Fly bridge?

Do trawler people like the fly bridge? what are some must haves in the trawler world? thanks

Flybridge is a must in warm areas. 2 station steering not so much.

Really nice to have even in the rainy PNW. Spend a lot of time up there in the summer. For me personally, I wouldn't buy a trawler without a flybridge.

Larry B

Lots of different opinions about it here. Do a quick search. Some love them and some don't.

I used to think it would be a deal breaker for our next boat to not have one, but now I have taken it off of the "must have" list. Still want one, but will deal with it if there are other qualities I get in place of it.

Tom-

After spending countless hours in a cockpit I now long for the comforts of setting inside. I'm not one to sit in an 'Oxygen Tent' as one of the senior members refer to them.

My Avatar = My Answer

As Tom, i.e. Gonzo says... Do a search... plenty of posts to review on this subject.

Art

Most people want/like flybridges. I'm not most people.

gopro said:

Do trawler people like the fly bridge? what are some must haves in the trawler world? thanks

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Never use it except for guests. Don't like driving from up there, hate close-in maneuvering from up there. Had the boat 14 years so far, have used the flying bridge to actually operate the boat perhaps five times.

Marin said:

Never use it except for guests. Don't like driving from up there, hate close-in maneuvering from up there. Had the boat 14 years so far, have used the flying bridge to actually operate the boat perhaps five times.

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Wow, Marin... Only five sunny PNW days for bridge operations in that many years! Just kidding... kinda!!

I'm exactly the opposite of Marin, it takes a really bad storm to drive me to my lower station. I love the visibility I get on my bridge. I can't imagine trying to back into a slip from my lower station. Of course I'm in Miami and Marin is in some God forsaken rainy place.

If you're thinking about buying a trawler, why not charter one first and see if you like the bridge or not?

"what are some must haves in the trawler world?" Not a must have but a wish I had, bow thruster on a single engine boat.

HopCar said:

I'm exactly the opposite of Marin, it takes a really bad storm to drive me to my lower station. I love the visibility I get on my bridge. I can't imagine trying to back into a slip from my lower station. Of course I'm in Miami and Marin is in some God forsaken rainy place.

If you're thinking about buying a trawler, why not charter one first and see if you like the bridge or not?

"what are some must haves in the trawler world?" Not a must have but a wish I had, bow thruster on a single engine boat.

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HopCar - I agree with you! Gotta be one heck inclement weather to get me off the bridge and into the salon for piloting. Also, I've never had a bridge enclosed, using bimini top only... and during sunny days only. Open air pleases me to no end on the bridge. You don't miss a thing from up there. 360 degree visibility and clear sound waves from every direction, at a considerably higher vantage point to boot!!

Everyone has their own set of "must-haves." Mine were:

Sleep two, feed/entertain six.

Keel-protected shaft and propeller.

360-degree visibility from pilothouse.

Wide 360-degree deck with high and sturdy railings.

Stove, refrigerator, sink, toilet, shower.

Adequate tankage (fuel, water, holding). Minimum 500 mile range.

Bow thruster if single-propulsion.

Displacement-hull speed (maximum) capability.

Diesel engine.

Windlass.

Depth finder, radar, GPS, electronic charts, auto-pilot.

Separate house and engine batteries.

Eye appeal and not a "fixer-upper."

Some desirable features I don't have (didn't get them because the acquisition and maintenance costs exceeded their utility for me):

Heater.

Air conditioner.

Genset.

I'm the opposite of Art and Hop.

I don't like heights and prefer not to climb ladders or worry about being thrown out from an overlooked wake or errant wave.

Had enough open-air boating from my sailboat days.

Don't welcome the higher expense and failure of duplicate controls and navigation devices.

I'm fine with an enclosed helmsman position with 360-degree visibility and good, as needed, ventilation.

I can reach VHF radio and all engine and steering controls from outside the starboard pilothouse door.

I have a flybridge. In the summer, my wife and son are up there often. I go up for a few minutes, but I quite enjoy my pilothouse in any conditions. My favorite open air space is actually lounging on the bow. Guests love the fly. We often eat up there. It is high and the 360 views of wherever we are add to any meal. When I was buying a boat, I always thought of resale and from my impromptu research, came to the conclusion that more people want (or initially think they want) a flybridge. I don't regret mine, but would not completely miss it either. If building a new boat....not that I would, I would probably spend the 40-50k on other boat goodies. Hope that response was wishy washy enough!

baldpaul said:

I... My favorite open air space is actually lounging on the bow.

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My guests also enjoy sitting on the forward cabin roof when the weather is suitable and the boat isn't kicking up spray over the bow.

Art said:

Wow, Marin... Only five sunny PNW days for bridge operations in that many years! Just kidding... kinda!!

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Actually, we had 80 plus non rain days (measured in Seattle) from mid July until early October. It was something like .07 of an inch for the whole region during that time. We were praying for rain by October to settle the dust and put out the forest fires in Eastern Washington. Driest September on record!!

