Flybridge v's Aft Cabin - in damp climate

oceanfroggie

oceanfroggie

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Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

I've often wondered why Flybridge layout boats are so popular in the rather poor climate of the British Isles. I can understand the attraction in a sunny climate like the med, or carribean. Aft Cabin layouts with covered cockpit helm seems to make more sense for shelter and for sheltered socialising. Whereas, in warm climates the aft cabin would be like a green house. On the otherhand so much internal space seems to be wasted on flybridge layouts. Does this reflect that they are more used as day boats rather than for extended cruising? Vot zo ze forum members tink about zis? Which is more practical? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

I agree, I have been impressed with some like the Birchwood but unfortunately they are not around any more. I do think the pearl is ugly though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

But do you not get the best of both worlds, sunny go up top, wet stay down below?
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

Simple
Easy for me.
When its not freezing/wet I am on the flybridge,
When it is freezing/wet I am downstairs with the heating on,
Lets me boat all year round with loads of room and love the Flybridge, would never buy a boat now which didnt have one.
Mike
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

It is strange isn't it,

I like the aft cabins too. The Sealine F43 is awesome, if a little dated. I also liike the Viki 34aft and some of the Brooms. Even the Marex 26 has it's place. I would tend to go for an aft cabin over flybridge as they offer more practicality for safety with young kids (no huge steps). That said, at the moment I have fallen for the open Hard Tops which are both practical and fit the safety bill...ow and a lot less covers to deal with.

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

[ QUOTE ]
I do think the pearl is ugly though /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

hope the owner of one who was moored near to you in the summer isnt on the forum /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

Why, it's just plain ugly
barf.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

Ive got a broom 345 aft cabin and just come back from 7 weeks in the med
so for whats its worth the broom is better suited to the uk simply because you spend more time inside
In the med we hardly use the lounge area sept to walk through to the galley etc
the helm completly covers for winter with covers and if spray comes over the top you stay dry
I know this is starting to sound like a advert but brooms are very good at handling rougher seas than your conventional flybridge see the mbm report on there new flybridge where they said the broom handled and went 6 knts faster in the rough stuff
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

Why not go for a flybridge cruiser with an aft cabin?
best of both worlds, even in the Med it can rain like hell and blow a gale, so you have room inside when needed and plenty of space outside when the weather is good.

mobo1
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

Spot on Mr Mobo, you have the best of both worlds, and also
the opportunity to do the most outrageous pose form ones
flybridge, i must practice my most supercilious look when
gazing down from my flybridge onto lesser Brooms, and
those Raggy people
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

No /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ QUOTE ]
my most supercilious look when
gazing down from my flybridge onto lesser Brooms, and
those Raggy people

[/ QUOTE ]

though we do have some nice raggies in our home port /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

You won't tell people that i was helming a sailing Cat will you
Doug, they might think i am erring on the side of the dark
abyss
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

You didnt read all my post about your adventure to Turkey??????????????? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

They already know you are the incarnation of the devil in disguise /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I didnt say anything about Holyhead though /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

erm the Sealine F43 has both an aft cabin and a flybridge, so do Traders etc, I think the gentleman is refering to boats like the Broom which I have to agree are probely better suited to Northern european climes.

Though as another has said a standard aft cockpit / fly boat has the inner helm with heating etc.
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

Interesting comments, thanks folks.

Yes mobo1, we used to have one of those too (ie aft cabin flybridge), but didn't like the space wasted by the internal helm, or the reduced socialising space on the exposed aft deck. If the weather was bad everybody had to head indoors. Some flybridge boats have a reasonably sheltered aft deck (ie often covered by part of flybridge), but often at the cost of internal space. You can't win!

The perfect mobo for our ever changing '4 seasons in one day' damp climate must be a myth! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

>>>
which I have to agree are probely better suited to Northern european climes.
>>>

Please explain my soft top Fjord AC, unless all Viking types are hardy nutters:-) Aft cabin is a great place to stow the children, who appreciate their own space.
 
Re: Flybridge v\'s Aft Cabin - in damp climate

Having owned examples of flybridge/aft cockpit, flybridge/aft cabin and command bridge/aft cabin (Broom) type boats myself, I tend to agree with some of what you say. I think the Broom type boats are very well suited to a cooler damper northern European climate but they have a few drawbacks as well. The aft deck is usually small and drafty with limited seating and no sunbathing/loafing area. If you want to eat outside, that involves bringing food and drinks up 2 often steep flights of steps. There is usually no inside steering position and whilst its possible to cover the outside steering position, it will never be as protected as a flybridge inside helm. But the big disadvantage for me is lack of stowage space; there's no lazarette and stowage is usually limited to a couple of small deck lockers
On the other hand a flybridge/aft cockpit boat offers far more deck space and stowage space. You have the choice whether to loaf upstairs when the weather is good or shelter in the cockpit when its not so good. Eating/drinking in the cockpit is easier because the saloon and cockpit is on one level and the galley is sometimes at saloon level.
I agree that boats like the Sealine 410/F43 or 450/T46 attempt to offer the best of both worlds with an aft cabin, aft cockpit and flybridge and very successful they have been, particularly the 410/F43 but having owned a 410 myself, there are compromises to be made such as low headroom in the aft cabin, a reduced cockpit size and lack of stowage. However I dont understand why more builders dont offer this kind of boat
I cant agree with your comment about flybridge boats being used only for day boating. Its just a case of an owner being willing to trade the space of an aft cabin for extra deck and stowage space.
You do see plenty of aft cabin boats in the Med but mainly things like Traders and Grand Banks but not nearly as many as flybridge/aft cockpit type boats. Its not that the aft cabins get hot, quite the opposite as they are usually well shaded, but with stern-to mooring, people prefer the privacy of a forward cabin. Also the height of the aft deck makes stern-to mooring a bit more difficult and access to the bathing platform for swimming is normally trickier
IMHO, the best compromise is a midships owners cabin as offered on the Sunseeker Manhattan 50 or the new Phantom 48 where you get the space of an aft cabin but with total privacy plus a flybridge, cockpit and good stowage. With the advent of IPS, I guess we'll see more boats laid out like this
 
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