Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pro's & Cons

[Benny1]

Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pro\'s & Cons

Right,

Time for a boaty post. Before some of you start, I know this topic has been touched on in the past, but there is a valid reason:-

At present we have a 40ish foot Fairline Targa 40. Previous boats have included a Sunseeker San Remo 35, 26' Formula, plus a few Draco's and Fletchers.

Now, having only ever had open cockpit boats, our next step will probably be bigger, but should we get a bigger open cockpit boat or a flybridge?

We mainly use the baot as a dayboat, as we have a place ashore. Plus there are 2-3 decent trips away a yr for a week or so each.A lot of time is spent at anchor in various bays which, being North Wales can be a bit cold and windy at times.

Flybridges semm to offer a lot more, but in my opinion (and do not mean to annoy anyone, they only seem to look in proportion when they get north of 45ft. Below that and they have too much internal accommodation and not enough outside space for our sort of boating.

The big advantage the Targa has over our previous Sunseeker is that the cockpit is much bigger and massively more sheltered - has a much bigger windscreen which makes it more cosy if there is a bit of a wind.

Biggest question we have is would it be a bit nippy sat up on the flybridge when at anchor? Or does the aft cockpit compensate for this?

Any other points, good or bad regarding either sportscruisers or flybridges would be greatly appreciated. I know that several posters on here have owned both styles in their time so would be intersting to hear their comments also.

Cheers

Ben

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Benny1 on 17/06/2004 13:38 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[paulineb]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Strange you should bring this up now Benny. We're thinking of changing our flybridge boat for a sports cruiser. We're going to be spending lots of time in the med and I think a sports boat would be fab out there. I look forward to reading the comments/replies you get.

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[Benny1]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Well lets see then...are you going to live aboard in the med or stay on shore?

To live on a sports cruiser you are going to have to go to a tcm type of thing I would suspect...Unless you are a midget. It always amazes me how little space you have on even a pretty big boat once you have a few people and all their kit aboard.

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[tcm]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

i have only ever owned sports cruiser. Driven/sailed quite a few boats, but only spent own money on targa 48, and lep23m

I chose sport cruiser boat cos

1- safer with small kids - helm guards the companionway so you know who is in and out. Vital if swmbo can't give effective + very deep shit to kids re what to do and where to go/not go.

2 easier for small crew to handle - no rush up/down flybridge in a wind - tho lecky contrls in lower cockpit on bigger fklybridges can mean this is irrelevant.

3 looks sexier (this is subjective)

4 (and this is now the most important thing for us) you all cruise about "together". On flybridge you are sit down and shut up OR a few down below, a few at the back mebe, and muggins driving - eventually alone, perhaps. Whereas sports crusier seems much easier to join the nav group, or hang about while others do it, or loll about, or swap around but always everyone "outdoors" is in the same party group.

5. For same lengths of boat, you get admittedly less space but it's a higher quality - fly's don't have the monster open cockpit as in a sports cruiser.

6. Flybridge has sitty up top bit, so don't go there in port really, cept in uk when not too hot. In med, can be really hot, so need v good biminis and almost all don't havem cos they wd blow away. My swmbo got quite cold in a flybr' in solent, but not easy to nip down for a warm up and then back up the ladder and then...

7. Not sure of vaildity of having a monster posh lounge as ther focus of the boat = saloon in flybridge. Cos i mean nobody will use it if nice day, and then it steals the rear cockpit which need poxy non-upholstered whicker chairs or rickety foldy chairs, even on a fairly massive flybridge.

8. Can't really smoke (or let other smoke) in saloon, so sod off outside.

9. Looks crap from the stern with dinghies stacked around. Your T40 v good in this regard, others too, cos dinghy hidden.

2nd hand t48 could be a good move. Why thinking of changing?

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[paulineb]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

It will be live aboard ... and there are only two of us - and I'm far from a midget /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[tcm]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

oh- how far away is he?

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[paulineb]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

I was waiting for that from you bumface !! /forums/images/icons/tongue.gif

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[Benny1]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Not changing yet, maybe in 6-12 months when boat will be almost 3 yrs old, so have started thinking and mooching.

