I'm tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

RobWales

RobWales

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Joined
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Location
Gran Canaria
www.3ksengineering.com
I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

Bought the SS Portofino 34 last Nov after deciding my Baliner 2858 fb was too small.....

Dilema: not too sure at all if I like the sportscruiser canvas rear style of boat!

Have given it six months but I think I still prefer a flybridge and infact I'm hankering to back to one! oops

So do you reckon anyone would want to swap a half decent fb boat for my SS of about the same length?

I do not want to put anymore money into boats at this time as the SS has cost me the best part of 4k in upgrades and essential maint since purchase.

Am I being realistic in asking this question?

Your thoughts please gents.

Rob.
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

Most sane folks start with some sort of sports boat,but find out very quickly as its downsides once you realise it does not make you under any circumstances....cool.
Problems start with
Hobbit sized sleeping accomodation
Exposure to elements from all directions
Total inability to move round boat once under way without a degree in mountaineering esp trying to go forward.
You cannot stay on the front underway without being thrown around all over the place and also have to hang on for grim death with your watering eyes announcing to all that you would like it all to stop ..... Now PLEASE.
You cannot stay on the rear sunpad cos as the boat rears up to go,you are in immediate danger of sliding off and getting minced in the props.
The daft" in a circle " seating in the cockpit is impossible to stay upright on.

You always have to spend a least an hour after everyone else has gone home.
A, Removing seats to get at the chrome bits of stick and the heavy canvas covers hidden away under the seating.
B, Working out which bit of stick goes into which.
C, Working out which bit of the blue canvas goes where.
D, The increasingly bad tempered attempts to stretch C over B without pulling pressstuds out of glassfibre or a another 6ft zip jamming half way closed.
This does not of course apply to the Fairline 43 or any other sports boat owned by any forumite ever . /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

Let's compare two similar sized flybridge and sportscruisers: S34 and F34.

"Most sane folks start with some sort of sports boat,but find out very quickly as its downsides once you realise it does not make you under any circumstances....cool."
- I was never cool in the first place, so no change there.

"Problems start with
Hobbit sized sleeping accomodation"
- Accomodation is about the same on both, unless you include sleeping at the helm, or across the galley on the fly? Need to do the washing up first for this option.

"Exposure to elements from all directions"
- And being up on the flybridge is protected???
- How many flybridges sub-50ft do you see being helmed from indoors?

"Total inability to move round boat once under way without a degree in mountaineering esp trying to go forward."
- Same for both, except that falling off the flybridge or down the steps REALLY hurts.

"You cannot stay on the front underway without being thrown around all over the place and also have to hang on for grim death with your watering eyes announcing to all that you would like it all to stop ..... Now PLEASE."
- Same for both.

"You cannot stay on the rear sunpad cos as the boat rears up to go,you are in immediate danger of sliding off and getting minced in the props."
- You'd miss your props. Missing the boat following you might be more of a challenge.

"The daft" in a circle " seating in the cockpit is impossible to stay upright on."
- Some do, some don't

IMHO, the real difference between the two is the desire to be "indoors" or "outdoors". The upside of a flybridge is having a decent properly watertight lounge for the evening. The upside of a sportscruiser is the single level cockpit area for the daytime.

Also: the driving experience - have you ever seen a flybridge doing tight turns at 25kts for the sheer hell of it?

dv.
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

LOL sharp as ever Fred.

Erm S28........ and what about those poppers and zips Fred mentioned, which you avoided? :~)
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

Canvas in general is a pain. If you can leave it off, then great, which might be appropriate for a med boat. Not going to work too well in the UK.

The back screen on the fly is very similar to the sports cruiser.

The front screen is obviously an extra on the sc, but then again you've got the flybridge cover as well? I suppose you could not put the flybridge cover on, so what's underneath would either go green or get bleached depending on location.
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

My fly never has covers on, whilst cruising, just when I leave the boat. The conservatory may stay on all summer, or come off for a few months, dependant on weather. Last couple of years, it's been on all the time. Before that, it came off about March and on by October. So no big deal really.

