Pilothouse vs Sports Cruiser (Cuddy)

[CrawfW]

Hi,

Would welcome thoughts on three closely related questions!

1. Does being based in the UK (Devon) mean that something with a roof will be much more usable - 12 months of watery activity as opposed to a few high days and holidays?

2. How cold would it get on something like a 20' Regal around Devon in winter months, and would something like a Merry Fisher be toasty warm ?

3. Are sports-boats like convertible cars where the rain doesn't come in if you are going fast enough?!

As you will see from the questions, i am something of an internet boater so-far!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Hi there

My view is

1. Yes definitely more usable, all year round if you want (many Scandinavian boats are like this for a reason)
2. Inside will be warm if you have a blown air diesel heater eg Webasto or Eberspacher. An open boat with a full canvas hood might be warm but a lot less inviting (and less practical)
3. No. The occupants can also get drenched with salt spray or green seawater also... Don't ask me how I know this

 

[Momac]

Are sports-boats like convertible cars where the rain doesn't come in if you are going fast enough?!

Boats aren't as fast as cars.

 

[paradave]

I have direct experience! My last boat was a SeaRay 225 cuddy. Lovely boat on a hot day but on anything else, chilly and exposed and even sitting in a marina with a cold wind was unpleasant and you wanted to get off and back in a warm car ASAP (the wife more than me to be fair).

Now we have a Merry Fisher 805. Warm air heating inside and even on the chilliest on days it’s toasty warm inside and I’m looking forward to using it on those crisp, still winter days you get. Being a semi-d rather than Deep v hull it is a wetter boat, at speed, so the cabin is even more essential. I think merry fisher style boats, at this size, are much more usable in the UK.

 

[Hot Property]

Whilst a merry fisher style boat is undoubtedly more weatherproof you may miss the wind in your hair of an open boat on a nice day. I have a good canopy and a diesel heater makes all the difference. When the weather is marginal I keep the bimini up and if lots of spray then perhaps the window panels up. Adaptable for all weather conditions. You can't take the roof off a hardtop on a hot day and your wife will be outside in the sun while you are inside. ( Some forum members may see this as a positive benefit...)

 

[Sticky Fingers]

...You can't take the roof off a hardtop on a hot day ...

Some including mine have a retractable hardtop. Maybe less common on the MF style...?

 

[Hot Property]

Some including mine have a retractable hardtop. Maybe less common on the MF style...?

Agreed but still a long way off an open cockpit....

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Agreed but still a long way off an open cockpit....

Yes totally.

 

[Bouba]

Even in the Med, I always had pilothouse boats, they not only protect against the cold and wind but also against the sun

 

[Seastoke]

Yes totally.

Scala I was in Halfords today and thought of you , a roof rack for your fenders.

 

[stelican]

Hi,

Would welcome thoughts on three closely related questions!

1. Does being based in the UK (Devon) mean that something with a roof will be much more usable - 12 months of watery activity as opposed to a few high days and holidays?

2. How cold would it get on something like a 20' Regal around Devon in winter months, and would something like a Merry Fisher be toasty warm ?

3. Are sports-boats like convertible cars where the rain doesn't come in if you are going fast enough?!

As you will see from the questions, i am something of an internet boater so-far!

Ask Anthony at Birchell Marine Torquay they sell both options and you will not meet a more honest salesman

 

[stelican]

Agreed but still a long way off an open cockpit....

And a great difference in size than the Op is considering

 

[stelican]

Even in the Med, I always had pilothouse boats, they not only protect against the cold and wind but also against the sun

Problem with small pilothouse boats is that there is no-where comfortable to lounge and take in the sun, bit like sitting on a bus.

 

[stelican]

Scala I was in Halfords today and thought of you , a roof rack for your fenders.

Brilliant

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Scala I was in Halfords today and thought of you , a roof rack for your fenders.

Brilliant

I can see this will run and run... The roofrack is a new idea.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Problem with small pilothouse boats is that there is no-where comfortable to lounge and take in the sun, bit like sitting on a bus.

True, but that's a minority of days.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

And a great difference in size than the Op is considering

Also true though that wasn't the point I was making (badly), it was that hard tops don't have to be fixed. Regardless of size that's feasible.

 

[Whippersnapper]

I have always found it interesting the choices UK boaters and motorists make. I seem to recall data revealing that the largest proportion of convertible cars in Europe was in the UK and lots of UK boaters seem to own open style sport cruisers. personally I wouldn't be without a hardtop find it hugely practical for year round boating and not debilitating in the New Zealand summer either. UV is so strong here you don’t really want to be sun bathing anyway

 

[lynallbel]

First time boaters buy petrol outdrive soft top sports boat, lack of knowledge and cost being the main factors.
Second boat (if here is one) will be diesel shaft drive hard top.

 

[ChromeDome]

In many ways boats are not like cars.

The majority of boats have little insulation (if any) so even if you can get them warm inside they still don't provide the best comfort on the cold days. Hot air heating, set up to (partially) replace cabin air, will help fighting humidity but any heater will need a fair time to drive the cold out, when first started.

Steel hulls normally are insulated (have to be to re. condensation) and some of the GRP makes are too, when talking closed/pilot house design. Think you'll find that some Scandinavian makes are ahead on this.