Upper helm only boats

[BobMc]

Totally agree with CaptTom. We had both upper and lower on both our trawlers (a Hampton 35 and a DeFever 41) and in 45K miles between them, rain and fog, freezing cold, etc, I recall driving from the lower helm on three occasion, 2 when the waves were so steep that the pitching motion was more tolerable down below, and the other when there were lightning strikes around us (not that the lower helm would have been any safer, but it felt safer! Have had fog in Maine so heavy we had to use radar to avoid lobster pot markers. Visibility was still better topside!

 

[Cantsitstill]

Upper helm only

The Manatee has only an upper helm with a hard top. Ours also has lexan sliders so it is fully enclosed. I heat with a Mr. Buddy Heater in the Winter and am very comfortable.

It all depends on the setup for your boat but I don't miss the lower helm.

 

[Amadeus]

As a counterpart with 35 years of running a Defever 68 we probably used the upper helm a dozen times. Once, when we lost the hydraulic steering off Indonesia, and several times picking our way through the coral to enter a bay or harbor in the South Pacific. Otherwise we always used the lower helm. On our current boat, a Diesel Duck 58, same thing. Very rarely use it.

We are now about to build a 110' long distance passagemaker, best described as an FPB on steroids, and also built in NZ by Circa Marine, that is the mothership for a 3-passenger Triton submarine that stows belowdecks. While there will be a large flybridge, there is no helm station at all, but you can use a wireless remote.

 

[mvweebles]

30-years ago I owned a Uniflite 42 ACMY with no lower helm. Flybridge enclosure with Lexan (vs Plexi). I lived aboard so was a decent compromise to have the additional space down below. Bought it in SoCal and brought it to SF Bay - visibility at night sucked and needed to open the horseshoe zipper front window to see. For the couple years I owned it, used it for day-trips in SF Bay which was fine - no issue. Dinghy was mounted on foredeck which was handy.

A friend has a Horizon PowerCat with no lower helm, hard-top but Isinglass front and side panels. The visibility was awful so he installed heavy glass front windshields at considerable expense.

It really depends on where you plan on boating. I would think PNW would be more challenging. Humidity and dew point in US southern states (Florida) means heavy condensate in the mornings. Having a windshield with true windshield and defogger might be important.

Good luck -

Peter

 

[sbu22]

Depends on the boat layout and use, predominant location, and weather.

I have a really nice and full function lower helm with crap visibility forward. Used it twice in very favorable conditions soon after I bought it just to try it out. Makes a nice nautical touch to the saloon.

Flybridge has access via full steps with handrail. Easy main deck access for docking. Upper helm full function as well. Bimini but no oxygen tent. Gets wet up there once in a while.

The summarized answer: It all depends .......

 

[kthoennes]

I've had both -- our 32 Carver had an upper and lower, and now the Mainship has only an upper. I never used the Carver's lower helm (when I say never, I think it's actually never -- I don't remember ever using the lower, although everything did work properly). The visibility is so much better upstairs that I'd probably feel blind without it. We have been out in terrible weather on the Mainship too. It's certainly not ideal for comfort in bad weather, and we have a soft roll-up windshield too, not solid so no wipers. Even in the rain though, underway I usually keep the windshield rolled up. Luckily the helm is far enough back that I don't get any -- or much -- rain or spray in my face. Of course my model Mainship isn't designed for a lower, and you couldn't really add one even if you wanted to, but even on the Carver -- there was a big square window aft, but you could barely see anything useful because of the aft deck sightlines. Yep, all depends.

 

[Art]

Twin pilot stations - well equipped / Twin engines / Twin props / Twin rudders / Two heads - well equipped / Two staterooms - comfortably equipped

And, Two Luvers! - Wife and me!

Two of most things... That's how I like it!!

"Redundancy"

 

[markpierce]

I recall a video of an experienced sailor entering a harbor where waves tossed him from the flybridge to his death.

 

[Art]

I recall a video of an experienced sailor entering a harbor where waves tossed him from the flybridge to his death.

And... your point is??

Well... I recall seeing a video of a person getting killed by an outboard motor prop cutting him up.

And, I'm not making any point!

 

[jleonard]

I had all my electronics on the flybridge, with the radar mounted so my first mate could monitor it. I would always wipe the panels off before we started out for the day, even roll them up wet if need be.
NEVER got a drop of sea water on the flybridge in the Albin. The huge bow flare knocked everything down.
Only real problem was getting down to pee when the seas were rough, but there were enough strong hand holds to get there.

 

[rslifkin]

I recall a video of an experienced sailor entering a harbor where waves tossed him from the flybridge to his death.

Being up top in rough conditions follows the rule of sailing. If in doubt about whether the stuff around you will keep you on the boat in bad conditions, then when it gets bad, it's harness and tether time.