Fly bridge or not

[DanieV]

All the experience sailors. Why choose catamaran with a Fly bridge? Why not a Fly bridge. Pro and Con

[44'cruisingcat]

The importance of the Pro's and cons will depend on your priorities.

For me, sailing is important, and a flybridge requires either a significant reduction in sail area, or an increase in mast height, due to how much the boom needs to be raised.

Access to the boom and gooseneck is more difficult also.

I also like being in the cockpit when steering, and being able to quickly move to other parts of the boat.

Having said that, an unimpeded view to all corners of the boat would be a big plus, especially in heavily trafficked locations.

Generally, people who have them love them. And those of us who don't love them don't have them.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Welcome to CF!


If you use one (or many) of the search features here on the forums, you'll find that this topic has been extensively discussed. So there's a lot of information on it that's already here.
Not trying to dissuade you from asking questions, but rather offering an alternative suggestion for finding information.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Generally, people who have them love them. And those of us who don't love them don't have them.

Or to put it another way:

Generally, people who love them buy cats with them. And those of us who don't love them don't buy cats with them.

I'm one who doesn't love them - for the reasons that 44'cruisingcat states. And I can see all four corners of mine from the steering station without one.

[JPA Cate]

Another downside turns out to be friction in the steering, which has to get all the way up there, and has high wear. This happened to one we were berthed next to. From talking to them, it seems it is very expensive to replace the lot, and that was the only possible real fix for the problem.

I know I'm *only* a monohullist, but were we to choose a catamaran in the future, it would not have the fly bridge.

Ann

[a64pilot]

Seems like they might be a candidate for hydraulic steering, that works well for Sportfishermen with tuna towers

[barnakiel]

I think these days a flybridge is an absolute must. If you get one without, owners who have them will look down on you.

Pun intended.

Cheers,
b.

[DeepCut]

I was considering the options when I was shopping. Fortunately, that decision was taken out of the equation when purchased Lagoon 42 for multiple other reasons.
I am very happy with sport top and would probably buy sport-top in future. However, I do believe if I had originally purchased a flybridge, I would probably be very happy with it as well. Just saying, I recognize your delimia and feel it will be good either way.

[PaulinOz]

Try each style yourself, then make a decision based on your own requirements. That way the decision you make will be the correct one for you. I own both a fly bridge and sports top cat, I prefer the fly bridge, but thats just me.

[Dallasron]

That is one hell of a delima God bless first world problems

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I think these days a flybridge is an absolute must. If you get one without, owners who have them will look down on you.

Pun intended.

Cheers,
b.

OMG, I needed that this morning! Thanks :-)

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Danie.

[PhiSig1071]

How is the raised helm compared to a Flybridge? It seems like it would solve a lot of the issues with both. Greater visibility than a bulkhead mounted helm with a lower boom and better communication with the rest of the boat than a true complete flybirdge offers.

[mikereed100]

I've never heard a cat owner complain about their helm position, no matter where it is. To me this goes to show that, not only do we tend to like what we have, but that all helm positions work.

If you can't get a ride on a flybridge cat to see for yourself, the next best (or even better) thing would be to talk to a delivery skipper and see what they think of different helm positions.

[rwidman]

We have a trawler, not a sailboat, but I think the answer would be the same.

Visibility is far greater from a flybridge than from inside. This goes for the passengers as well as the person operating the boat. Sitting on the flybridge, one can watch the world go by, see the sights and wildlife.

Unless it's raining or cold, you will find us on our flybridge when underway.

The downside of the flybridge is, in rough seas the pitching and rolling is amplified so that's another time we will go below.