I get the feeling that many of the flybridge guys on YBW never go up to the flybridge while operating their boat. Consider it strictly a relaxation zone. Plus dinghy storage.

GFC - What did you see at that OA rally? Were many people using their flybridges?

Kelly

On a Bridge boat with two helm stations, I would control from the bridge.

Note, On many Flying Bridges the second station is often a separate option and it requires a different salon plan, which might make that area tight or delete an admired feature. Plus, one can control the nightime "human made distraction" light up on the bridge better.

But the weather control is better inside the main salon.

The only time I drive from downstairs is if there's too many bugs. Anyone who has a flybridge and doesn't use is has forgotten why he's on the water...

( imo )

Many flybridges from the boat builder come without a Full Enclosure or a bimini. If you have a good canvas vendor guy, you're OK, if not maybe the dealer does. I learned a long time ago, that I need to search out and have a good canvas person to really enjoy either a Flybridge or an Express Cruiser. If you prefer a hard enclosure rather than a canvas one, that is another discussion.

Please understand that I now drive a 330 SY Monterey, which is a "Sport Yacht" express cruiser.

We don't have a lower helm, so its flybridge or nothing for us.

As Seabuddy states, there are advantages and disadvantages to both.

One huge advantage to a flybridge is the increased amount of room it allows inside of the cabin, especially if you do not have a lower helm. A disadvantage, however, is that it can be harder to control the boat from a flybridge, either due to being more susceptable to wind, or a sick sensation if you are being tossed around when you are higher up. So it might mean the boat is more of a fair-weather boat.

The reason they make a lot of different kinds of boats is that boaters have a lot of different needs. So what might be one advantage to one boater may be a disadvantage to another.

So whether a flybridge is better or not all depends on what your needs are. If you have the wrong kind of boat for your needs, its a disadvantage, regardless of what type it is.

The main reason we have the kind of boat we have is room. I would have to go to a 40ft express cruiser to have the room we have in our boat.

The view "down there" while touring to see what there is to see up and down the piers of a big marina was better and more entertaining to me in a Fly Bridge than in an Express Cruiser.

Speaking of the canvas game, check out the tenting on this new Westline 34 -

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=mby&Number=1908919&page=0&fpart=1

If conditions always required me to have all that stuff up, think I'd switch to a flybridge myself.

airy Kelly

What is the difference?

I see at least 7 or more panels to be taken down to open air the Boat trader on line photo above.

Plus more panels to take down for a rear view opening.

Sorry, I meant using the inside helm in weather instead. Versus having all that canvas up. In a downpour you could just cover the flybridge helm station and let the rest of the flybridge take a bath? No?

Kelly

Tried both in a driving rain storm inside Newport Beach harbor.

Picked the one helm station that gave the best visiblity.

Got wet as by unzipping some of the seams between isseglas (sp) panels allowed the best view (by seeing/peering out those open seams) but let in some water.