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GS

Gary Stavrou

Wed, Aug 2, 2006 5:48 AM

In my search to buy my first power catamaran, there is a basic early
decision to make... whether to have a flybridge or not.
My feeling is that in the many rivers and estuaries that I hope to
cruise on the eastern Australian coast a flybridge would be the
preferred helm position.
Obviously there is a premium to be paid for a flybridge; extra cost,
extra height, reduced stability, exposed instrumentation etc.
My question to persons on this list is:
(a) if your cat has a flybridge, do you use it as much as you thought
you would or is the cabin helm more convenient?
(b) if your cat doesn't have a fly bridge do you wish it did?
Thanks
Gary

In my search to buy my first power catamaran, there is a basic early decision to make... whether to have a flybridge or not. My feeling is that in the many rivers and estuaries that I hope to cruise on the eastern Australian coast a flybridge would be the preferred helm position. Obviously there is a premium to be paid for a flybridge; extra cost, extra height, reduced stability, exposed instrumentation etc. My question to persons on this list is: (a) if your cat has a flybridge, do you use it as much as you thought you would or is the cabin helm more convenient? (b) if your cat doesn't have a fly bridge do you wish it did? Thanks Gary

M

mrchuckjohnson@aol.com

Wed, Aug 2, 2006 6:08 AM

I don't have a boat, but just spend 6 days on a NauticBlue 463 (a
Moorings power cat 46 feet with a beam of 17 feet). We were in the sea
of Abaco in the Bahamas, water was 8 to 14 feet deep. We ran the boat
from the flybridge, which had complete instrumentation, same as the
pilot house. The pilot house had the same capabilities as the flybridge
station so there wasn't a 'better' place to run the boat from, I just
felt kooped up in the pilot house and couldn't tell the bottom (sand or
weeds) nearly as well. One of the things I wanted to decide on was
whether or not I wanted a flybridge in my first boat and I know now
that I do. However, I spoke with a fellow who had a TrawlerCat 44
(Endeavor 44) and his boat does not have a flybridge and he doesn't
want one because he runs the boat by himself and can't get to dock
lines fast enough it he had to come down from a flybridge.

-----Original Message-----
From: gstavrou@bigpond.net.au
To: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com
Sent: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 10:48 PM
Subject: [PCW] Flybridge

In my search to buy my first power catamaran, there is a basic early

decision to make... whether to have a flybridge or not.
My feeling is that in the many rivers and estuaries that I hope to
cruise on the eastern Australian coast a flybridge would be the
preferred helm position.
Obviously there is a premium to be paid for a flybridge; extra cost,
extra height, reduced stability, exposed instrumentation etc.
My question to persons on this list is:
(a) if your cat has a flybridge, do you use it as much as you thought
you would or is the cabin helm more convenient?
(b) if your cat doesn't have a fly bridge do you wish it did?
Thanks
Gary

Power-Catamaran Mailing List

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I don't have a boat, but just spend 6 days on a NauticBlue 463 (a Moorings power cat 46 feet with a beam of 17 feet). We were in the sea of Abaco in the Bahamas, water was 8 to 14 feet deep. We ran the boat from the flybridge, which had complete instrumentation, same as the pilot house. The pilot house had the same capabilities as the flybridge station so there wasn't a 'better' place to run the boat from, I just felt kooped up in the pilot house and couldn't tell the bottom (sand or weeds) nearly as well. One of the things I wanted to decide on was whether or not I wanted a flybridge in my first boat and I know now that I do. However, I spoke with a fellow who had a TrawlerCat 44 (Endeavor 44) and his boat does not have a flybridge and he doesn't want one because he runs the boat by himself and can't get to dock lines fast enough it he had to come down from a flybridge. -----Original Message----- From: gstavrou@bigpond.net.au To: power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com Sent: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 10:48 PM Subject: [PCW] Flybridge In my search to buy my first power catamaran, there is a basic early decision to make... whether to have a flybridge or not. My feeling is that in the many rivers and estuaries that I hope to cruise on the eastern Australian coast a flybridge would be the preferred helm position. Obviously there is a premium to be paid for a flybridge; extra cost, extra height, reduced stability, exposed instrumentation etc. My question to persons on this list is: (a) if your cat has a flybridge, do you use it as much as you thought you would or is the cabin helm more convenient? (b) if your cat doesn't have a fly bridge do you wish it did? Thanks Gary _______________________________________________ Power-Catamaran Mailing List ________________________________________________________________________ Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free.

