What's the attraction of a flybridge?

Re: My stairs to flybridge are too steep

Nice photo! That is in fact the new 2005 Stannah external Stairlift model - a fine piece of British engineering. Not sure how it would cope with the Marine environment thought.
 
Re: My stairs to flybridge are too steep

Silly boy, its the marinised version. Twice as expensive and designed for use in up to a force 6 where it will automatically lock and require an engineer to release it for a small (marine grade) fee.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Having had both flybridge boats, sportscruisers (and indeed a raggie boat), for me there can only be one to choose - the sportscruiser. Problems with flybridge boats include seeing your crew/friends disappear downstairs after a few miles, 'cos it's bloomin' well cold, and looking like a prat when manoeuvering in marinas (do they have to stand in a stooped position like the roadside sign for "old folks crossing"). There's also a great deal of windage to cope with when it's blowing a bit and so on.

For sure you can get the wind in your hair, but so you can with a sportscruiser with the canopy down, AND you have a tremendous socialising area in the massive cockpit even when it's raining, as opposed to a relatively small area behind the patio doors!

The downstairs bit on a reasonably sized sportscruiser is of good size, very warm and comfy, BUT, and here's the real reason why folks go flybridge, they cannot be so nosey "down there" - They are the sort who HAVE to keep abreast of all the goings on in the marina, and be on a higher level, so as to not you know!!

No, give me a sportscruiser every time!!!!
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Think it depends what you use the boat for, and mayb where. We do alot of long distance cruising and stay on the boat in all weathers, year round. We dont carry herds of folks about, but have visitors off other boats at night.. the saloon is a proper lounge with loads of room to seat seven or eight. It's dry with fabric cushions and carpets. If it starts to rain you go down stairs and close the door. It's not pissed wet through!!!
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Have to agree with HLB, the choice has a lot to do with what individual circumstances are and the specific use the boat will be put to. although I knew that the flybridge was the answer for us for family cruising/max accomodation for length etc etc, I did have a good look at the sportscruiser options as I may occasionally use the boat for entertaining customers. In entertaining mode then it would have to be a sportscruiser for the sociable one level layout. This is the only real-world advantage I can think of though, and as i was buying for family rather than business the overwhelming advantages of the flybridge boat won the day comfortably.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Ive had a flybridge cruiser for 6 years now and only used the flybridge approximately six times. Really a waste as far as I`m concerned.
Rob
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

I had no choice. Wife said "If you think I'm running around with ropes on my own downstairs while you are lording it upstairs then forget it" so we got a sports boat
For the Med we find a sports boat gives more outside sociable space for the size.
There is a cost consideration. In Sealine currency at my size (37ft) a flybridge is 15% more.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Just ask yourself, would I sooner have a house or a bungalow? twice the space, virtually no more running costs. That said, I can see the attraction of the new electric sunroof sport cruisers - you don't need an inside level and an outside level if you can convert between the two at the flick of a switch.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

First longish trip assisting collection of a flybridge (Princess 415) from Burnham on Crouch back to Gt Yarmouth confirmed that I am not old enough yet for one. No sense of speed when on the bridge and you don't feel as though you can almost touch the water on power turns! Will stick to my sports cruiser for the time being, thing is when I am old enough the steps will be to much of a climb so Stannah get designing! went for the record of 16 in the cockpit last weekend (moored up) granted tide was in as the legs would have got stuck in the mud. also plenty of room down below to entertain 6/8 on a cold night.
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

1) "Problems with flybridge boats include seeing your crew/friends disappear downstairs after a few miles, 'cos it's bloomin' well cold"

2) "For sure you can get the wind in your hair, but so you can with a sportscruiser with the canopy down, AND you have a tremendous socialising area in the massive cockpit even when it's raining, as opposed to a relatively small area behind the patio doors"
_______________________________________________________________

If you take your first paragraph above your saying when it gets cold they all go down inside and say put the heater on. Well, you can join them cant you? then you'd be warm also.


Paragraph two : Now if it rains then on a sports cruiser you can all sit in the big cockpit knackered after having to stop and struggle to put the canopy up stationary in beam seas. Then sit trying to peer out through the condensation from all the body heat with the helmsman complaining "I cant see a thing through this distorted plastic panel on the canopy above the screen" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Now on yer flybridge it rains so............we all go down inside helm from there close the door, put the heating on along with the kettle. sorted.......... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: attraction of a non-flybridge

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

so Manhattan 64 looks oldblokeish cos its got extra fibre glass?........cockipop

you cant tell me a Man 64 doesnt look sexy now then............
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Flybridge and boating seem to be contradictory in terms. Flybridges are nice I suppose if you spend your weekends tucked up nicely in the marina but out on the open water nothing can beat the openness of a sports boat. I suppose if you like caravanning then a flybridge will suit. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

My previous post was meant to be a bit toungue in cheek. I would certainly agree about smaller flybridge boats - we bought a new F33, lovely boat, but the Mrs did not like it 'cos it was too "tippy". Tried to persuade her to go for an F36, but no, it was a sportscruiser or nothing!! Guess what I got, an S37!!
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Not sure thats the correct analogy at all. I think flybridge boats are like saloon cars and sportboats are like convertibles and we all know who drives around in convertibles. Yup, thats right, girlies and shirtlifters /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

[ QUOTE ]
girlies and shirtlifters

[/ QUOTE ]

Excuse me!! I resemble that remark. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

"tucked up nicely in the marina but out on the open water nothing can beat the openness of a sports boat. I suppose if you like caravanning then a flybridge will suit."

tucked up in a Marina.................like caravanning...............oh Kevin you naughty thing. My Flybridge has done 1400hrs in 18 months, didnt do that tucked up in a Marina old chap. Out in al weathers day & night
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Wasn't expecting quite such a response! Always interesting to learn from other people. I can see the manouvering thing might have advantages for the bigger boats.

Although I am a sailing bloke, I have spent many years on my fathers 33 foot Profile - no Flybridge so he can get up the canals, mainly past the bridge at Dinan - never felt we were missing out - but sometimes we do stand with our heads out the hatch!

I guess it is a size thing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif - my mate was quite smitten for a time with a 29/30 foot? Beneteau Antares (??) which had a very small flybridge. When my mate went aboard one at the boat show he lost interest as he said it was like sitting in a Japanese Restaurant! - but fair go to the salesman for letting him try it out - me mate weighs about 18 stone /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I think rather than a Sportcruiser the alternative for my mate is something with a inside helm position - basically for the points already made about putting the canvas up - as long as their is some cockpit space.

Last I heard his eyes were on a s/h 33/34 foot Nimbus (a bit of nudging from me!), rather than a new and a bit shorter Beneteau or Rodman.

We will see what happens with his cheque book!
 
Re: What\'s the attraction of a flybridge?

Problem with coming alongside helming from a flybridge, shorthanded, by the time you get down the stairs to tie up you ain't alongside any more! "Command bridge" is my perference. Still got the wind in your hair, single helm so ALL your nav kit etc on hand, and the ropes are just a step away.
 
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