Foredeck seating - who started it?

jimmy_the_builder

jimmy_the_builder

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 Sep 2005
Messages
8,755
Location
Sussex
Visit site
A highlight of the BMYS this weekend was a very civilised conversation with Deleted User and my swmbo on the foredeck of the very lovely Princess S65, which got me thinking about this apparently-recent trend for foredeck seating. This might be a question for PowerYachtBlog, I know he has encyclopedic knowledge of this sort of thing - but does anyone know who started this trend, and when?
 
Probably was nt a anchor in a bay though was it...:)
I think if I had thought of it I would be keeping a very low profile...
And also a bit far from the beer fridge and the galley for me..
 
FARSCO said:
View attachment 64363

Been around a while jtb :D:D:D
Click to expand...

Very good :D but what I'm talking about is seating moulded into the coachroof, like this (Princess S65):

10832.jpg


Sealine F530:

imageVersion
 
Last edited:
I know jtb :D

For some reason I'm thinking sunseeker was the first time I saw it. Poweryachtblog will have the answer no doubt!
 
If we discount superyachts actually starting it and then it trickled down into production .If I understand your enquiry ?
If we are kinda thinking "moulded coach " roof a sun pad -or deck space --then take a look @ Apreamare .
They have had a moulded seat fwd of the sun pad for years .They do various foredeck layouts ,but most have a seat .
null_zpsb6cslrry.jpg

2006

null_zps8g8cpmsr.jpg


2001
 
Last edited:
I think the question needs to be narrowed down to who started the trend of putting foredeck seating on production planing flybridge boats because foredeck seating has been common on trawler yachts with portugese bridges for many years and of course on superyachts

Nice though isnt it? One of my favourite memories from Carloforte was sitting on the front of MYAG's SS guzzling his wine whilst watching the sun go down
 
Divemaster1 said:
Chris Craft introduced forward seating on their "Commander" back in 1966 I believe .... let's say some time in the 1960's.
Click to expand...
Wow that boat is in amazing condition. Was it a total restoration project?
 
Who cares, all I know is that for years I moaned about the lack of thought regarding the bow section on boats re seating etc, and now it seems like it's everywhere including on our new boat as well. It's a move in the right direction.
 
The first modern era flybridge motor yacht with a foredeck seating was the Posillipo 83 Technema from 1986 designed by Zuccon.

Fast forward to that and the current trend was started by Cerri 86 FlyingSport.

If you go further in history most of the old wooden Lavagna Admiral, Bagliertto, early Pisa Akhir yachts from late sixties and seventies also offered a similar solution.
But to be fair the coach roof design of these yachts is very different, so for modern design trends I would give the price to the old 83 Technema and then the Cerri 86 Flying Sport from 2003.
It was interesting that no one thought about it for seventeen years from 1986 till 2003, and this might have happened because Posillipo built only one or two of those 83 Technema and if I know well they where sold in the USA.
 
Deleted User said:
I think the question needs to be narrowed down to who started the trend of putting foredeck seating on production planing flybridge boats because foredeck seating has been common on trawler yachts with portugese bridges for many years and of course on superyachts

Nice though isnt it? One of my favourite memories from Carloforte was sitting on the front of MYAG's SS guzzling his wine whilst watching the sun go down
Click to expand...

In such good company too :).
 
There was I on Saturday, looking down on the foredeck seating, thinking why? Sunday, enjoying a glass of something with Lady Rafiki, and as the cockpit was in the shade, and I couldn't be @rsed to take the fly covers off, the good lady says, why don't we sit on the foredeck............Doh!

I do think that designers are now competing to create the most seating accommodation up front. And seriously, with the size of modern flybridge accommodation, cockpits and bathing platforms, I do ask the question, how many seats do I need? And consider in a few years these will all need replacing as the cushion covers get old/cracked/dirty/covered in seagull guano etc. How good will they look on a 10 year old boat?

I like Nick_H's solution though. Might be on my Birthday list, as this can stow in the anchor locker when not in use. Do they do a less "loud" version?
 
rafiki_ said:
I do think that designers are now competing to create the most seating accommodation up front. And seriously, with the size of modern flybridge accommodation, cockpits and bathing platforms, I do ask the question, how many seats do I need? And consider in a few years these will all need replacing as the cushion covers get old/cracked/dirty/covered in seagull guano etc. How good will they look on a 10 year old boat?
Click to expand...
Not to mention the fact that mobo superstructures are getting ever higher, what with the necessity to have a full height midships master cabin and a foredeck seating area on top. It is becoming very noticeable how top heavy many modern flybridge mobos are looking. Even if in reality the CoG isn't changing much, the sheer windage must make them a bit tricky to handle in a tight marina in windy conditions. Thank heavens for bow thrusters
 
PowerYachtBlog said:
The first modern era flybridge motor yacht with a foredeck seating was the Posillipo 83 Technema from 1986 designed by Zuccon.

Fast forward to that and the current trend was started by Cerri 86 FlyingSport.

If you go further in history most of the old wooden Lavagna Admiral, Bagliertto, early Pisa Akhir yachts from late sixties and seventies also offered a similar solution.
But to be fair the coach roof design of these yachts is very different, so for modern design trends I would give the price to the old 83 Technema and then the Cerri 86 Flying Sport from 2003.
It was interesting that no one thought about it for seventeen years from 1986 till 2003, and this might have happened because Posillipo built only one or two of those 83 Technema and if I know well they where sold in the USA.
Click to expand...

Thanks PYB, very interesting. I'd never heard of the Cerri yard before, but that 86 looks like was quite a ground-breaking model at the time, both with the foredeck seating and also the sport bridge concept, and what appears to be a duplex saloon inside. Interesting boat.
 
jimmy_the_builder said:
Thanks PYB, very interesting. I'd never heard of the Cerri yard before, but that 86 looks like was quite a ground-breaking model at the time, both with the foredeck seating and also the sport bridge concept, and what appears to be a duplex saloon inside. Interesting boat.
Click to expand...

It was, they sold ten Cerri 86s in about five years, and the yard is still going on, now part of the Gavio Group (Baglietto, and Bertram being the other makes).
Carlo Cerri an engineer himself started in 1995 with a very innovative walk around sport cruiser 28 model.
If you look at the first ten Cerri 86 you will be impressed to find how one was very different to the other in layout, a true custom project from head to tow.

Cerri just launched its biggest build to date with a fully custom 50 meter, of what they call the Fuoriserie (not production) line.
 
PEJ said:
Nick, what a brilliant idea!

I have got one of those. Any tips on how you secure it to the bow?
Click to expand...

I bought two long and wide webbing straps from Decathlon https://www.decathlon.co.uk/kayak-sup-transport-straps-id_8058321.html. They're about 8m long I think.

SWMBO then cut the strap a short length from the buckle and formed an eye in it, and formed another eye in one end of the remaining long length of strap. We attach the buckle to one grab rail, and the long length to the other side, then attach the two and tension as required, as you can see in the picture. We made two straps, one goes around the front of the sofa, and one around the back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top