Reasons for a flybridge?

Because of the view of course. A buddy of mine's Luhrs 41. And two best friends!

Great photo John.

The reason for a FB is style. It's a pretentious thing. Once they became popular they were considered to be the mark of a fully equipped yacht. Why would they call a boat a flybridge cruiser? Twin engine, double cabin but FB? .... what's the point? For a while they were putting them on cruisers just barely over 20' long. My favorite boat is a Nordic Tug ...... no FB.

I love the fb on my boat. its the best place to be with a hot coffee on a warm sunny dawn before anyone is awake. besides that i like to dock from up there as I find the visibility much better than from below. unfortunately it is also a great place to stash stuff...

We use our Flybridge as an extension of the living space, clear line of sight visibility, love to operate from there, but err on the side of safety and caution when underway. Our inside helm of our GB is better for visibility than the inside helm of our Willard 30 plus quicker access to lines for most docking activities. For us it is a welcome and well used part of our cruising time. We had an Abin 25 without a FB and loved it too.

Now here's a boat with a real flybridge!

That's an enclosed crow's nest!

Well, there is "real" and then there is "toy" (recall Marin). ... By the way, we've only socialized in your saloon and not the flybridge. ???

Jennifer (Pineapple Girl) and Matt seem to prefer the flybridge.

markpierce said:

Well, there is "real" and then there is "toy" (recall Marin). ... By the way, we've only socialized in your saloon and not the flybridge. ???

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Since it was quite rough at times at anchor on the SF Bay that day, we stayed below. My boat has a bit of a snap in its roll. Ladders and rolling waves don't mix. Being on the flybridge in those conditions is probably like trying to balance on a catapult. You might manage to hang on, but if you take a spill, it's going to hurt.

Al, admit it. The flybridge isn't the best place to socialize. Recall Petaluma and Stockton. On the other hand, the saloon (with the implied beverages and other consumables) is better (comfortable and easy access to amenities), and safer.

In my boat, the flybridge is not the center for socializing. It lacks comfortable seating and requires a ladder climb. Gene's sundeck with its steps in lieu of the ladder and comfortable seating is much better suited and more frequently used for socializing.

Not all FBs are created equal.

And Gene's saloon is comfy also!

Baker;Because of the view of course. A buddy of mine's Luhrs 41. And two best friends![/QUOTE]

I'll see your Luhrs 41 and raise you a 36' IG

You got it , on boats with no cockpit folks still want to at least see the water.

Even if its from 15 ft up.

Not trying to be a smart-ass gentlemen, but there is no such thing as a flybridge!
The correct term is 'flying bridge'.
And a 'boater' is nothing more than a hat. Most of us are 'yachtsmen', or watermen or boatmen.
And of course, a 'salon' is not the same as a 'saloon'.
The marketing guru's are bastardizing the language of traditional yachting.

Form follows function, Eric- I prefer the flybridge to navigate from as it offers better visibility as well as a place to socialize. There are a good number of manufacturers that offer convertible boats that have but a single command station on the FB.

The only time I'm down below driving is during very inclement weather- otherwise it's aloft for me.

Give it up Capt. George!!!... We have been through all of the semantics on here!!!...the slang seems to stick. Flying Bridge and Yachtsmen are just too damn pretentious. I am from Texas and have grown up trying to keep the redneck off of me....but that just isn't possible. I think my "yachtsmen" friends would kick my ass if I ever used those terms!!!...hahaha! I would one up you and say that a real flying bridge(literally) is the one on the pointy end of an airliner.
Just having fun with ya Capt. George!!!!

Well played Andy G!!!

this pic was taken last evening. It has pretty much rained all weekend here in the Houston area(no complaints...we needed it). We had been stuck in the salo(o)n for quite awhile. Then about 6pm, the sun came out and these two ladies took immediate advantage of it. I saw the pic...grabbed her camera phone ran to the fly(ing) bridge and snapped the pic. These two girls really are best friends and I just thought it captured a lotta love and peacefulness...has an artsyness to it that I like. Maybe it is just me because I know them...blah blah blah.

I have found on the fly(ing) bridge boat that I have owned in the past, there are many times when we are on the edge of cellphone coverage.....and you can maximize the available signal bu being a little higher with less obstructions. There....a practical use!!!!

Baker said:

Because of the view of course. A buddy of mine's Luhrs 41. And two best friends!

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To answer the question posed in another thread, a flybridge becomes unsafe when the view from it is so distracting that it interferes with the safe operation of the vessel.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20276&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1370836041

I drive from the FB probably 95+% of the time. I go below if the weather picks up as of course there is less motion down there. I also will go below if it is too cold for me, raining hard (bimini drips) or on the ocasional overnight passage, maybe 2 per year.
I like the great visibility, listening to music.
Steve W

we also cruise most of the time from the fb. In BC there is lots of marine life to spot from up there but like Steve I am a fair weather cruiser and if the weather sucks I head down. we have pulled the teak off the floor this winter as it was beyond usefullness anymore and will glass the deck. Then I think we are going to put pontoon boat component seating up there.

Pau Hana said:

I prefer the flybridge to navigate from as it offers better visibility

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I would prefer a flybridge but can't scramble down the ladder anymore to get a line on the dock. Since I'm by myself 95% of the time, just walking from the salon to the swim step affords me the quickest & safest route to the dock. Also, the view from my helm is not bad.

Why do we need a flybridge? Oh yeah, it's that visibility thing.

Moonstruck said:

Why do we need a flybridge? Oh yeah, it's that visibility thing.

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Christ! It's Ernest Hemingway!

SeaHorse II said:

It's Ernest Hemingway!

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There................that's much better!

Ran my downeast boat 10 yrs w/o the flybridge b/4 I added it. It was like getting a new boat. I would never be without one on a boat now. In addition to the extra pleasure and seating, better close quaters and night visability to name 2.

SeaHorse II said:

Christ! It's Ernest Hemingway!

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Funny thing about razors. As Hemmingway found, they just don't seem to work in the islands.

In the warmer drier south climes they seem to make sense? However in the PNW not so much as most of them are enclosed year around. On a pilot house a fly is not necessary as visibility is reasonable also when docking many prefer the lower helm so they are closer to the dock. Lastly being a live aboard, and getting older we get enough/to much sun so we tend to stay in the pilot as much as possible and of course when it rains. Over the years our skin has taken its toll, dark spots and wrinkles.

I can't think of any reason for a fly!

Moonstruck said:

To answer the question posed in another thread, a flybridge becomes unsafe when the view from it is so distracting that it interferes with the safe operation of the vessel.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20276&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1370836041

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I would have thought this answer would have ended the discussion...it's the only answer that will ever make enough sense to convince anybody here....

although having piloted a very small commercial vessel with chest high pilothouse windows with a half dozen scantily clad women on board leaning against those windows...a flybridge would have been MUCH less distracting...

Hey, I think I recognize those girls!

FlyWright said:

Hey, I think I recognize those girls!

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OK so maybe there is one? But don't tell my wife!