Serious question about Flybridge interior layouts..

Nautorius

Nautorius

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Firstly, I have never owned a flybridge. Secondly I do not want one yet!

However I want to understand from owners (past and present) which layout is best on a 33-38ft Flybridge. Is it best to have the galley down and smaller cabins/heads or galley up and a smaller saloon. Does the saloon take preference over the cabins?

Also, on older boats is it best to have a dinnette down or an extra cabin? I would guess that the cabin might win because very few newer boats offer a dinnette and single cabin as an option.

I am only wondering as there are some great priced older Flybridges around at the moment that are getting strangely interesting for me.....and a few newer ones too. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Thanks all

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
You need to buy a Broom.

And a nice cardi.

And one of those big slippers!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Hi Paul,

Not sure whether you get a dinette version in flybridge boats up to 38ft, but, certainly boats of just over 40ft (Princess 435, Sealine 410 Statesman, Sealine F43 (same as 410) all have the option of the third cabin or dinette versions. My personal preference is the dinette and not the additional cabin, as you get much more usable space, plus you do get the option of using the dinette as another sleeping area anyway.

The main thing with these boats as far as I'm concerned is the large aft cabin, which is tucked away and private.

When sleeping in the aft cabin, you also get a much more peaceful environment. With the forward cabins, you do tend to get "slapping" of the surface water due to the angle of the external hull, which can be quite intrusive. With the aft cabin, you don't get this effect!


Garry
 
First and most important thing. Two people at least, can crash out, nice and comfy, laid out full length to watch TV. Not hunched up in some banana shaped seating. Or sit down eight or nine folk in comfort, not that you really want that many visitors anyway. You also need a covered cockpit, where all the none smokers can sit, without freezing to death.

You don't want more than one cabin down stairs, else it's like a coal mine, all narrow and claustrophobic. Nice big galley with the dining table opposite, that seats at least four or five.

With this arrangement, the dinette does convert to a sleeping area, but the open plan arrangement, dissuades the occupants from night time entertainment and also ensures that they get up soon and make the breakfast. It also discourages them from staying to long, so you soon get back your personal space, without having to resort to hints and winks. One bog is essential, as if the above fails, you can always resort, in detail, to the dangers of the exploding toilet.

The whole perpose being, you never really want more than two folks on a boat, except maybe for small intervals. The above configuration, ensures it.
 
Even in the 33-38ft range you don't need to agonise about galley up or down and cabin space, if you go for an aft cabin boat. A Fairline Turbo 36 gives you a massive owners cabin and a massive saloon. A Broom 37 gives you a massive saloon/aft cabin, 2nd cabin and a dinette which converts to a 3rd sleeping area
But for aft cockpit flybridge boats, whether you go for galley up or down depends on where you do your boating. In the UK, you'll spend a lot of time loafing in the saloon because the weather is rubbish outside so IMHO, you want as big a saloon as possible and therefore, galley down. But in the Med, you'll spend more time loafing in the cockpit and on the flybridge and a galley down arrangement means the galley is too far away for carrying food/drinks so, for the Med, I'd go for galley up
Generally, I'd always favour saloon space over cabin space because you'll spend far more of your waking hours in the saloon but always providing that the master cabin was of adequate size and had good storage. Also I'd always have a dinette rather than sleeping cabin because a dinette can be both an eating area and a sleeping area
 
Galley down with dinette opposite works for us on our 35 ft (38 loa).
Gives more space in the saloon, and also means that I dont have to get involved in the cooking too heavily.
We have a biggish double forward cabin with this arrangement, but go for an aft cabin as well if you can get it. I regret not buying an aft cabin boat as it is a bit of a pain in the arse converting the dinette and saloon when someone comes to visit.
Have a look at the album to get an idea of the layout.
 
True enough this is where aft cabin layouts like Broom and Atlantic kill flybridge boats - palatial internal cubic space and massive full beam aft cabins with huge transom window hatches down low so you have a great view. Suits our damp climate, whereas flybridges tend to offer more of the living space on the outside in expectation of med type weather, but it rains too much here for my taste. Have had both types in the past, it's horses for courses really and personal taste, but I always found flybridges bad value for money in terms of internal cubic space as a ratio to boat length. Atlantic 42 has more internal living space than most 57 foot flybridge designs, alas in a hotter climate you'll want more time outside hence more deck accomodation and less inside.
 
Agree entirely. For N Europe climate, you can't beat an aft cabin type boat. If I was still boating in the UK, I'd have one
 
It is just a shame that manufacturers seem to be migrating away from the aft cabin design.

I do like some of the Brooms, but would want an internal helm. I thought the F43 was superb, and a more updated aft cabin design would have been better than the F42/5.

Who makes aft cabin fly bridge boats now below 45ft?
 
I sort of like the look of the Viki, but inside it is very dark and at over £200k is expensive.

Galeon dumped the 360 a while ago I think and the Brooms are nice, but a shame to ignor the internal helm.

I suppose there is also the Trader 42, which is a nice design but...
 
Not much real choice is there....

Yep,

SWMBO likes boats to look modern, and has never been a fan of Teak wood or cherry or dark wood at all. Ironic seeing our house has more Oak and Pine furniture in it than a Swedish Forrest. Unfortunately that rules out most older rear cabin boats which would be preferable to a flybridge at the moment. Personally we need two cabins plus saloon and am not that bothered about a separate dinning area given we have young kids. One of the requirements for next boat is not making up any beds and being able to leave bedding on. Our Regal 2860 had two large permanent doubles but we had to put the bedding away on the fore berth all the time which eventually wound up SWMBO as I was never going to do it!

I have got to say then that the market is limited to Sportscruiser or Flybridge with a couple of aft cabin boats around. I have always loved the Fairline 36 Turbo but too old for Swmbo. I love the F43 (both under 5ft 10") but could not afford one. Brooms are also out of our price range so it looks like back to the idea of a 34 ft sports cruiser, maybe with Hard Top! That seems the best compromise at the moment. Only Issue is I prefer single engine which limits Market to Scandi and that costs as well! SWMBO likes Italian looks and for her it would be a Zaffiro 34, but I want to be slightly more practical (LOA, single engine option, Hard top or decent covers)

This boat dreaming is not easy when you put a practical head on it!

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Not much real choice is there....

Yep (Like the 2855) but the kids used to play up there so had to keep it clear! Also used it for baby changing, baby bathing, baby making etc /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

It is one reason we went off the Doral Prestencia 280 and Bav 32. Swmbo decided a permanent proper berth was a must as she wanted kids in Rear cabin and proper bedding which we could leave out!

Of course having the Galley next to the front berth also means when cooking the berth gets used as extra storage and SWMBO got fed up of Bean juice all over front bedding! If we get a boat with open bow cabin we need a distinctly seperate galley. We love the galley on the Aquadors because it is in the cockpit which seems weird (and SWMBO did not like at first) but it soon grows on you.

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I've been told by a pal that his Viki can be a bit handful to manouver at close quarters due to the flat bottom and lack of any keel area.
 
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