Flybridges in the UK - are they really worth it?

gravygraham

gravygraham

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Probably been asked to death here on previous occassions but, who's got a flybridge and now wonders why they bothered, are they really the best use of one's boating pounds in our climate? I wanted to make a poll here to sample owner's usage, but it went a bit wrong.
 
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There are many great days out we have had on our flybridge in England, I remember the last one well, I think it was erm back in 1976!!!
Thats why I have just moved it to Spain!!

Barry
 
Yes, who'd want a boat where you can stay warm and dry when it's raining, or enjoy the wind in your hair when it's sunny? There's some crazy folk around.
 
Nick_H said:
Yes, who'd want a boat where you can stay warm and dry when it's raining, or enjoy the wind in your hair when it's sunny? There's some crazy folk around.
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yeah, quite. Us raggies don't think we have been out sailing unless we are soaking wet through. I can only sail from the cockpit - are you MoBoers really so nesh that you need to cower down below if the sun goes in?
 
We stay on our flybridge until we are driven in by stair rod rain or huge waves that threaten to throw us over board!
The best of all worlds with a choice of where to be.
If you want to be stuck inside get a caravan!!!
 
Nick_H said:
Yes, who'd want a boat where you can stay warm and dry when it's raining, or enjoy the wind in your hair when it's sunny? There's some crazy folk around.
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no surely you are much better getting a sports cruiser and then pitching a tent on top, as with all tents they are good for condensation, leaks, poor vision and you have to get it repaired each time there is a f6 or above. If you take it the tent down it shrinks so you cannot put it back up again, whilst it is down there is nowhere to put it, on smaller sports cruisers they inhibits access to the walkways and fenders. I have had both and the best had to be the flybridge, sports and hardtop in one.
 
Searush said:
are you MoBoers really so nesh that you need to cower down below if the sun goes in?
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No, I like to go inside when it rains, like I said. It was only a short post, you could have read it all. If you prefer getting wet when it rains, that's fine, it'll save you money on coats, houses and all sorts.

What's nesh?
 
PFC said:
We stay on our flybridge until we are driven in by stair rod rain or huge waves that threaten to throw us over board!
The best of all worlds with a choice of where to be.
If you want to be stuck inside get a caravan!!!
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Me too. Had some fantastic night passages on the flybridge too
 
Nick_H said:
No, I like to go inside when it rains, like I said. It was only a short post, you could have read it all. If you prefer getting wet when it rains, that's fine, it'll save you money on coats, houses and all sorts.

What's nesh?
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Nesh is a scouse expression for people who are overly fond of their creature comforts. It is usually applied to old people & teenagers who cannot cope with the great outdoors.
 
I've a small fly bridge model, I think they give you the best of both worlds. If the weathers nice steer outside, if the weathers bad steer inside,what more could you ask for.
David
 
A very good question.

We used to have a flybridge, but got rid of it because of the damp climate.

Fed up atop alone in the rain or damp, family below snug as a bug in a rug. Then switch to an aft cockpit helm which can be fully covered or uncovered in minutes. Suits the weather here and we all get to sit together in comfort and even to eat while under way. The view from the raised aft cockpit helm is nearly as good as a flybridge, certainly for mooring, but it's dry, warm and cosy. :)

Imho fb makes little sense in UK or Irl, but perfect for med or other hot climates, as indeed the covered aft cockpit helm makes no sense for the med.
 
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David of Essex said:
I've a small fly bridge model, I think they give you the best of both worlds. If the weathers nice steer outside, if the weathers bad steer inside
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Yes I know that's a positive, the problem is "Dads" tend to want to stay outside and end up alone while family stay inside. Better with one helm that can change to suit the weather, cover up, or wind in yer hair "if" the sun ever comes out in these waters.

My other bug bear is the internal space wasted by two helms.
 
Ive had fly bridge boats all my life, the only aft cabin boat was a Histar and we had that in the med, sort of wrong way around if you like, though it served more a purpose hotel than a cruising boat as it was slow and very thirsty, when red was 44p a litre here we were paying loads more over there for white.

I would say a 36ft and above flybridge is the best all rounder, smaller and they look a bit top heavy, though ive had 2 fairline corniches both on shafts great boats, but a stern drive version can be a handfull without a bow thruster.

The nicest 33ft fly on drives would be an f33 sealine a lot of boat in 33ft.

The advantage of a fly in our climate is you can see whats in the water before you hit it, on a sports cruiser the bow is high up unless its a big sports and it can ride flat, I hate having to stand when helming a sports cruiser on drives for a long period.

My princess is a treat to helm from downstairs when its raining, ive even moored it up from there while the mrs gets wet!.
 
Agree with comments so far I love my flybridge P560. Heres a for instance re prevailing comments so far about best of both worlds.

Couple of weeks ago went on the Gib - Morocco rally part way into the straits we had 4-5s on the stb beam, girls came off the sun pads all down below AC and stereo on. Got round the head land on the other side shelted from the wind, sea lovely, back up stairs taking in the sun for final leg a leisurely 9 knts lovely, girls back on sun pads.

Two days later on the return one of my guests went back with a guy who had come over alone on a 32ft sail boat, as the guy was nervous about returning alone, we gave em a 2 hour head start wind again 4/5 on port side now, found em in the middle of the straits, over at 45 degrees not haiving much fun, I called to my friend who was clinging on for dear life, to check all was OK, the returned inside to the AC and stereo lovely.

Got into the shelter of the bay back up top for final leg in the sun.
 
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