Is a flybridge safe

rob1699

rob1699

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Jan 2005
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90
Location
Crediton, Devon
www.helmores.com
for very young kids? Have a 14 month old boy and another on the way in January, and my current boat (Targa 34) is proving just too darn small with all the cr*p that has to come along with the kids. SWMBO is worried about flybridge steps being dangerous, and also the thought of docking a large boat with just the 2 of us (ie me at the helm and her on the dock) seems kind of scary.

Will probably stick with the Fairline brand, and would be interested to hear general opinions of Phantom 40's or possibly 43's (there seems to be a lot of them on the market), and would this be a good hop-up from a Targa 34? Or would a larger Targa be a better choice at this stage?

Sorry so many questions, I'm not looking for definative answers cos I know there aren't any, but your expert opinions on my dilemma would be really appreciated.

Oh, and if anyone is looking for an '04 v.high spec T34 with on 90 hours on Kad300's let me know!!

Thanks.

Rob
 
Even on our dinky S28, the drop from the cockpit to the cabin is v.scary involving four very hard wooden steps with a hard landing at the bottom. Our 25-mth old manages okay, but I wouldn't trust her to manage a set of flybridge steps, although she would try !

So the choice is, flybridge, more space, and constant supervision/keeping doors locked/carrying pups up steps, or a bigger sportscruiser, still with constant supervision, but some freedom to roam...

My choice with pups would be a Targa 38 or 40.

dv.
 
Think you will have to work out yourself, whether you concider a fly bridge dangerous.

But theres loads more of very safe room down below. Shut doors, weather gone.

Like most, both SWMBO and Ex SWMBO have made any attempt to learn the controls. No matter what is asked.

However. Bigger boats are thankfully on shafts and are much easier to moor. SHMBO on the bow with big loop, hooks cleat. Engines hold boat against pontoon. SWMBO walks off. Easy.
 
Our daughter first came with us to sea at 2 weeks old and is now 6 years old.
She managed the ladder on her own from the age of 4 and she has managed the ladder this year at 25 knts always under supervision.

I would be far less keen on molded steps that look pretty at the boat show but at sea give little to hold on to.

A Flybridge ladder is just like a slide that kids love and spend hours on so try telling them it's not safe /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

When it is rough or cold the crew tend to go below where there are lots of windows to look out of and a second helm seat so they can see what is coming.
 
My boy was on our flybridge boats from the age of 6 weeks but I always worried about him falling overboard. Firstly, it is a concern that kids and other crew have to walk thru the cockpit to get to the flybridge from the saloon and vice versa. In the early days it was'nt an issue as we strapped him into a car seat fixed to the lower helm seat but when they get to walking age they dont want to be restrained. You can try to make a rule that the cockpit door is always locked and nobody moves between the saloon and flybridge whilst at sea but its difficult to enforce. Obviously any kids on board should wear a lifejacket at all times whilst at sea and I think if my kid was still young, I would look at the Raymarine Life Tag system
I was also concerned about my kid falling out of the cockpit whilst moored so I had some additional higher mounted bars made to increase the height of the cockpit sides and some gates to stop access to the side decks and filled any gaps with netting. In fact the cockpit became a giant playpen
With regard to the step up in size, I dont think a P40 or P43 is too much of an increase. Both these are shaftdrive so should be easier to handle once you've got the knack and they're definitely not too big for a couple to handle either. You will have to agree some system to ensure that the kids are safe during any mooring procedures so that SWMBO only has to worry about rope handling not whether brat #2 is about to launch himself into the briny. Either designate another crew member the sole task of looking after the kids or lock them in the saloon
 
I've delivered a phantom 46 and a 50. The steps are not much worse than stairs at home except of course they move!. There is usually a lid so that you can stop them going down the stairs when you're not looking. As for handling a bigger boat with the two of you it should not be too much of a problem. As a delivery skipper I usually have to single hand such craft. My favourite technique is to manouvre alongside, get the stern line on then motor gently foreward on the engine closest to the pontoon which then locks the boat in giving you / swmbo all the time in the world to sort out the bow line. This technique works even if you are at 45 degrees or more to the pontoon. There are various tricks with the lines which make life much easier. If you are not familiar with them then maybe a day with an instructor would sort them out for you. Cheers Iain
 
[ QUOTE ]
then motor gently foreward on the engine closest to the pontoon

[/ QUOTE ]

Surely you mean the engine furtherst away from the pontoon?
i.e. Stbd side to the pontoon, forward gear on the port engine.
 
I wouldn't feel happy about the "butcher's block" steps on the latest Phantom 40's as they look a bit 'open' to me. Moored up, I'd be happy enough to let a small person loose on the stairs on our boat, as they are 'solid' steps and plenty of handrails. Don't know what the older Phantoms were like, though.
 
I tend to agree with you. The advantage is that they dont block light to the saloon like solid stairs do but I would'nt like to trip and smack my head on the corner of one of those steps
 
No, Iain is correct stern line on, forward gently on the engine nearest the pontoon and the bow comes in against it. Thats how our Skipper taught us and it works every time. Trust me I'm a doctor.
Ian /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Agree with Wiggo and Deleted User dont think the Fly steps on the latest P40 are very user friendly at all. Seem very steep when descending.
Ian /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
You seem to do it arse about face to me. I get the bow fixed, then use engines the other way. I'll get SWMBO to have a go at your method.. But would have thought, inside engine would throw bows out.?? I'll get back and report.
 
Haydn and jezbanks, it does seem arse about face and thats what I thought when I learnt it, but once mastered it can be easier than trying to lassoe off the bow particularly single handed when the stern is a lot closer to the helm than the bow....and yes I assure you that it is the engine closest to the pontoon that you go ahead on, once the quarter touches its the line pulling on the cleat thats actually levering the boat in. You can also rig a line from a midships cleat on the boat, lead it aft and again step ashore off the stern platform and once secure motor foreward and the boat will lock in....its standard practice for single engined raggies ( of which I am not!! ) but works well for short handed mooring. Even more arse about face, to some, is that if you carry out the stern mooring with the elements behind you, then you don't even need to motor foreward the wind/tide does it all for you...cheers Iain
 
I know about the technique - I use it with SWMBO when I had a single engined MOBO. I dropped the stern in, put a tight line on and helm hard to the pontoon with a bit of forward would hold the bow even against a strong cross wind. I just thought that with two engines pushing the engine forward that was away from the pontoon would have the same effect as steering hard to the pontoon. If I steered away from the pontoon with the single engine it would spring off??????
 
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