What Is a Flybridge Boat?

Location

• The flybridge, typically the highest level on a boat, usually has an open cockpit equipped with a windshield in front. This design makes it easy for the navigator to see the surroundings. Usually covered with a canopy, it can also be installed with chairs for the navigator to sit in. Most leisure boats and yachts come with flybridges. A ladder usually connects the flybridge from the open cockpit on the back of the boat. Flybridges are also often installed in the middle of the boat to maintain the boat's balance while in water.

Flybridge Equipment

• Just like the main bridge, a flybridge also has a set of navigational equipment. Flybridges on modern boats and yachts come standard with a satellite navigation system, the engine's instrumentation panels, compass, radio, the steering wheel and the joystick for throttling the engine.

Parts of a Flybridge Boat

• Like typical boats, a flybridge boat has a cabin, cockpit, bridge, hull and the engine room. Cabins are highly modified depending on the type of vessel, but typically contain sleeping quarters, a dining area, bathroom and a small galley or kitchen. Cockpits are open spaces located at the end of the boat, known as the stern, where people can set up fishing equipment or seats. The bridge is the main control room where a person can navigate the vehicle in an enclosed environment, while the hull contains the engine room and is the lowest part of the boat.

Modifications

• Some cruiser boats and yachts come with a basic flybridge that is equipped with only the most basic instrumentation panel. Some also do not have any canopy or covering, so the navigator needs to wear sun protection while navigating the craft through the flybridge.