How much time do you spend on your flybridge?

longjohnsilver said:
I'd agree with all that, I spend as much time downstairs as up cos of weather conditions, why be wet and uncomfortable when you don't need to be. And visibility from downstairs is excellent so driving from there is pleasant, not a real pain.

However I would not be without the fb, nothing better on a lovely sunny day. But where it really comes into its own is when entertaining or relaxing, I love it up there.
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If you have ever healmed from inside at night you will prefer the fly. Especially if you have condensation on the screen or light conditions are poor. On a sport boat with just the front section of cover removed its like being in a wind tunnel being soaked in cold brine. At least in the UK that is.
 
KevB said:
Lots of high percentages say they are up on the flybridge most of the time. What they fail to say is they are up there on their own as everyone else is inside.

And unless your flybridge boat is bigger than about 50' they look ****.
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From my experience most folks join me on the flybridge the trip cross on the Gib- Smir rally in Sept being typical. Also typical was the fact that as it got more lumpy mid straits we ALL retired to the saloon I on the inner helm, autopilot on, put the kettle on and as it was hot turned the AC on, oh and the stereo.
The other hapless rally folks on the SC's and yachts just had to grin and bare it getting nice and wet....te he
 
KevB said:
Lots of high percentages say they are up on the flybridge most of the time. What they fail to say is they are up there on their own as everyone else is inside.
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As a family we spent two years when we did spend time at separate helms.

When my daughter was two weeks old my wife was down below from the Farne islands to the Channel Islands, we communicated by PMR radio.
I agree during the baby years on a long trip there were lonely times but I often had mates close by and spent a lot of time on ch 77, lonely isnt always boring, I was still helming my boat at 25 knots !

I dont think we would have managed a baby/cot and all the buggies in a 30ft sports boat and my wife didnt like the sports boat ride, she was happy in the Humber and Solent but offshore needed the sense of security of a flybridge .

We would all be together most of the time, it was just bad weather and long trips we were parted.

Now as a family we spend 99% of the time at sea upstairs together.

.
 
Sun_Coast said:
From my experience most folks join me on the flybridge the trip cross on the Gib- Smir rally in Sept being typical. Also typical was the fact that as it got more lumpy mid straits we ALL retired to the saloon I on the inner helm, autopilot on, put the kettle on and as it was hot turned the AC on, oh and the stereo.
The other hapless rally folks on the SC's and yachts just had to grin and bare it getting nice and wet....te he
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Not fair Clive. You're in the Med. btw, weather at the weekend was fabulous wasn't it. I noticed you're playing in the bar near to your shop.
 
Sun_Coast said:
Sure am Kev Xmas eve at the Jollies if you are over.

Tomorrow launch the jetboat, wish me luck never driven one of these
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Not booked to be over till mid Feb (my birthday if you fancy a pint or two) although will probably try and squeeze in an odd weekend before.

And thanks for recommending Mike the builder, he did a very good job at a very reasonable price.

Can you keep your eye out for a small dinghy, around 2.8mtrs but no bigger and a small outboard. Something I can keep in the garage and use to do a bit of fishing so nothing fancy. Oh - and must be cheap :o

Good luck with the launch. Looking forward to the pictures...
 
Yep the draw backs of sports cruiser in less than ideal conditions can be seen here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCftYSvgmjI

I only put this clip up cos I thought it was funny looking at my daughter's efforts to hold a camera steady when it got a bit sporty.

I got soaked, rain was like icy needles in the face.

But on the other hand, for our budget we have a fantastically sociable cockpit and wifey doesn't like climbing stairs to an FB. So its all a compromise.

The unpleasantness can be overcome by the right clothing or staying in the marina. I suspect my light fittings would have preferred the latter.
 
KevB said:
Lots of high percentages say they are up on the flybridge most of the time. What they fail to say is they are up there on their own as everyone else is inside.
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Agree that was the very point I made, and the reason we changed from FB to the shelter of aft covered helm. Now I'm with family underway, visibility is still good, and on rare occaisions when warm sun comes out we convert to fb mode by opening up.
 
I have recently sold my Fairline Phantom 46 and will buy another flybridge boat without doubt.

I have owned sports cruisers and for me the flybridge type give more options.

There is no doubt that berthing, leaving berth, entering docks etc is much easier from the flybridge as the view has the effect of shortening the boat. I can see right down to the tip of the anchor and the corner of the bathing platform which gives me the confidence that I never had with my sportscruisers.

On the other hand, when the weather turns cold / rain / sleet etc then it's back down the stairs with the heating on and helming in T shirt.

Other scenarios for flybridge are fog / dark / anchoring / rafting etc.
 
Granthsmith said:
As the title says, how much time do you spend on your flybridge? Do you wish you didn't have all that windage as you spend all the time at the indoor helm given the joyous british weather or do you live 'up top' with the wind in your hair all day long trying to top up your tan? (I'm assuming use as a coastal cruiser here)

A fun question with a serious purpose as I'm trying to determine whether at the same price, to go the sports cruiser or older flybridge cruiser route.
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I had a sports cruiser 1st (FL Targa 37) then moved on to FB with a Sealine F37.
Much prefer the Sealine with the choice of wind in the hair or snug and warm.
I would say I helm 85% of the time from the FB but sometimes on passage my friend and I like to throttle back a bit, go downstairs and cook lots of bacon sandwiches!
For me, I get great pleasure in being able to go downstairs (where the heating is on) and feel comfortable and warm whilst eating and then back on the FB for throttles down!

The family only tend to come out when the weather is fair and they much prefer the FB boat.
 
Guys, I have to say that I love my FB, spend many an hour looking up at the night sky feeling totally relaxed. Also great visibility when going along in good conditions.
 
oceanfroggie said:
As a matter of interest why did you take the cover over the windscreen off? Similar conditions below but warm and dry under cover.

Blaskets off Atlantic coast

Snug as a bug in a rug during a bit of blow
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I just can't see a thing sitting down and i'm too tall to stand with the cover on. I did sit down for a bit yesterday, it was quite sporty in the BC again but found my back (which is missing 2 discs) seems to prefer me to stand!
 
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