Wet or Dry!! What's your opinion

Re: Wet or Dry!! What\'s your opinion

"What model of boat will be drier, same level ability skipper in the same conditions"
I take it that you are going through a pre boat purchase data collection exercise. I wouldn't let the above be an overiding criteria.
If it's predicted to blow a f4 then put the covers on and you will be dry. (a bit tricker if you hit a f4 into the wind while you're on the move!!)
A sports gives much more outdoor socialising space
Better sharing of ropes and fender responsibilities with a sports.
Less than 35ft flybridges look silly
For the same price you can get the next size up sports boat
etc



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Re: Wet or Dry!! What\'s your opinion

Ok Nick apart from you who else drives from inside? It's not very often you are out in the elements without your wet gear on..

And anyway, you have a slightly elevated view from the rest of us cause whilst we're down in the clouds you've got your head well above them./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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Re: Wet or Dry!! What\'s your opinion

Only time to date I've helmed from inside was on the original voyage after purchasing the F36. On the leg from Mallorca to Ibiza, F5-6 westerly on the nose, went inside after first hour as it picked up to aforementioned wind speed, stayed there for next 8 hrs, with the sea coming right over the flybridge and cockpit.

No boat is dry in that weather/forums/images/icons/smile.gif As I have said elsewhere in this thread, flys can get wet (as you mentioned when wind whips up the spray), as also stated and witrnessed the sports cruiser gets wet in same sea state well before the fly.

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Command Bridge

Having now enjoyed the benefits of this steering position I would suggest that Kim now realises how underated it is.

When we had out Broom 37 we cruised with friends in a F Corniche. They always steered upstairs. On many occasions when it was a little lumpy or wind against tide we would be in T shirts snug behind the screen and spray hood sipping G n' T whilst they were in head to toe wet weather gear. This at around 20 knots. I know which I preferred.

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Re: Command Bridge

Hi Mike,

Well, I was there before, with the Pedros which had helm position on the aft deck (as well as one downstairs). I used to like the option of wandering between the two with the autopilot set and often stood a night watch in the companionway, Eberspacher blowing up one leg or the other, neatly positioned between the two. Radar was downstairs in those days so flexibility especially welcome.

The MBM Broom 39 different kettle of fish, insofar as no downstairs helm, and fitted with a proper seat upstairs (was too tight to order one for Pedro). Also the Broom has a full suite of canvas, the Pedro had none (again too tight and also hated the pop festival look of that particular boat with tent.

Must confess the only thing I don't like about Broom helm is exactly the thing I don't like about sportscruisers, namely reliance on canvas the minute the sea picks up (also reliance on aft curtains to stop a certain amount of station wagon effect with exhaust and fine spray). I usually cruise with paper and bits strewn all over the place so was reaching for the canvas early, as soon as water dolloped or wind blew. On the Pedro, which always turned a drama into a crisis thanks to bluff bow, we simply had to take to the inner helm and have done with it.

That said the Broom forward canopy system is superb, apart from the little slide-in side screens which always badly snagged on the track where it breaks to accommodate the forward lifting bit.

It's also fun to be well-placed aft on command stations, both from a comfort point of view and also to keep an eye on the aft end. Another thing Broom seem to have well licked on the 39 is the aft end access when parked backside in, which is not much more clumsy than an aft cockpit.



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Re: Command Bridge

Hi Kim.

Forgot about your Pedro.
Since my Broom 33 I have very much enjoyed the Command Bridge style and find it infinitely better and more comfortable than either flybridge or sportsboat.

I have now gone totally pensionable with inside only helm on our Nimbus 345!! (demisters, heating, sunroof .... sounds more like a car!!)

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Re: Didn\'t know you\'d changed

It's the 345 Coupe (2000) so not like the one recently tested. Current model is I believe the 350 Coupe.

Absolutely delighted. Good quality, high spec' from 1st owner and low enough so even mast doesn't need dropping for majority of Thames bridges. Also draft reduced from 1.3m on Broom to 0.9m which will allow us to re discover the Thames up to Oxford. Unfortunately, dinged one prop' hard near Clifton Hampden already.

Powered by 2 Yanmar 230hp so more than able to take us on the annual jaunt cross channel too.

Bit short on interior cubic capacity after the Broom 37. I call it "bijou and compact"!! It was my sop to the potential fuel price hike (I understand it may do up to 2 mpg?), but mainly to get shallower draft.

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