But don't feel bad for us, it's back to normal now!
LB

Our dislike of operating from a flying bridge has nothing to do with weather. We both dislike the sight picture from up there in terms of operations and we don't like being disconnected from the boat. At the lower helm we can hear, feel, and smell what's going on in the engine room. We once averted an electrical fire (short in a loud hailer/ intercom) by being at the lower helm instead of up above. We can much better judge the boat's exact position during docking from down below, and if the person on deck needs a hand the person at the helm is there immediately.

There is a nice view of the scenery from the flying bridge and it's a good safe place for the propane locker. Outside of those two things we have no use for it.

In both our opinions the best configuration for a cruising boat is a raised pilothouse. We would take that configuration over a flying bridge any day.

We like the fly bridge. It's like having a second story. It's great hang out space when the weather's nice. Under way (day light only), I probably spend most of my time up there.

We also fish a lot. It's pretty exciting to troll by a weed patch and see a couple of dorado streaking toward your lures.

It is a must have for me, I always drive from there unless the weather is bad, or on one of the infrequent night long trips.
Steve W

Love the flybridge. I have only run from below half dozen times in 20 years. Visibility is so much better up top.

fly Bridge

I would much rather have the fly bridge than not. I really enjoy open air and the visability from up there, not to mention backing into or out of the slip. While docking I can watch the crew and hear them clearly. We have stairs to our fly bridge, not a ladder - my wife insisted on the stairs and I'm glad she insisted on that. We have easily removable side curtains so most of the time we travel with only front wind protection - we do not have a full enclosure and I don't see the advantage either. If it's cold, too wet, or bumpity, we go below for a better ride.

I'm glad to have both stations. I use the flybridge for docking and harbor cruising. I prefer the lower helm for open waters. The lower you are on a boat, the less the rocking is felt (for those that don't have stabilizers). Also there's easy access to food and drinks downstairs.

I have to admit though that when the water is flat, I drive upstairs for about an hour out of a 3-hour trip. Other times that I operate from the flybridge is when crossing a shipping channel and visibility is reduced. Up there I can hear foghorns better.

With all that said, the absence of a flybridge would not be a deal breaker for my next purchase. Although I would miss it.

Although our boat came with a fly bridge, if I had a choice I would not have one. With a raised pilot house we can see perfectly and can hear and feel the engines much better. In fact I can't really hear the engines up there, just feel them. With a bridge there is more to take care of and more canvas to buy. I just feel more connected to the boat in the pilot house

Love the FB but on the must have list was access to the FB from the Pilothouse. I really didn't want someone walking out the back of the boat or outside in the dark to get upstairs. Even in Northern Califirnia we enclosure the flybright and use it year round as an extra room.

We hardly use the FB on our Selene. Much more comfortable in sun or rain to be in the PH. Can always keep the PH doors open if it is not too windy. Even then usually you can still keep one door open. The hot sun is just as big a problem as the cold/wet weather. Sometimes nice to lounge up there and we do keep our dinghy up there. FB station is used in docking situations for better rear visibility.
Would not view the FB as a "must have" provided all round visibility is good from the PH.

I agree with you Jay , love being outside ,not enclosed, just a bimini top. Great for backing into the slip.

We run the boat from the bridge; better vis for crab pots, debris, other developing traffic situations. Much easier to see during docking efforts. At rest, FB gives us an extra area for privacy, reading , etc. Really nasty weather miay find us running from the lower station; so far that has been rare.

The view is better and I like being outside when I can, it's certainly quieter and my wife is beside me instead of behind me on the settee. I make frequent trips around the boat while underway to check on things. If it's warm the windows all come out and we leave the bimini, if it's not, we cover up.
Marin, I heard you say a few times that a pilot house is your true choice for a boat and that going slow isn't the best way to go, when will we see the new and improved mode of travel. I also am looking forward to pilot house, then maybe the bridge won't seem as necessary.

Slowboat 37 said:

I also am looking forward to pilot house, then maybe the bridge won't seem as necessary.

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That's all I've got, by choice.

Marin, I heard you say a few times that a pilot house is your true choice for a boat and that going slow isn't the best way to go, when will we see the new and improved mode of travel. I also am looking forward to pilot house, then maybe the bridge won't seem as necessary.

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I got way too much on my plate these days to be thinking about a different boat right now. We bought the GB because of their build quality and the fact that old ones like ours are dirt cheap. So it gets us out on the water in a really well-made boat (especially true for the mid-73 to mid-74 boats) for very little purchase cost.

We have three options we've been casually considering for the future for awhile now. One is to do nothing and continue to use the boat as it is now. Two is to take this boat up to Vancouver or over to Sidney and have it totally rebuilt. Re-power, new generator, refinish the hull and topsides, new decks, everything. Three is to buy a different boat. However there are only two contenders for "different boat" and either one of them would be a fair amount of money to purchase and own, much more even than completely redoing our current boat.

In the end we'll do what seems to make the most sense to us but we won't know what that is until the time comes. So for now we use and enjoy what we have now even though we have no real use of a flying bridge and we despise going slow.

PS I don't' know where the frowny face at the top of this post came from. I didn't put it there.