Looking for a flybridge that doesn't break the bank? The Galeon 280 Fly packs surprising space and premium wood into just 28 feet
A full seven years before the Solidarity movement led by Lech Wałęsa precipitated the end of communist rule in Poland, in 1982 a naval engineer named Wieczysław Kobylko decided to start manufacturing fibreglass boats in the Baltic seaport of Gdansk.
Initially, production was limited to small dayboats but the new political reality of the 1990s saw larger vessels marketed under the Galeon banner. Today, a well established brand on the international scene, Galeon Yachts occupies 34,000 square metres of production space and employs a workforce of 1,400. But a really key moment in the success of the firm came about in 1996 with the announcement that Galeon was to begin producing two new flybridge models: the 380 Fly and, the subject of this review, its smaller sibling – the extraordinary 280 Fly.
As flybridges go, the Galeon 280 Fly has to be one of the smallest ever produced. What’s more, many examples – including the boat we feature here, a 2004 model on sale with Parker-Adams in Buckler’s Hard for £54,950 – were equipped with just a single engine. While our boat has a Volvo Penta KAD43 rated at 230hp, other propulsion units fitted included Volvo Penta’s 200hp AQ42P and the 260hp KAD44.
Twin engine installations were available and typically featured a pair of 160hp Volvo Penta D3s or KAD 32s at 170hp apiece. While performance figures for the 280 Fly are hard to come by, the owner of our review boat, Richard Humbert, tells us that his 280 Fly tops out at between 18 and 20 knots, which seems a fair return for a chunky single-engined 28-footer.
Canvases are key to making the most of the outdoor spaces on a boat as compact as this
The size compromise
While all boats are a compromise in one way or another, there have to be limitations with a flybridge whose footprint measures just 8.77m x 2.94m. The most obvious of these is perhaps stability, especially if the flybridge is occupied by five or six people.
Sure enough, Richard confirmed that the boat is liable to sway a bit if caught in the wake of a passing vessel. You might argue, therefore, that rather than being best suited to the open sea, this is a boat more at home on inland lakes and rivers – but Richard assures us that’s really not the case.
He’s apparently had some wonderful days out and overnight trips from his berth in Buckler’s Hard in the New Forest. More to the point, he says the boat has provided him with a perfect coastal base. “We live in Derbyshire and wanted something that could be almost like a caravan on the water,” he says.
“We used to stay on it in the berth for longer periods with normally just the two of us on board. What attracted us to the boat is that it just felt nice; very solid and not expensive. For its size, it’s quite spacious and comfortable, and it’s well built and fitted out. There’s lots of attractive wood inside and it has a good fridge and microwave.
The flybridge is for helming and sunbathing; the cockpit for social gatherings
“I also like helming from outside so the flybridge was great, but we could also close off the saloon if the weather turned. All in all, I feel it offers a great deal of boat for the money and it’s something a bit different.”
Another question we put to Richard concerned manoeuvrability. “Well, the boat has a single engine and it’s got quite high windage,” he says. “It already had a bow thruster, but Buckler’s Hard can be a bit of a nightmare to get in and out of so we fitted a stern thruster too.” As for performance, again, it’s a boat with one engine, says Richard.
“It would struggle to get on the plane if it had some growth on its bottom, but once it’s been out and had a jet wash, it’s all good.” In fairness though, single-engined vessels failing to make the plane is certainly not a problem restricted to the Galeon 28 Fly. We have known similarly sized non-flybridge boats suffering from exactly the same issue as soon as the hull begins to foul up.
If the swim platform is short, the cockpit’s facing benches make good use of the space
Outdoor spaces
Returning to Richard’s earlier remark about space, it’s undoubtedly the case that Galeon has managed to squeeze a great deal into this relatively small package. In fact, the 280 Fly has everything you would hope for and more on a boat of these proportions.
Okay, so the bathing platform is smallish, but there’s an integral ladder built into its teak decking and plenty of room for swimmers. Further forward, the aft cockpit provides seating for four on a pair of two-seater benches with a folding wooden dining table in between. A hatch in the deck gives access to the boat’s lone engine, with bags of space around it making daily checks a doddle. No complaints at all here then, either in the engineroom or the aft cockpit.
