How does the list feel about lower stations? Do you use them or operate from
the fly bridge all the time? Is a lower station really necessary?  I'd like to
hear your views on single verses dual steering/control stations.

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Depends. On my current boat, a Krogen 42 pilothouse trawler, about the only
time I'm ever on the fly bridge is when I'm backing into a slip. The only
instrumentation up there is a radio mike, compass, and engine readouts.

My first boat, a Sea Ray 36 aft cabin, had a lower station, but most of the
instrumentation was up on the flybridge. In 5 years, I think I only used the
lower station 3-4 times, and the visibility was not that good, impossible to
see on plane. After that, I got a Cruisers 3950 aft cabin. Had no lower
station at all and never missed it. If I were to get a boat like that again,
I sure wouldn't pay extra for a lower station.

Keith

-----Original Message-----

How does the list feel about lower stations? Do you use them or operate from
the fly bridge all the time? Is a lower station really necessary?  I'd like
to
hear your views on single verses dual steering/control stations.

90% of the time I use the lower station. From the Chesapeake South it is too
darn hot to be on the flybridge. Docking and close quarters maneuvering
often see me on the flybridge. I gave up sailing to get out of the sun and
heat - turn on the A/C! If I were buying again or, heaven forbid, buying
new, it would be a pilothouse trawler without flybridge - unless I was in a
cooler clime like Alaska.

Ron Rogers

We used the lower station only once a few years ago when we were freezing our
butts off bringing the boat south from Morehead City to Central Florida in
late November w/30+ knot winds and mid 30's temps.

We drive 99%+ from the flybridge as we spend most of our time in the Bahamas,
and all through the Bahamas banks, you have to read the color of the water
(for depths etc) and you can only do this best from the flybridge.

Dan and Alicia

Both of our trawlers have had a topside and lower/inside steering
station. On our former trawler, a 35 footer with a bimini but no
enclosure, we generally were topside where the view and the breeze were
much better; when the weather turned foul, or the waves increased to the
point of being uncomfortable with the increased movement topside, we'd
move down/inside where we had an excellent view over the bow.

On our current trawler, the topside is enclosed, so inclement weather
doesn't affect us and because of the heft of the boat (twice as much as
the former trawler) neither do we experience as much motion unless we're
caught in seas where we wouldn't normally venture (has happened once or
twice). The "smiles" open to expose about 90% of the side area to the
open air, so it's pleasant even in warm weather; when the weather turns
foul, we just zip up. The radar is even mounted topside, but it can be
moved to the lower helm, if desired, in a few minutes, and all the
instruments and autopilot connections are identical in both locations.
However, the bow is much higher and the inside steering station
relatively lower than the bow and inside steering station on the former
boat, and Judy has a difficult time seeing over the bow without standing
on a chair! Consequently, we tend to stay topside all the time, so far,
while underway.

The only lengthy cruise we've taken in the current trawler was last
summer where we put over 5,500 miles under the keel from Florida to the
St. John River, New Brunswick, and return. We never used the lower helm,
even though we were in fog and rain for days on end (it seems) in Maine
and the Bay of Fundy, and the weather turned cool (but not cold) in
October on the return leg.

We put about 20,000 miles under the keel of the former, smaller trawler,
and on cool or rainy days, or in a rough seaway, always moved inside.

We've never moved inside due to heat in order to be in air conditioned
space with either boat. With the sound produced by the AC running and
the engine, in addition to the reduced visibility, we feel we lose too
much of the awareness of our surroundings to navigate comfortably - we'd
rather be outside where we have literally unrestricted visibility and a
good feel for what is happening around us.

Frankly, when we were looking for a boat to replace the former trawler,
topside steering was one of the "must haves" on our shopping list.

In addition to the things I mentioned above, you wouldn't believe what a
difference being higher makes in what you can see in the water - aquatic
animals as well as navigational hazards.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young                  Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling                              Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler                          Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://sanderlingcruise2009.blogspot.com/

Another key point............driving from my lower station is the equivalent
of some of you guys driving from the engine room!! I can't see squat from my
lower station on my current boat. On my next boat this will change, but right
now, I am flying somewhat blind from my lower station, hence it is a severe
sacrifice driving from the lower station. Also in the Bahamas, driving from
the flybridge is totally breezy etc. I don't run the A/C while underway to
drive below.............because, I may be comfortable..........but I can't see
s****t!!!!!!!

Dan
Danali Star