Flybridge for the UK (West Coast of Scotland)

[LadyJ]

Like most I'm always looking at the next boat.... To that end my view would have been to go Flybridge (Prestige 32, Swift Trawler 34 or Sealine 34 type). Upon speaking to a couple of brokers they have been pushing me towards sports boats with retractable hardtops as they say most FB users never use the FB other than leaving the marina due to weather etc.
Is that the forum consensus or do those with FB extol the virtues and use far more than the dealer is suggesting?
Thanks for any views.

 

[Whitelighter]

In my experience it's the other way round.

FB owners seem to rarely use the inside helm

 

[Nick_H]

I can see why brokers would say that, and I don't completely disagree with them, but of course if you buy a flybridge you can use it like a hardtop most of the time, and still drive from outside when it's warm.

I certainly think hardtops are a poor choice in hot conditions, but it doesn't necessarily follow that a flybridge is a poor choice in colder conditions.

 

[rafiki_]

Fly for us, but of course the option of the downstairs helm as required. The fly gives us so many more options for living space too.

 

[capsco]

I have owned many boats for over 40 years now, always fly bridge or Broom with aft upper helm, earlier this year I purchased a Sealine S41 sports boat with a hard top and sliding sun roof, I must say this layout has been a revelation for me, easily the most usable type that I have ever experienced.

 

[oldgit]

Like most I'm always looking at the next boat.... To that end my view would have been to go Flybridge (Prestige 32, Swift Trawler 34 or Sealine 34 type). Upon speaking to a couple of brokers they have been pushing me towards sports boats with retractable hardtops as they say most FB users never use the FB other than leaving the marina due to weather etc.
Is that the forum consensus or do those with FB extol the virtues and use far more than the dealer is suggesting?
Thanks for any views.

When we bought our present boat the plan actually was to remove the flybridge as it prevented the boat from being able to access a large part of our favourite cruising area.Simply could not see the point of a flybridge or much advantage in having one.
That plan soon went out of the window,we boat all the year round an simply now hate helming from below.
On long distances the peace and quiet being upstairs plus the advantage of seeing a long way ahead and being able to anticipate any lumpy bits coming your your way is very comforting.
In the worse of weather much prefer to be upstairs with a view,dodging the spray rather than downstairs seeing B. all with the wipers desperately trying to keep up and usually losing the battle..
Most flybridge owners will be upstairs if they possibly can leaving leaving the sportsboats owners trying to peer through the water or standing on tippy toe trying to see over the top

 

[Whitelighter]

I can see why brokers would say that.

Maybe they are 'sports boat' heavy on the books

 

[kashurst]

If it was me I would go for a broom/atlantic style boat for the west coast of Scotland. Lots of interior space when you are tucked up out of the rain in a harbour and quick and easy helm protection for cruising. If the weather turns just pull the canopy down - job done. Great helm position too at the rear so if its rough you get the best ride as well

 

[longjohnsilver]

I mostly helm from downstairs unless the weather is warm. However most of our summer socializing is up on the flybridge

 

[rafiki_]

When we bought our present boat the plan actually was to remove the flybridge as it prevented the boat from being able to access a large part of our favourite cruising area.Simply could not see the point of a flybridge or much advantage in having one.
That plan soon went out of the window,we boat all the year round an simply now hate helming from below.
On long distances the peace and quiet being upstairs plus the advantage of seeing a long way ahead and being able to anticipate any lumpy bits coming your your way is very comforting.
In the worse of weather much prefer to be upstairs with a view,dodging the spray rather than downstairs seeing B. all with the wipers desperately trying to keep up and usually losing the battle..
Most flybridge owners will be upstairs if they possibly can leaving leaving the sportsboats owners trying to peer through the water or standing on tippy toe trying to see over the top

+1

 

[LadyJ]

I really appreciate the feedback and seems like my original thoughts are being borne out. I'm tempted to try my luck and ask, of the three I listed, Prestige 32, Swift Trawler 34 or Sealine F34, what would be the preferences. I do a fair bit of solo but then have a wife and two kids and when kids free have another couple (or two) on for the day. Most overnighting is myself and my wife albeit with a bigger boat (than I currently have) I could see us having another couple join us for a few days away over the season.

 

[Hugin]

Most overnighting is myself and my wife albeit with a bigger boat (than I currently have) I could see us having another couple join us for a few days away over the season.

Then Swift Trawler is out of the race. The second couple would either be accommodated in very tight bunk beds or in the salon with no privacy..... neither of which will be comfortable even for short stays. In general it looks like the Swift Trawler doesn't get much accommodation space out of a hull which is significantly larger than the other two. I'm not sure, but I think it's quite a bit heavier too, which means more fuel to move the same or less entertaining and/or accommodation space around.

 

[Hurricane]

In my experience it's the other way round.

FB owners seem to rarely use the inside helm

Ha Ha Ha
I do remember a certain trip where the inside helm WAS used!!