However, I have to say that the more I think about it, the harder it would be to improve (for the boating we do) on a T40. But then agan both Dad and I are restless when it comes to boats and cars, so you have to look/think then suddenly just buy it on impulse. If you think too much about these things you will never do them as they are all silly really.

Would be purchase with my father, so interesting comments re SWMBO cold on Flybridge. I am not yet encumbered by a permanent SWMBO, so does not bother me, but my Mother is one of the coldest people on the planet (physically, not metaphorically), so could be an issue for her.

Also agree with what you said re sociable and safe cockpit. Had 16 peeps on board on Sat, 3 of whom were under 6. You can see them from pretty much anywhere and talk to almost everyone on the boat easily.

Have to say my preference is still for open cockpit, but think the old duffer (he loves being called that, ahem) might have other ideas. Then again it is me who is the boating nut, whereas he has fun but it is not his passion (saves that for golf...yawn).

However, not sure what we'd get, not that keen on the Targa 52 - looks fine from the side, but form dead ahead or dead astern is a bit bulbous.

Also, a big sprtscruiser would look even more silly in Pwllheli than ours already does. But there are 5 Targa 40's in the marina (most popular big boat by a mile) so we don't stand out too much. Whereas there is a new V50 and a yr old T 52 that do look a bit big.

As for dinghy garage - did not realise quite how handy it would be. No quicker than davits, but when dinghy is stowed it is much better (and is more fun to get in and out too!)

Thanks for yr comments, by the way.

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[tcm]

Re: fline t48, Princess v58

A cheap and decent option is a second hand late-model t48.

BUT the utterly fab boat wot i have been out in recently and is utterly brill is the princess V58. V monster spaces, excellent inside rather than weirdy t52, and teak so luverly and nicely sanded down in the cokcpit that it is shiny ( and now i have to sand mine to similar, or try) so i wd defintely definitely get yerold man to try one. Note: good thing bout v58 is that they look good as sport crusiers, BUT nice and open air like fbridge BUT the cockpit can electrically and quickly close so it's nice and cosy. Rave, rave etc.



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[DavidBunn]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Ah,,,,, but wot about a Sports Cruiser with a sliding roof thingy...Works great on my sons Sealine 41, and as a result I would consider something like a Preditor Hard-Top or similar for my next boat. You can even heat or cool the enclosed deck area. Regards, David

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[mjf]

Re: fline t48, Princess v58

The new T62 looks v nice too!

With the new breed of sports boats you have the option of elect roof and proper glass doors to the main 'sun' saloon whilst keeping down below private.

My view in the uk F/B better and in the sun sportsboat maybe. We use the f/b a lot and its nice to have a group up top with others down in the cockpit area.
Of course the saloon and cockpit when the doors are opened full makes a great entertaining area.

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[Benny1]

Re: fline t48, Princess v58

Hmmm...

Interesting. We went on the Targa 62 at Southampton last year and to be frank that was 'orrible. Cockpit was too plasticy and enclosed and you have never seen so many different types of wood, none of which went with the other. Aslo down below, oh my goodness , it was step city - level changes all over the shop!

Also tried out v50 but the Driving position was pants, so never made it onto V58. Is this much better? Saw a V58 in Vilamoura last year and it looked fab, if a bit tall, if you know what I mean. Also V58 might be both a bit big and a bit pricey (tho not sure how much it is - any idea?)

Have you seen the New Portofino 53? That looked good, but as it was a Sunseeker, was a bit impractical in parts - especially the small galley - no bigger than the one we have now!

Thanks again.

ps I seem ot recall you slagging off hardtops in a previous post - have you changed your mind?

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Benny1 on 17/06/2004 14:48 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[powerskipper]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Mite be worth having a look at the S41 , S42, S 48 Sealine range. all sports boats and Sealine do do a nice interiors./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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Julie

 

[omega2]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Our Aquabell 33 Flybridge goes fishing every weekend of the year, and the number of times we go "upstairs" you can count on the fingers of a boxing glove. It is a cold lonely place,only fit to stow the liferaft, drop net, landing net, gaff, and numerouse airials and sensors. The kettle is always on "downstairs" but the staff forget who is driving.

<hr width=100% size=1>J HAMER

 

[Benny1]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Heating the deck area sounds good...especially for my always cold mother and pretty much every other lady who goes on the boat in the months outside June-September.

