Airstream345
Guru
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2017
- Messages
- 1,016
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- FORTITUDE
- Vessel Make
- Kadey Krogen 54-8
After a year and a half with our Bluewater 40 Pilothouse we've decided to delete the flybridge. In the interest of sharing DIY knowledge I thought I'd document the project a bit here for others. I'm also sure I'll have questions along the way so I'm grateful for forum wisdom when needed.
I'm sure many of you are probably thinking "That's Bananas!" but for us the flybridge needed to go. Here are a few of our reasons:
1. Functional. The fly bridge helm was a dealer (or PO) "bolt-on" style installed on the back edge of the PH roof with a small bench seat installed directly behind it. This relocated the mast aft directly behind the bench seat. Unlike typical "over-the-pilothouse" fly bridges, our FB installation placed the helm so far back on the boat it’s essentially useless as a helm position (zero visibility to the bow or side decks). It's also to small to comfortably sit more than a person up there. Finally, we have great visibility in the PH so we always drive, dock, lock and maneuver from the lower helm.
2. Structural. The installation moved the mast back about four feet and added a fiberglass bench seat over an under-supported section of the salon roof. Over the years this has caused a deformation of the roofline which has contributed to deck issues. Since we need to de-teak and repair the boat deck, flybridge was always going to need come off.
3. Usability. The placement of the seat and mast essentially cuts the boat deck in half so we're always working around it to use the boat deck for a table and chairs, etc. BW40s have a very small cockpit so the boat deck is our only outdoor space when at anchor or visiting a marina. We also store our dinghy on the boat deck so between the FB and the dinghy there is no room up there. Furthermore the placement of the helm cuts the PH roof in half and we'd like to store SUPs and kayaks up there.
4. Aesthetics. When I say the flybridge is a "bolt-on" it's looks like it too. I love the look of these "salty" little PH trawlers and the "bolt-on" nature of the FB always bothered me. I've also not seen another BW with a FB and other BW owner I've asked thought deleting it made sense.
5. Simplicity. Deleting the FB simplifies things like electronics, gauges, wiring, etc .
6. Future. If we keep the boat for a long time we have considered adding paravanes. This will require a mast in it's original position (over a main bulkhead).
Over the last couple of days I was able to remove everything (a benefit of being "bolted-on"). Next up will be de-teaking the boat deck and re-skinning the PH roof.
I'm sure many of you are probably thinking "That's Bananas!" but for us the flybridge needed to go. Here are a few of our reasons:
1. Functional. The fly bridge helm was a dealer (or PO) "bolt-on" style installed on the back edge of the PH roof with a small bench seat installed directly behind it. This relocated the mast aft directly behind the bench seat. Unlike typical "over-the-pilothouse" fly bridges, our FB installation placed the helm so far back on the boat it’s essentially useless as a helm position (zero visibility to the bow or side decks). It's also to small to comfortably sit more than a person up there. Finally, we have great visibility in the PH so we always drive, dock, lock and maneuver from the lower helm.
2. Structural. The installation moved the mast back about four feet and added a fiberglass bench seat over an under-supported section of the salon roof. Over the years this has caused a deformation of the roofline which has contributed to deck issues. Since we need to de-teak and repair the boat deck, flybridge was always going to need come off.
3. Usability. The placement of the seat and mast essentially cuts the boat deck in half so we're always working around it to use the boat deck for a table and chairs, etc. BW40s have a very small cockpit so the boat deck is our only outdoor space when at anchor or visiting a marina. We also store our dinghy on the boat deck so between the FB and the dinghy there is no room up there. Furthermore the placement of the helm cuts the PH roof in half and we'd like to store SUPs and kayaks up there.
4. Aesthetics. When I say the flybridge is a "bolt-on" it's looks like it too. I love the look of these "salty" little PH trawlers and the "bolt-on" nature of the FB always bothered me. I've also not seen another BW with a FB and other BW owner I've asked thought deleting it made sense.
5. Simplicity. Deleting the FB simplifies things like electronics, gauges, wiring, etc .
6. Future. If we keep the boat for a long time we have considered adding paravanes. This will require a mast in it's original position (over a main bulkhead).
Over the last couple of days I was able to remove everything (a benefit of being "bolted-on"). Next up will be de-teaking the boat deck and re-skinning the PH roof.
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