Flybridges in the UK - are they really worth it?

Thanks for your many and varied responses folks. I've had a fixation for the last couple of years about replacing our current mobo with an fb but sometimes wonder if a hardtop with lots of opening rooflights would satisfy my thirst for wind in the hair exhilaration. I would have liked to run a poll so mober's could answer anon - trouble is if you've forked out £100k plus on a boat you're not gonna come on here and publicly say you got it wrong!
 
Searush said:
Us raggies don't think we have been out sailing unless we are soaking wet through.
Click to expand...
I don't see why.
I sailed some thousands miles and very rarely got soaking wet, but always felt to have been out cruising anyway - and sometimes in pretty nasty weather.
Otoh, I regularly get soaking wet while scuba diving, and never complained for that.
Though I still don't see the "soaking wet" part as the main attraction of diving...
How nesh in that?
 
gravygraham said:
sometimes wonder if a hardtop with lots of opening rooflights would satisfy my thirst for wind in the hair exhilaration.
Click to expand...
For such thirst, no HT on hearth will ever come close to a FB helmed from upstair.
Actually, a FB can beat even an open sportboat in terms of "wind in the hair" sensation.
Now, if you're also looking for performance (speed, responsiveness, etc.), that would be a different story of course.
 
Is a Flybridge worth it ?

Hard one - lets see.
Well, after pondering........YES!!!.
Great social area in good weather. Even better with a bimini in case of a bit of british weather.
You feel a lot more in touch than a sports boat with the elements.
You have the option of choosing between 3 decks and not 2.
Great for those summer evenings.
Even great for the odd barbecue summer or winter, as we had a few barbecues on the fly in London in January.
Great for the Sun Bed area on top.
Great for the view.
Accomodates the sunbed, bar, barbecue, table, seating area.
Goes down well with the pimms.
Oh, sorry for rattling on but yes, Flybridges do work as our Charter Customers keep coming back.
Any more questions then please feel free to ask.
 
Some very good reasons for buying a flybridge above, here are a few of my thoughts


Almost zero engine noise.
When it is rough you are remote from the waves and feel more secure.
The waves have to be significant to make it as high as the flybridge so it tends to be much dryer.

When you are tied up and it rains you have a comfortable saloon area with a good view of the outside world, compare that with a sports boat 'velour coffin' accommodation, both pay the same berthing fees ! but I have to admit I am a little envious of reported sports boat 2 mpg but assume that is due to sports boat being used as day boats not venturing far away from the 8 knot harbour limits where mpg is going be better ?
 
dacarak said:
but I have to admit I am a little envious of reported sports boat 2 mpg but assume that is due to sports boat being used as day boats not venturing far away from the 8 knot harbour limits where mpg is going be better ?
Click to expand...

I think it is probably more down to sterndrives Vs shaft that gives the better mpg. I get nearly 4mpg out of mine, mind you, it does only have 1 engine!
 
Overall, I think flybridge boats are the best compromise for any boating area. When we boated in the UK, we had several f/b boats and we only retreated downstairs to helm when the weather was really bad. For me, part of the reason for going boating is to get out in the fresh air and a f/b boat gives you that whereas a hardtop boat doesn't, even if it has a sunroof. I would say though that f/b's below 30-35ft are not worth having 'coz the f/b is so small and exposed and I would never have a f/b boat with sterndrives 'coz they're a bit of a handful to manouvre in a marina in windy conditions
 
Most of the flybridges I see in the UK are being driven from the f/b itself. I think they offer a lot of advantages and some disadvantages. But definitely not out of place in British conditions.
 
not sure what a poll would show.. not many people own a boat they loathe! For those who want a flybridge, I guess they own one. For those who want something else, I guess they are pleased with their boat too; I dont think they then secretly wish they had a flybridge.
Personally, I dont want a flybridge; but then I dont want a canal boat, or a displacement boat, or a zap-cat either. I want a sportsboat, and I havent found anything else that does what I want a boat to do.
I imagine that is the situation for whatever boat you own...
 
Fly bridge

We have a fly bridge, very rarely used as such but is dead handy for storing dropnets, landing nets, gaffs, rods, brooms, fenders, liferaft and the occasional sickly passenger.

Dusk_WEB.jpg


not sure about sitting up there in the cold though.
 
gravygraham said:
Probably been asked to death here on previous occassions but, who's got a flybridge and now wonders why they bothered.
Click to expand...

The very question I’m pondering at the moment to be honest but not too many replies from the semi hardtop owners yet though.
I would have thought the best of both worlds are the Sealine SC type owners – wind in your hair if you need it but hardtop if you don’t
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top