Open boat or big sun roof?

[Gentlemanracer]

Arguments for both very welcome. I love the feeling and the appearance of an open boat it just seems so "right"! But swmbo says its invariably gonna be chilly cos we aren't in The Med. True, but there must be some degree of wind screening, say at anchor, with an open boat when compared to a RIB we have at present?? Or is a sunroof just so good in comparison, any who have made the step would not go back??

 

[lynall]

I have no experience of one, but would say sunroof all the way especially for then the weathers rubbish.


Lynall

 

[rafiki_]

I have no experience of one, but would say sunroof all the way especially for then the weathers rubbish.


Lynall

We have just gone the Flybridge route. Open top on the fly, semi exposed in the cockpit, lower helm in the saloon for the inclement days.

 

[powerskipper]

sun roof

Arguments for both very welcome. I love the feeling and the appearance of an open boat it just seems so "right"! But swmbo says its invariably gonna be chilly cos we aren't in The Med. True, but there must be some degree of wind screening, say at anchor, with an open boat when compared to a RIB we have at present?? Or is a sunroof just so good in comparison, any who have made the step would not go back??

I have been on many of both, and an extended sun roof for me wins hands down.

 

[Gentlemanracer]

I have been on many of both, and an extended sun roof for me wins hands down.

D'oh! Is that based upon weather forecasting being so poor that you need to have a floating block of flats or take a green house with you??

 

[powerskipper]

No I just like being dry when it rains and in the sun when its sunny, its an age thing.LOL

 

[rubberduck]

Open boat for us. Everything off apart from the top cover for shade in the Summer, used her a lot like that this year. Weather not so good just the back cover off. Our Absolute is very easy to get the screen & sides up & down however, & can all be done from within the cockpit as its all zips as opposed to studs everywhere like our old Doral.

 

[blueglass]

D'oh! Is that based upon weather forecasting being so poor that you need to have a floating block of flats or take a green house with you??

ah, I love the fetid smell of anti mobo derision in the morning!

 

[Gentlemanracer]

No I just like being dry when it rains and in the sun when its sunny, its an age thing.LOL[/

Cant fault that at all! I've plenty of wet protection kit, and happy to 'don it, its just that if rain is forecast and boating is a leisure "activity" I'm not going to enjoy boating in the rain so I'd stay ashore. Now, do you think I need a sunroof to keep swimbo's drafty worries at bay??

 

[Gentlemanracer]

Open boat for us. Everything off apart from the top cover for shade in the Summer, used her a lot like that this year. Weather not so good just the back cover off. Our Absolute is very easy to get the screen & sides up & down however, & can all be done from within the cockpit as its all zips as opposed to studs everywhere like our old Doral.

Mega! Do you or swmbo hanker after a boat with a sun roof, though?

 

[lisilou]

I have been on many of both, and an extended sun roof for me wins hands down.

Ditto that for sure. Had both and much prefer what we have now. No faffing about with the covers when the sudden downpour happens...just slide the roof shut. Still open at the back if you want...win win.
L

 

[rubberduck]

Mega! Do you or swmbo hanker after a boat with a sun roof, though?

No !
Before we bought this one we looked at a Targa 44 courtesy of EBY. When we went out for a test run the overwhelming thought was no shade or greenhouse. Since we are all fair skinned that was the deciding factor.

 

[rbcoomer]

I'm going to buck the trend too - open boat for me every time! A canvas cover or wrap up well if really cold/windy, but part of the experience for me is the proximity to the elements and a bit of wind and rain doesn't bother me one bit. Perhaps I'm a closet Raggie? In years gone by, when on ferries etc I'll be the one out on deck in the pouring rain - so I'm perhaps not an ideal person to ask... Before getting our own boat, I often used to do the tourist boats out of season and frequently in inclement weather.

 

[abraxus]

I have mixed views as I do like the enclosed sun roof types, but an open boat is great when the weather is nice and more practical for me in terms of managing mooring and locks single handed.

 

[Gemini]

I'm a lover of open cockpits, covers off with a good window screen design very comfortable and warm , if needed front covers on great feeling, have been out on various hard tops with sun roof very very nice with the roof open, but just not the same feeling as open cockpit , if your coming from a RIB background ( which I have) you will know what I'm on about that feeling

Good luck with your selection

 

[Gentlemanracer]

I'm a lover of open cockpits, covers off with a good window screen design very comfortable and warm , if needed front covers on great feeling, have been out on various hard tops with sun roof very very nice with the roof open, but just not the same feeling as open cockpit , if your coming from a RIB background ( which I have) you will know what I'm on about that feeling

Good luck with your selection

Spot on. Its the risk of losing out on that feeling of freedom that comes from the RIB that I guess is my real worry. Benefits of a sunroof are for sure not lost on me, but it might just then make me turn on Radio 4 and then wonder how the heck did I end up there! I guess the answer is endurance, the longer time you actually spend on the boat, more is the need for climate controlling stuff like a moving roof, and, and, and, and, and

 

[Quest]

Have a Prestige 34 Hard Top rather than Open version. When the weather is good the canvas panels come out of the rear section and with the sunroof open there is plenty of "open boat" feel. Equally though everything can be closed in to provide a cosy and protected feel for inclement times and the roof at least, just at the touch of a button. Love it. Feels ideal for the UK to me.

 

[MapisM]

We have just gone the Flybridge route.

And rightly so. I've had plenty of open boats, and only one f/b, but that's the one I've used more, and I still am.
How much of your time you spend onboard makes a huge difference, in fact.
Open boats (as well as hardtops, the difference is marginal) are nice toys, but a PITA for living aboard.

 

[Gentlemanracer]

And rightly so. I've had plenty of open boats, and only one f/b, but that's the one I've used more, and I still am.
How much of your time you spend onboard makes a huge difference, in fact.
Open boats (as well as hardtops, the difference is marginal) are nice toys, but a PITA for living aboard.

Hmm, understood. Getting from place to place is only part if the challenge, staying there means living somewhere that may as well be the boat. Not been in a fly bridge boat yet but I can understand that more space is good from a living on board basis but driving from two stories up doesn't stack for me yet, so more to chew on. I'm gonna get onto a flybridge boat soon and take a view!