requesting 50ish feet flybridge info

[rnanaples]

I'm have footitis again. I am probably a year or so out from getting bigger. Boating is in Miami, lots of going to dinner and anchoring, lots of on and off rain, lots of hanging out at party sandbar spots. we want a flybridge to have all the outside areas, but also have an inside top level in rainy times and while underway traveling around. the flybridge in a 40-55 foot range seems to be by far the most common boat in Miami. it seems to be the right combination. i bought my current boat new, but am having (it seems) about as many small maintenance issues as with a used boat. I don't want to pay for a new 50 ft flybridge, so I'm asking what issues should i be aware of buying a used one, and how old is too old for still low maintenance? and what are the main areas of maintenance?

I bought a 1996 55 Sedan Bridge 2 years ago and love it was thinking of going to the newer generation but for less money I have a far larger bridge. It also has a huge lazarette 3 staterooms etc... I agree with several comments on here it is all about the condition. When you get this size there is a whole lot of stuff to break. 2 ice makers 4 ac's 3 refrigerators. After that it is probably comparative to your current boat. Get a good engine survey and boat survey.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Two things I don’t like about the fly bridge designs.
1. Most have open bridge layouts with no heat/Ac
2. More than 1 helm station, on a 45’-50’ boat the only thing second and third stations due is eat up real estate.
The reason for 2 helms is due to the fact that you cannot enclose the bridge and operate from that station.
My opinion of course but I wouldn’t want to be in FLA or Bahamas with no bridge AC.
If we where to move up? I’d be looking
Seriously at Riviera or Maritimo for sure.
Good luck on your search Richie

 

[Richie89]

thanks for all the input, going to enjoy the search, looking forward to the Miami boat show in a few months.
Havana Shamrock, we love the heat, hotter the better, so we want an open bridge, but down here, it rains often and want to use the short rain showers as the time to move the boat, so also want the inside helm to get out of the rain. thanks for those brand recommendations, i'll check them out.

 

[Gary B]

thanks for all the input, going to enjoy the search, looking forward to the Miami boat show in a few months.
Havana Shamrock, we love the heat, hotter the better, so we want an open bridge, but down here, it rains often and want to use the short rain showers as the time to move the boat, so also want the inside helm to get out of the rain. thanks for those brand recommendations, i'll check them out.

We have the bridge heat and air on our 52 DB. Our previous boat was a 400 EC and if given the choice between an express or a bridge, we would go for the bridge. We tend to entertain on the bridge. When it's comfortable we leave the forward center panel open and aft center enclosure panels rolled up. If it's not, we put the Air conditioning or heat on, There is so much space on the DB. Our hat is off to Sea Ray. The sedan bridge does a great job soaking up a crowd of guests with the seperate areas to congregate - bridge, cockpit and salon. The visibility navigating and docking from the bridge is great. We love the view from the top and the stairs to the bridge are much better than a ladder on many other other boats.

If we were to do it again we would stay with the sedan bridge.

 

[hakunamatata]

We have 2 Prestiges on our dock, 1 50 and my dockmate has the 42(4 in the marina total). The 50 had nothing but electronic and Mechanical issues the 1st season they got it. Made it half way across Lake Michigan on a trip and one of the engines quit and then when they got it started again, wouldn't get above Idol speed. The 42 hit something returning from a trip this summer and killed one of the sets of props on the pod drives. Both boats were purchased from the same marina which is located a good 75 miles from where the boats are moored and I will say their service department is johnny on the spot getting up here to resolve the issues. I wouldn't rule them out, but then again, there is a reason we all have been drawn to the Sea Ray name to begin with and it isn't for their pretty insignia!