What's the attraction of a flybridge?

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David_Jersey

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What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

I will admit that I have no intention of moving away from a sailing boat at this point - but the recent thread on buying a flybridge cruiser for £45k made me recall a recent chat with a mate who is considering something with one (although he is now thinking Nimbus, without /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

As the years go by the boats with flybridges seem to get smaller and smaller - what is the attraction / benefit? and do folk consider their to be a minimum size of vessel where it becomes practical to have one?

I think I should have mentioned that I am talking in the 30 - 40 foot size area!
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

You get proper warm cosy acomodation downstairs.

You still have wind in your hair when you want it.

You can stear downstairs when it's cold

Twice more boat for the money

No bloody covers to take on and off and on and off and on and off!
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

All of the things hlb said and also lots of flexbility when you need it, we had a F33 but was too small for a flybridge. It rocked a lot and had lots of windage and no weight...

We found shafts better than drives, and lots of options when entertaining..
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

I don't think its worth getting a flybridge cruiser if its less than 30 foot!
But I agree with all of what hlb has to say and then some!
It is far better to helm a flybridge cruiser from the flybridge! particularly at close quarters, you have lots of outside space, great in the summer! The views from a flybridge are far better because you are up high! I have given friends who are yachtsman rides and the first thing they always say is "its great up here we can see everything" and of course as hlb says you can helm from below when the weather is awful!
Get one you won't regret it!

Barry
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

And also its the peace and quiet compared with a SC.
On my fly I believe the sound level from the engines is about 71-72db as you have thesaloon floor and air space to absorb the sound.

In the cockpit of my friends Fairline Targa 37 its about 84-85db. Bare mind that the sound practically doubles when you go up 10db and you get my point.

All the others have said, great for training as the students get a panoramic view round the boat when learning helming / berthing, go inside when it gets wet, no acres of canopy to put on in the rain ust close the patio doors, light airy saloon with good headroom, all the things your sail boat isnt IMHO.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Do not use ours much (old softies) but got admit, it is great in the summer to be up there, we see more, especially bird activity and that leads us to the fish. Also the engines are near silent from that lofty position.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Agree with all thats been said. We have spent the last couple of weeks dithering about whether our next boat will be flybridge or sports cruiser. Having trialled a flybridge at the weekend we are hooked! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just got to work out how on earth we can afford it /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

The real question is why anybody considers buying a non flybridge boat when the advantages are so overwhelming. hlb has hit the nail on the head but for me its about having the extra space in the saloon and its bright and airy compared to a sportscruiser or a sailboat and having the choice of whether to use the flybridge for loafing when the weather is nice or the aft cockpit when its not so nice
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

[ QUOTE ]
The real question is why anybody considers buying a non flybridge boat when the advantages are so overwhelming.

[/ QUOTE ]

Those people who want to go though some of the canals in europe? Don't you need a low air draft for some of these?

Steve
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Cost is a factor. Sports cruisers appear to be cheaper than their flybridge counterparts
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Yes thats true for some of the smaller French canals if you want to get directly to the Med
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

The interesting thing is I'd give you all the same reasons for not wanting one. I agree that if you've got a large enough boat it's nice to be up there for a trip round the bay, sunbathing and the like, but for everything else, and particularly passage making, I'd rather be downstairs. I also agree that if looking for buoys they become magically easier to see from higher up.

In the wheelhouse are usually the best navigational devices, it's closer to the galley, it's less tiring than having the wind blasting away all the time, and you're closer to the deck level if an extra hand is needed coming along side. Perched up on the roof you're too far away from the action to do more than shout.

At the moment I don't have one, and I wouldn't refuse a boat because it did, but it would be a long way down the "must have" list for me.
 
attraction of a non-flybridge

generally, sports cruisers look better without the extra fibreglass. Not so old blokeish.

Sports cruisers (given same shaft drive) generally easier to handle short handed with less windage and access to help by helm.

Sports cruisers feel safer with small kids or inexp crew - you can see the whole boat from helm so you now who is where at any one time esp with being near to companionway to give them grief about lifejackets etc on deck.

sports cruisers underway doesn't dissolve into several different parties - the driving group up top (often only one) the urgh bit windy group in aft cockpit, and disinterested lot indoors.

Not a huge deal, really, though. I would not say i am am utterly utterly sold on sports cruisers, though i spose for first boat it would be better without fbridge?
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

After some ten years with controls on the aft deck in command bridge style, we hired a Birchwood with a flybridge on the Caledonian canal for a week.
This settled the matter for us and the next winter I cut off the wheelhouse roof and fitted a custom-made aluminium flybridge. The extra 110 square feet of deck space made the same boat seem twice as large and what was previously an empty slab of coach-roof is now the focal point of the boat in all but the worst of weather.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Best of both worlds for us, when the weather is nice go up there and funnily enough there is'nt much wind as the screen seems to work very well at deflecting it. Downstairs when its not so nice, so warm and cosy, and when coming alongside being able to see all the corners of your boat makes life alot easier.
And of course more room to hide beers from Oldgit.
 
Re: attraction of a non-flybridge

Agree with your thoughts. I have a young family and often inexperienced guests on board. One level makes it safer for me and I can relax more. I agree the covers are a pain in the ass but that is the trade off.

When I start to grey I will let you know my thoughts then..

Paul
 
My stairs to flybridge are too steep

So I thought I'd get one of these!

Open%20ground%20level%201.JPG


May also be good for Haydn.
 
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