If it rains, just shut the door. When the sun comes out, open it. Job done. Had a sports type once. Never again.
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

[ QUOTE ]
- have you ever seen a flybridge doing tight turns at 25kts for the sheer hell of it?




[/ QUOTE ]

We spin doughnuts almost every time we go out /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry S28, I agree with most of your posts , they usually make good sense but OG has this one spot on /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif


b2d8da3fe24251b38925807132d1896a.jpg

28f2666c2abe566e893255e45564c756.jpg




The best bit about a Flybridge is you dont have to leave the sports boat 'cool sensation' behind all the time, any time you feel like recreating the experience you can stand up at the helm and get someone to throw buckets of salt water in your face

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

Hi Eddie,

That was the last flybridge, here's Felix playing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

5cf29377de67e34ca7cc3ca9f42d63ed.jpg


And on close up, note the splashes well above my head but we were perfectly dry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
0b5dd9cbb1d1792ed7e1be37a02e1109.jpg



Felix really heals over on a doughnut, especially when my daughter presses the trim tab to push us over even more /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(S28, they were taken 20 miles into an 80 mile passage, just for the sake of it )

Cheers

Pete
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

Well as you might have expected the thread has deteriorated into an amusing, but useless to you, discussion on the pros and cons of flybridges vs sports cruisers.

So, I have no idea how old your Portofino is, but I think you may well find someone who wants to swap. I don't think small flybridges are any easier to sell than other types of boats at the mo', and sometimes a change is as good as a sale ( /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif), so you may find someone who just wants to drive a different boat, or has bought a fly and regrets it.

As I say, i've no idea of the age or value of your boat, but sounds like you put some more money on top of your Binliner, so maybe you could be looking at a trade for a Sealine F33?

You could try an ad on boats and outboards, or even in one of the magazines. If you swap, you both save on brokers fees, so must be worth the cost of a reasonably priced and excellent value for money advert in one of IPC's leading motorboat journals
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

[ QUOTE ]
[ OG has this one spot on /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

...S28 was last seen surrounded and duffed up by a posse of flybridge owners.

ooof, ouch, arrrgghh /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

You have highlighted another important safety / reliability feature of a flybridge.

Almost all navigation equipment is repeated.

I have twin VHFs on totally independent circuits.
Two gps/plotters running independently (and a few spares ones that are linked together)
two spare throttles, gear levers, even a spare steering wheel.

All helps with enjoyable relaxed holidays, I have noticed far more sports boats abandon wet/windy holidays than flybridges that are better equipped to sit out a few wet days awaiting sunny windows /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

I'd love a flybridge - but not just yet. There'll be a time though (let me hit 25 first at least)
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

[ QUOTE ]

...S28 was last seen surrounded and duffed up by a posse of flybridge owners.

ooof, ouch, arrrgghh /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif




[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Its a wet and windy weekend, all your mates are out having given up adjusting the canopy and trying to find somewhere dry to sit down by sponging the seats dry /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

How do you keep from spilling your gin and tonic?

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

Thanks Nick,
A sensible answer,
OK So I dont subscribe to a sports cruiser, are we not all MB'rs?
PS Its a 1992 in immaculate condition fully specced up if anyone is interested?

PPS Why not answer my q's rarther than get into tent v's shed!!!

ppps last line not meant for you Nick.
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

The serious answer is that it's definitely worth a try with an ad. It would help up front if you could decide which FB's you wanted: preferably list two or three candidates, then see what response you get.

Failing that, swapping with a stock boat from a dealer will incur some sort of costs, but it all depends on the dealer, and the boat.

dv.
 
Re: I\'m tempted to go back to a Flybridge.

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
[ OG has this one spot on /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

...S28 was last seen surrounded and duffed up by a posse of flybridge owners.

ooof, ouch, arrrgghh /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif




[/ QUOTE ]


Don't worry mate, I'll side with ya!

On second thoughts, these FB owners look big and hairy, sod this, I'm outta here, your'e on your own! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
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