Still not massively sold on hard tops though. Most of the one I have been on feel too enclosed and you lose that open cockpit feeling.

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[Benny1]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Hi Powerskipper.

Thanks for that, but (and I know you have one) Sealines are not really our bag on the styling front. Don't dislike them , but don't want to spend a fortune on something I/we are not that keen on.

Cheers for the thought though. Can see we have a lot of options to consider over the next 6+ months. Will depend if the sensible hat stays on or not as to if and what we change to though!

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[Benny1]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Hi Powerskipper.

Thanks for that, but (and I know you have one) Sealines are not really our bag on the styling front. Don't dislike them , but don't want to spend a fortune on something I/we are not that keen on.

Cheers for the thought though. Can see we have a lot of options to consider over the next 6+ months. Will depend if the sensible hat stays on or not as to if and what we change to though!

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[Wiggo]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

but then again, having just gone from a T29 to Sealine F37, we have yet to drive from downstairs. Upstairs gives us as much lounging room as we had on the Targa, and we still have the cockpit and saloon...

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: Sportscruiser vs Flybridge - Pros\' & Cons

Pauline, we've just gone the other way. We had a Targa 48 last year in the Med and have sold it for a flybridge boat. It all depends whether or not you have a pad ashore as well (in which case you tend to use the boat as a day boat) or whether the boat is your home as well. We are in the latter position and we found even a 48' sports boat too cramped. During the winter, as you probably know, Med weather can be very variable and no cockpit canopy ever made is fully waterproof so you find yourself sitting in the saloon a lot which on sports boats is always tiny. During the summer, sometimes you want to escape the heat and cool off in the a/c so again you use the saloon
IMHO, a flybridge boat with good size saloon is better if you're going to spend more than just a couple of days at a time on the boat

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[tcm]

Re: t62 etc

all boats are great of course, but more than a few months after t62 launch the boat#1 was still for sale in april , which is not all normal for a rave new launch. The colour scheme and chocie of materials in t62 is called "distinctive" by boat testers, i believe. The t48 is the biggest nice targa, imho, and as sizes increase they will have to make one about that size sooner or later.

I am still cautious bout hardtops, but they have come on a bit. You drive "inside" the v65 for example, same with mangusta108 and other so-called "open" boats. Mang 108 also rather long delivery and rather expensive like erm a few million quid, eek. But anyway same principle applies, where the hardtop is more of a sunroof, and of course the smaller than sunroof the easier the manufacturing process but the crappier the experience imho. v58 seemed pretty good - the hardtopp has curve to match the screen so the front at least is very open, so buy one, go on, go on.

V50 is quite old now, and bit plain, same with v65 - was expecting the same from v58 but not so - good use of materilas inside, nice woody bit but not too much, avonite, sexy lights, everything. Dunno bout the v58 being "tall" (from what perspective?) it looked quite rakish and compact with blue hull which i wd imagine is a must for resale. They had worked out the heights fairly perfectly for a combination of wind in hair yet excellent accomodation in cockpit and down below. More raving. No idea how much. Probly erm 740k inc vat loaded. I made that up.

of course i haven't seen a sunseeker! I didn't get to see a sunseeker when i went to buy a targa 48, i didn't get to see one when we went to buy a bigger boat. You can even park yourself up with a bottle of chapagne in the sunseeker lounge 10am at the LBS and a little lapel sticker that says "I am going to buy a big boat" but they will still loiter over on their empty stand. The only way to see a sunseeker is if orrible offspring wanders on to the stand and slags off a boat in front of a salesman "this is rubbish, not as good as my dad's boat!" at which point the salesman rushes over to see if he can find Dad, convinced that the appalling behaviour of the children must mean that the parents are ghastly, and hence ideal prospects who won't mind that the salesman is slimey, that he wears sunglasses all the time, and knows sod all about big lumps of engineering, especially boat-shaped pieces of engineering. Oh, and another time i marched on to the stand with huge leather coat and a big cigar, flicked cigar ash all over the place, and treated everyone appalingly incl one sales admin lady to whom i commanded "ashtray!" but she couldn't find an ashtray so i flicked the ash on the floor a bit and then into her hands! - and they seemed to accept it as quite normal!

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