What are the downsides to a small flybridge 30-44'

[Tender_aft]

I'm not asking about the difficulties of carry your G&Ts upstairs.

...and we know the upsides.

I'm thinking about boats in the 30-44' bracket

It's not about costs to run, extra fuel needed or anything financial, just the practicalities of living with it. IMHO, the inside of any single story boat is like living in a basement it seems, whereas a flybridge is living on the ground floor and sleeping in the basement.

I am specifically wondering about:
- the pendulum effect of all that weight up there on a small boat
- Wind - enhanced problems with the smaller hull?

Anything else?

(The internal fight my brain is having is between a mid 30's sports cruiser (or any bungalow boat) and a flybridge).

Please let me know your experiences.

 

[oceanfroggie]

There is a heck of a difference between a 30ft and 44ft flybridge cruiser in terms of comfort, space, stability and sea keeping.

 

[hlb]

Above about 35ft you wont have any problem.

 

[Nautibusiness]

Above about 35ft you wont have any problem.

A well designed boat that is smaller won't give you problems either although I'd be tempted to stick with shafts at the smaller end.
...and keep it as beamy as possible.

 

[Erik C]

Since your cruising grounds are in the tropics the fly bridge would be the way to go I think, way to hot to be cooped up inside.

 

[Bertramdriver]

A long time ago a well seasoned old salt advised me to get the biggest boat I could afford because after two weeks aboard its always going to be too small. He also told me that fly bridges only work 10% of the time. In winter they're too cold and wet to make driving comfortable. In summer they're too hot for long passages. The 10% is entertaining your friends in the marina. After 10 years in the med Ive taken the fly bridge off my boat and installed aft deck and foredeck seating and I drive from a comfortable and protected wheelhouse. How many serious boats ( pilots, customs, etc do you see with flybridges)

 

[kashurst]

If you want a flybridge somewhere hot stick a bimini on it and you will be fine. we recently switched back to a flybridge after having a targa style boat and you get loads more room.

 

[Tender_aft]

Since your cruising grounds are in the tropics the fly bridge would be the way to go I think, way to hot to be cooped up inside.

Given that I can't find one in Brazil (hence looking for a small boat here for now), I think my cruising grounds will be many. Looking in the US too but more likely I will buy in Europe, would like to cruise the UK and Med for a year or two to get some experience (and have some amazing times), then transport it to here to use locally, with the odd longer cruise (1200miles/200 km) to Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

So I need certainly need airco and as Kashurst says, a Bimini for the flybridge.

...but to get back on thread, from what I understand on this forum, nothing is ever perfect and you are very unlikely to buy the best boat for you first time Given that, maybe I should spend less and get a mid 30's cruiser to learn what I want and need in a boat first.

However, it does seem that you can have the best of both worlds with a flybridge.

 

[Erik C]

I believe Brazil has a 100% import duty on boats. Ouch!

 

[BartW]

from what I understand on this forum, nothing is ever perfect and you are very unlikely to buy the best boat for you first time Given that, maybe I should spend less and get a mid 30's cruiser to learn what I want and need in a boat first.

However, it does seem that you can have the best of both worlds with a flybridge.

exactly,

after having owned a rib (starterboat), and 4 sportfisherboats, (still have one of them)
now a flybridge every time for me
for me the only appeal for a sport cruiser is as a dayboat in the med,
but even there, not if you want to live on it for longer periods
(all imho)

 

[Alboretto]

We went the other way. Sports cruiser to fly bridge and back to sports cruiser. Why? Because of the dreadful pendulum effect caused by even small wash at anchor. I found we spent most of the time sunbathing on the foredeck or he bathing platform. The only thing I miss about the fly bridge is the ease of docking due to around visibility.

 

[superheat6k]

If you are going to spend lots of time aboard a fly provides more space for an after cabin in the 'basement', and simpler steps to the fly from the higher after deck.

Be aware that on passage I find myself 'Billy no mates' stuck up on the fly whilst everyone else relaxes in he cabin below. On my boat (Fairline Turbo 36) forward vision on the plane is quite restricted close to the boat, so watching for pot markers can become a real PITA (from the lower helm). Thus a single deck helm will naturally be higher and with better close up forward vision.

I do like the better view of what is going on around me, especially in crowded waters, from the fly.

As for increased sway, I don't feel this even with plenty of people sitting up top. My limited experience of OB in heavy seas exemplifies the superb reputation of Bernard Olesinski's design in this regard.

OB is not too bad to park (most of the time !), but is difficult in hard winds blowing off a mooring, and doesn't have a thruster, which is the only toy She is really missing. I have thought about fitting one, but She does have two shafts and has managed 26 years without one. On any boat above 35' I personally would never have outdrives, and a sizeable boat needs the low down grip of proper shafts and props (IMHO). The other advantage of shafts is that the engines sit further forward, improving stability and balance, and providing more room at the back for an aft cabin.