 

[Nick_H]

I really appreciate the feedback and seems like my original thoughts are being borne out. I'm tempted to try my luck and ask, of the three I listed, Prestige 32, Swift Trawler 34 or Sealine F34, what would be the preferences. I do a fair bit of solo but then have a wife and two kids and when kids free have another couple (or two) on for the day. Most overnighting is myself and my wife albeit with a bigger boat (than I currently have) I could see us having another couple join us for a few days away over the season.

Hmm, I think I'm guilty of not RTFQ, as I was only commenting on the suitability of flybridges generally in cooler climates. I think the bigger issue is whether flybridges work well at that size, and I'm less convinced on that point. I don't know about the Prestige 32, but the Sealine S34 is on sterndrives, and whilst I've not been on one personally they do have a reputation for being a handful to drive.

The flybridge will also be quite small and exposed at that size, and the boat will obviously move around more than a bigger heavier boat, then add in the cooler unsettled weather you'll get on the W coast of Scotland and I'd tend to agree with the brokers that a hardtop may be better in the size range you're looking at.

I'd certainly want to keep my options open until I'd been on one at sea to see if I like it

 

[Whitelighter]

Ha Ha Ha
I do remember a certain trip where the inside helm WAS used!!

Yeah, but the FB helm was DEFINITELY used on the way out. I still have the wind burn on my cornea

 

[Whitelighter]

I really appreciate the feedback and seems like my original thoughts are being borne out. I'm tempted to try my luck and ask, of the three I listed, Prestige 32, Swift Trawler 34 or Sealine F34, what would be the preferences. I do a fair bit of solo but then have a wife and two kids and when kids free have another couple (or two) on for the day. Most overnighting is myself and my wife albeit with a bigger boat (than I currently have) I could see us having another couple join us for a few days away over the season.

Id have a look at see is you cant get a Prestige 36. Prices aren't that far off the P32 and its a more substantial boat and will be more comfortable without costing much more in operating costs

 

[Momac]

I spent ages looking at sports cruisers ...... then bought a Sealine F33 !
Have done 200 engine hours in it since July 2014, with no more than a dozen hours driving from the lower helm.

When the weather is not so kind , and certainly in the winter , the saloon of a flybridge boat is a far more comfortable space than the cockpit or saloon of a sports cruiser.
.

 

[oceanfroggie]

It depends entirely on the climate where you intend to cruise.

With the climate in Ireland which is similar to much of the British isles and Scotland, I found myself alone up in the flybridge except when the weather was quite warm. I disliked helming inside, so no matter what the weather I helmed outside, even if wearing full wet gear - but alone as the family were snug inside. So in our case the FB was not very social most of the time, hence we changed. However in a warm climate I have no doubt it would suit us well as you spend most time outside.

For me its quite simple, an FB has an extra saloon outside which suits the med. A sports cruiser hard top, or aft cabin cruiser has the extra saloon inside, and only outdoors on nice days when you open the roof or fold back the canopy.

 

[Greg2]

.

It depends entirely on the climate where you intend to cruise.

With the climate in Ireland which is similar to much of the British isles and Scotland, I found myself alone up in the flybridge except when the weather was quite warm. I disliked helming inside, so no matter what the weather I helmed outside, even if wearing full wet gear - but alone as the family were snug inside. So in our case the FB was not very social most of the time, hence we changed. However in a warm climate I have no doubt it would suit us well as you spend most time outside.

For me its quite simple, an FB has an extra saloon outside which suits the med. A sports cruiser hard top, or aft cabin cruiser has the extra saloon inside, and only outdoors on nice days when you open the roof or fold back the canopy.

+1
To be fair we have never owned a flybridge boat but came very close a few years back. The determining factor in going down the sports cruiser route at that time was that flybridges can be cold and wet places in the UK, even on a summers day and most inside helms give a poor view through a narrow windscreen unless they are a trawler yacht style (e.g. Hardy, Benetaue Swift etc).


Now we are on our second Broom with an aft cabin, which provides the benefits of a flybridge (open air when you want it, good view) with the benefits of a sports cruiser (sheltered helm when conditions are less than good, sociable space, all crew together when cruising).

Interestingly friends who were with us on a large cruise in company to Holland this year fell for our style of boat and now have their flybridge on the market. I think it was a case of one downpour too many!

Different story if you are in the Med though.

 

[Momac]

Having owned a sports cruiser for 7 years and a flybridge boat for the last two seasons I consider a flybridge boat is better suited to the UK climate than a sorts cruiser.

If its cold and wet the lower helm of the flybridge boat with the door shut and the heating on is a cosy place. If you have become a little chilly at the flybridge helm you can warm up while still travelling.

In the winter the sports cruiser people retreat to their saloon where they don't get a view out.

We use the flybridge boat in the winter as a weekend retreat even if the weather says we are not going out. Never did so in our sports cruiser.

I have been surprised how comfortable the flybridge helm is ...... I do have a coat.