a huge amount of time on our open sports boat , in a normal year cruise extensively, I recall last year popping o cross to see Bouba ....turned out 12 days touring about , never once phaffed with zips etc ....thats why I asked where the ops intending to boat? The longest this year stint 3 weeks out every day to cool off etc , but due to Corvid returning to the berth .

Aside as they get bigger there’s plenty of room on the bigger Pershings / Mangusta , AB s .Regretfully Itama only go to 75 .
The largest sports boat I have helmed on is a Pershing 115 with triple Arnesons ...... seemed plenty of room without a FB ....and had that zero step issue , the rear patio doors disappeared , not quite as neat as the S /Sker but near enough...that’s me being uber picky with the detail .
The huge open plan areas are attractive with sports boats in the Med .

More social even on little ones .

 

[Simon 420]

Flybridge every time for visibility when driving, manoevering and getting fresh air! You can't take in a whole lot of your surroundings when coped up in a cabin

Also think about what it's like when it is cold and/or wet and you're moored. In a flybridge you'll have a nice sized cabin from which you can actually see out. Sportscruisers seem to me to be cramped and with thpse small wndows, rather like a cell

 

[Bouba]

If the OP is dog owner I would recommend a flybridge, mostly one level from bathing platform to saloon the just a few steps down to cabins. Some sports cruisers have 4 or 5 almost vertical steps down to accommodation which can be a challenge for some dogs.

I also have a dog and a flybridge. Unfortunately my boat has a ladder not stairs so the dog can’t go up which means we never use the fly. My advice would be that if you want a dog on the fly make sure you have a staircase that is dog friendly