Water Ski - July 01, 2018

ACCESS LIABILITY

You have to climb to the bridge

in a convertible or fl ybridge,

and that requires stairs or a

ladder that takes up space in

the cockpit below. Sometimes

that loss of space is substantial,

crowding the gathering area.

Even a ladder to the bridge cre-

ates inconveniences in that

gathering space. And some skip-

pers prefer having all the action

on the main deck rather than

dividing the socializing crew

between upper and lower decks.

LOFTY ASSETS

It’s the best place to grab

some rays and feel the breeze,

whether stirred by nature or by

throttle. You’ll look very smart

up there too, giving the boater’s

wave from that lofty perch. And

as the skipper, your crew will

compete for your company,

giving plenty of opportunity for

more intimate conversation.

LOFTY LIABILITIES

That added height can cost

you some waterway access and

even storage fees — especially

if you dry-stack your boat

when it’s not in use. Dry-stack

marinas charge by length and

by height. So, be sure of the

storage fees before you buy.

Further, that added height

means waiting for drawbridg-

es or being unable to gain pas-

sage beneath fi xed bridges to

certain waters altogether. Will

it be worth it? It’s up to each

individual boater.

CASH ASSETS

Expect that upper station to

cost between $25,000 and

SEE DEEPER

AND FARTHER

Seeing farther to the horizon

and seeing your transom rela-

tive to the dock are two advan-

tages of flybridge boats. But the

added height also allows you

to see deeper into the water. In

fact, the taller your bridge and

the higher you are, the deeper

you’ll be able to see into the

sea. This comes in all kinds of

handy for fishing and for navi-

gating around shoals, sandbars,

coral heads and boulders.

ILLUSTRATION: TIM BARKER; PHOTOS: COURTESY RANGER TUGS (FAMILY), COUTESY BENETEAU (BOTTOM RIGHT), FOREST JOHNSON (BOTTOM LEFT)

BOATINGMAG.COM | JULY/AUGUST 2018 | 77