Cruiser and large sportfisher boat terminology

[The Famous Grouse]

Folks, I see a number of terms applied to large cruisers and sportfishers and I have to admit I don't understand and can't find a precise definition. Can anyone define the following for me:

Convertible - I see this term all the time attached to large sportfishers from Viking, Ocean, etc. Convertable from or to what?

Sedan Bridge - Generally, I see this term applied to larger cruisers, but what is it exactly? I assume it's different from. . .

Flying Bridge - I'm pretty sure this applies to an elevated open bridge, but many boats that carry the "Sedan Bridge" label seem to have this feature.

Portuguese Bridge - No idea.

As always, pictures would help, but I've wanted for a long time to know how these terms are defined.

Grouse

 

[bcons]

Re: Cruiser and large sportfisher boat terminology

They're all interchanged quite frequently. Look up any of those catagories on a for sale site & almost all the listings you find will be identical.
Although one main difference is a "Sedan" typically has a slightly smaller cockpit, with a few less fishing specific amenities, while having a larger living area/salon. The "Sportfish" will have the smallest living space, but largest cockpit, with gear in permanently or near perm affixed positions.
The convertible is usually the blend of the two, slightly smaller cabin & larger cockpit than a sedan. If in the 40'+ class often having an additional station with limited controls right in or very close to the cockpit.
Flying bridge is also used alot, to me it means another station on a tower (the alluminum tuna type) but hower by deffinition in can be any elevated station on 2nd storey or higher.

 

[QC]

Re: Cruiser and large sportfisher boat terminology

I agree with the above although I would not consider a Fly(ing) Bridge equal to a station in a tower although I see and understand the clarification.

I would say a Fly Bridge is any control station above the main salon and cockpit. So an express cruiser would have a station above the salon (cabin), but not above the cockpit. The Express Cruiser's station is on the same level as the cockpit so not a Fly Bridge.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Cruiser and large sportfisher boat terminology

OK, so a sedan bridge is just one form of a flying bridge and usually is accompanied by a smaller cockpit area (and hence a larger salon)? Did I get that right?

A convertable is basically a sportfisher that sacrafices cockpit space to make it more liveable as a cruiser. I would assume, then, that "convertable" is in reference to the fact that one can convert these boats from sportfishing battlewagon to what amounts to (essentially) a fast motor yacht?

Anyone want to take a crack at a Portuguese Bridge? In context, I've seen it most often mentioned with trawler-type boats, but that could be coincidence.

Grouse

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Cruiser and large sportfisher boat terminology

Convertible - This is your standard sportfisherman layout. It has an enclosed flybridge (we'll get to that in a minute) and an open cockpit where the fighting chair usually is. Take a look at my boat in the little picture by my handle and that will show you the rear of a convertible vessel (with a salon styled flybridge). The white boat in the third pic is a convertible also.

Flying Bridge - The open type tower you see on older sportfishers or work boats. Usually a minimal seating space with a control station and upper helm with electronics. The green boat in the pics has a flying bridge. Think of the SS Minnow! The flybridge may be enclosed, but usually isn't considered lounging seating space.

Salon Bridge - A fiberglass upper control flybridge, usually enclosed with a bimini or hardtop and eisenglass. This also provides comfortable seating area for multiple people (hence the reference to a salon/saloon in a boat). My boat also has a salon flybridge. You can see the back of it in the picture above as well. The white sportfisher below has a convertible setup with a salon styled flybridge. Salon bridge and flybridge are often used interchangably, but they are really separate things.

Portuguese Bridge - A portuguese bridge gives you an enclosed, usually waist high, walkway outside of a wheel house. This allows the captain to exit the wheelhouse, view the bow and sides of the boat, use binoculars, etc. without fear of losing his footing (see first pic). There is usually a walk-thru which gives access to the foredeck.

Hopes this helps.