Aft cabin boats are more private when moored stern to.

 

[Coastgal]

exactly,

after having owned a rib (starterboat), and 4 sportfisherboats, (still have one of them)
now a flybridge every time for me
for me the only appeal for a sport cruiser is as a dayboat in the med,
but even there, not if you want to live on it for longer periods
(all imho)

+++1! We've had a sailboat, a single engine mobo and now a 33' twin-screw flybridge. And it's the best boat by far! I sometimes refer to ours as a caravan afloat, but it really is our home from home. Most mid-range flybridge boats have a well equipped galley, roomy heads, spacious berths and normally OK sized saloons. But it's the flybridge that really makes it special -it's like the outdoor balcony to our flat. Whenever we have friends aboard, we're often straight up there, even in the midst of winter. Everyone loves it...the view, the speed's more exhilarating, it's just way more fun. And we've often had 4-6 people up there and don't really feel extra rocking, unless the swells are really big.

And we do use it all year round, even at night. i.e. In February we were in Yarmouth and the sky was completely clear one night. We took a couple of cognacs and a blanket up to the FB and sat there watching the stars. (Also a spot of cigar puffing going on.) Classic!

I also prefer to helm from the FB, as you have a much clearer view of what's around you, both in tight spaces, like marina berthing, as well as the Solent lobster/crab pot fields!

 

[Tender_aft]

I believe Brazil has a 100% import duty on boats. Ouch!

I think it's 120%, (although I also heard 35%) but you can bring your own boat here for 2 years before you have to import it. I would do that once, and then expect the boat industry and the government here to get it's act together...there is just too much demand to be ignored.

 

[Kittycarter]

I would say go for a sportsboat with a hardtop- sunroof. Can get a more modern bigger boat for the same money as an older flybridge. Ples the targa style are much better for sunbathing on. I have only had my fist boat for a year now so not the most experienced, but got a lot of advice from friends, who all said they wouldn't recommend a flybridge any smaller than a 38' but prefably 40'+. But as always, go for the boat that fits most of your requirements, but gets in to your heart when you see it.

You have to love what you own

 

[rafiki_]

Rafiki is a 31" sports cruiser, and we have had some great times on board, but are now looking to move up to a 40" fly. We feel we will get more out of the fly due to the spacious saloon, 2 decent cabins/heads. The saloon in Raf is big enough, but we spend little time down below, preferring to socialise in the cockpit. This therefore limits our time onboard.

 

[Nautibusiness]

Something that we don't do in this country, but is extremely commonplace in the States, Oz etc.

Many of us discuss fitting flybridges with a bimini for those scorching hot English summers.
Many of us also discuss leaving the flybridge in winter as it is too cold.
In other parts of the world the bimini has zip attachements and side, aft and front screens can be fitted. Most people simply call these "clears" as that is what they are.

A flybridge with clears really does extend the usable space on a boat. They are not often the prettiest things, but when in it and toasty and warm you don't have to look at it.

Just as covers on any sport boat are a bit of a pain, clears can be too. Clears will obviously add a bit to windage, but with zips or roll ups this problem is solved in seconds.

Add clears to your flybridge and you really can stay warm and dry all year around.

Here is an example of a Bertram with clears... with hard top bimini, but the principal is the same.
http://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats...s/42-bertram-flybridge-sports-fisherman/91660

 

[gravygraham]

Be aware that on passage I find myself 'Billy no mates' stuck up on the fly whilst everyone else relaxes in he cabin below.

Interesting. My main criteria for wanting (now have) a fly was because I'd be cooped up in a hot wheelhouse whilst everyone else was outside sunning themselves!

Anyway, back to the OP's question - apart from the obvious space issue, you're unlikely to have a stern thruster option, unlikely to have two heads, and naturally as length and beam decrease whilst the height doesn't, can make for less stability up top. Ours is 36' and we ride four-up on the f/bridge, and it's lovely up there thanks!

 

[Elessar]

2 boats ago I had a single engined, 28 ft fly.

Loved it, did France and the channel islands a few times, and did the 200 mile trip from Bray to Southampton a few times. Amazing space for a boat of the size.

It was good because you went down into the saloon like a sportscruiser, but it had big windows and elevated saloon seats so you could see out. That meant only 3 steps up to the fly, and a stable boat.

I replaced it with a sealine S37 sportcruiser, and the helm seat was only 6" lower on the sportscruiser.

Some small flybridges are level from cockpit to saloon, and they can be top heavy.

In bigger ones this problem goes away.

 

[Elessar]

fun in my baby fly, some of the pics are in France, and yes there are 6 people on the fly under tower bridge - says you can't do that in the instructions.