Do you need two sets of controls on a liveaboard?

[proudsailor]

Dual here. Love the visibility and space on our flybridge. In good weather, perfect place to steer. High up offers exceptional 360 visibility when necessary. Steer from here in high traffic areas for good situational awareness. But in rough seas, we have to slide on our butts to get off the flybridge to minimize being airborne or knocked around.

Then one cold and windy day, discovered that I could fire up the generator, run the heat, close the doors, and be comfortable while not having to talk loudly over the wind.

 

[SIBERNUT]

Have not cruised PNW. But here in NE there's so much junk in the water ( mostly from new yawk) height of a FB is nice to have.

 

[psneeld]

Few commercial boats including lobster boats run from a flying bridge....

Sorta fits in with those posters that argue a lot of commercial boats have singles in singles/twins discussions.

I like the view from a flybridge, but on many boats a keen eye and ability to walk away from the helm to get a better view eliminates most flybridge advantages.

I will admit..... not on all boats is a lower helm perfect....but a camera or second crew person can help there.

With decent loud alarms, a boat can be run from anywhere. I used to like sitting on the bow watching the dolphins play.

 

[Mako]

Do you need two sets of controls on a liveaboard?​

I was thinking about this question again. You might say that the answer is "no" because as a live aboard you (hopefully) use your boat a lot more than others and are therefore more adept at handling her.
However as stated over and over, it's all about your own preferences. Some love flybridges. Some fish extensively and want to control backing-down from the cockpit. Some don't live in the PNW. etc.

 

[Mako]

The AP is off the hydraulics. If two stations exist they are both off the same hydraulics as is the AP. There is one arm which all depend on. Often on SD hulls of moderate size steering is a single point failure site. Not infrequently there’s no emergency rudder. Given how reliable hydraulics are this isn’t a safety issue of significant concern in a coastal setting. But it can be in an ocean setting where steering maybe stressed for longer periods of time and succor less available

This comment is key in the "redundancy" discussion. Having dual autopilots and steering stations is only partially-redudant when everything is driving off a single hydraulic cylinder to the rudder post. Also, almost every twin boat I've seen has a hydraulic pump on the starboard engine. What happens when that stb engine fails and you're continuing along on your port only? Now you've lost AP and power steering and even your stabilizers. True redundancy (especially for bluewater or remote cruising) requires rethinking entire systems. How about including an electric AP drive instead of, or in addition to, the normal hydraulics?

 

[keith c]

My MS 34 only has an upper station. The reasons are do not miss the lower station is I am a coastal guy, do not travel in bad weather and live in southern Louisiana.. Except for the Louisiana thing most people Are door number one and door number two mariners. I understand any one can get caught in bad weather etc. Most mariners will also admit, while on truth serum, that visibility is poor down stairs.. I however will admit a flybridge with a complete or front cover would be nice in suprise weather and cooler weather

 

[Sababa]

To me it depends on.....size and design of vessel, stabilization (Y/N), size of crew (watch duration and runners to bridge to bring things), full climate control on bridge, and most likely much more.

Stabilization and lots of room for company in the enclosed flybridge are certainly key for making the single upper helm station work for us on our Maritimo. A yacht controller and remote engine/thruster control stations on the "Juliet" deck (the balcony off the fly bridge) and in the cockpit are also essential. I suppose climate control would be too if (when!) we were to venture to tropical climes—we have it, but we never need it underway here in the Pacific Northwest.