RD

Robert Deering

Wed, Aug 2, 2006 6:10 AM

Hi Gary,

I've been considering the same question here in Alaska. For what it's
worth, here are my thoughts on the subject:

A flybridge position, being up high, will magnify boat motion, both
side to side and pitching. If you are running in rough water you should
think about this carefully. Since you plan to run primarily in rivers &
estuaries it probably won't be a big issue.
The flybridge position offers a lot of advantages in visibility. You
can see into the water. Designed right, you have 360 degree visibility.
You can see all 4 corners of the boat.
I simply don't see the point of having both a flybridge AND a helm
inside, unless you are operating a very big boat (i.e. you're rich). My
thinking is that you should create a flybridge helm that is your primary
helm, with perhaps an aft cockpit steering station for docking,
trolling, etc.
Here in Juneau the weather can be miserable at times so most
flybridges are fully enclosed with canvas.
Many boats here, both cat & mono, run from their flybridges.
Operators seem happy with that arrangement in general.

Bob Deering
Juneau Alaska

-----Original Message-----
From: power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com
[mailto:power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of Gary
Stavrou
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 9:49 PM
To: PowerCatermaran PowerCatermaran List
Subject: [PCW] Flybridge

In my search to buy my first power catamaran, there is a basic early
decision to make... whether to have a flybridge or not.
My feeling is that in the many rivers and estuaries that I hope to
cruise on the eastern Australian coast a flybridge would be the
preferred helm position.
Obviously there is a premium to be paid for a flybridge; extra cost,
extra height, reduced stability, exposed instrumentation etc.
My question to persons on this list is:
(a) if your cat has a flybridge, do you use it as much as you thought
you would or is the cabin helm more convenient?
(b) if your cat doesn't have a fly bridge do you wish it did?
Thanks
Gary

Power-Catamaran Mailing List

Hi Gary, I've been considering the same question here in Alaska. For what it's worth, here are my thoughts on the subject: - A flybridge position, being up high, will magnify boat motion, both side to side and pitching. If you are running in rough water you should think about this carefully. Since you plan to run primarily in rivers & estuaries it probably won't be a big issue. - The flybridge position offers a lot of advantages in visibility. You can see into the water. Designed right, you have 360 degree visibility. You can see all 4 corners of the boat. - I simply don't see the point of having both a flybridge AND a helm inside, unless you are operating a very big boat (i.e. you're rich). My thinking is that you should create a flybridge helm that is your primary helm, with perhaps an aft cockpit steering station for docking, trolling, etc. - Here in Juneau the weather can be miserable at times so most flybridges are fully enclosed with canvas. - Many boats here, both cat & mono, run from their flybridges. Operators seem happy with that arrangement in general. Bob Deering Juneau Alaska -----Original Message----- From: power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com [mailto:power-catamaran-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of Gary Stavrou Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 9:49 PM To: PowerCatermaran PowerCatermaran List Subject: [PCW] Flybridge In my search to buy my first power catamaran, there is a basic early decision to make... whether to have a flybridge or not. My feeling is that in the many rivers and estuaries that I hope to cruise on the eastern Australian coast a flybridge would be the preferred helm position. Obviously there is a premium to be paid for a flybridge; extra cost, extra height, reduced stability, exposed instrumentation etc. My question to persons on this list is: (a) if your cat has a flybridge, do you use it as much as you thought you would or is the cabin helm more convenient? (b) if your cat doesn't have a fly bridge do you wish it did? Thanks Gary _______________________________________________ Power-Catamaran Mailing List

power-catamaran@lists.trawlering.com

Flybridge