The plush teak table and leather benches feel remarkably premium
The side decks, although narrow, are also perfectly serviceable, thanks to decent guardrails and handholds on the wheelhouse roof. There’s room for sunbathers up front, but sun worshippers are better catered for on the flybridge, which uses a set of three large sunpads at the aft end.
There’s also seating for three up top on a bench seat at the helm so once again, no complaints here in terms of the accommodation. And the access route is a nice surprise too – not a hinged ladder at the back end but a proper staircase moulded into the superstructure for extra security as you make your way up and down.
A large screen and sliding side windows mean great visibility for a compact fly
Internal accommodation
The wheelhouse is entered from the aft cockpit via a patio door and it’s immediately apparent that, not only did Galeon throw the kitchen sink into this boat, they’ve also used every inch of space to ensure the accommodation is as well-appointed as possible.
Immediately inside the entrance, the starboard side galley isn’t large but it does what it needs to do with a double hotplate, under-counter microwave and storage space, including a neat set of four drawers, thanks to the fact that the fridge is positioned further forward beneath the single helm seat.
The lower helm is on the starboard side, ahead of the galley, and it’s very well proportioned with good visibility all round, courtesy of the boat’s remarkably large windscreen and glazing panels. The controls are neat and tidy and sliding windows on both sides of the wheelhouse take care of ventilation.
A convertible dinette means sleeping for six but it’s more effective as a couple’s boat
Opposite the helm, a dinette with two leather clad benches offers a bright and airy spot for four people to enjoy a meal – and as owner Richard indicates, the amount of wood on display inside the 280 Fly is impressive.
One of Galeon’s original design tenets was to produce boats to a high standard and with quality wooden craftsmanship throughout, including holly and oak flooring and the dinette’s large teak table. And while this might represent a budget entry into the world of flybridges, it certainly doesn’t feel like a budget platform in terms of its fit-out.
Over on the port side is an elegant storage unit whose top is large enough to act as a TV platform. Behind that, the dinette employs removable seat backs that can be removed and used as infills to create a third double berth. The fact that you don’t need separate infills is very handy when storage space is at a premium, and the fact that this little boat will sleep six people is also really impressive. The trick up its sleeve here is that the second double berth is located beneath the dinette.
The owner’s cabin is fine for cosy couples on short trips
Although its occupants’ heads will stick out into the gap between the dinette and the portside storage unit, a good degree of privacy is retained by virtue of the dinette’s leading seatback acting as a screen.
The third sleeping area is the owner’s cabin in the forepeak. The beds here are configured in V-berth formation, but a large infill transforms these into a spacious double. Completing the 280 Fly’s line-up is the heads. Shared by all on board, this is a wetroom-style compartment ahead of the helm with a toilet (electric in the case of our review boat) and a simple vanity unit with a pull-out shower head.
Is it for you?
So, who would this boat suit you? In the opinion of the owner, it might well appeal to those with some boating experience. “I wouldn’t have it as a first boat, as it does require a bit of handling,” he says. “But for a couple who’ve got friends who want to go off and do day trips or overnight stays, it’s great.
A raised section at the head end of the guest double increases space but limits privacy
I think as a couple, you could do a longer trip, but if you get four people on board, I would say one night, two nights max, would be enough for you to fall out!” In our view, that’s a very fair assessment. Balance its surprising space with good build quality and generous sleeping quarters and this is an excellent low-cost option for entry into the flybridge arena – particularly for anyone looking to cruise on rivers or lakes…
Galeon 280 Fly specifications
MODEL: Galeon 280 Fly
DESIGNER: Tony Castro Design Studio
HULL TYPE: Planing
LOA: 28ft 10 in (8.77m)
BEAM: 9ft 8in (2.94m)
DRAFT: 2ft 0in (0.61m)
DRY WEIGHT: 4,500kg
FUEL CAPACITY: 400L
WATER CAPACITY: 250L
TOP SPEED: 20 knots (owner’s figure)
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 2.85L/nm @ 14kn
RANGE: 112nm at 14kn with 20% reserve
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