Mahalo has a new helm configuration

All of the Hampton yachts I have seen, with a lower PH helm, are setup something like this. (Note, this picture courtesy the Hampton Yacht Group website.) 

See the big settee at left? This wraps around and can seat at least six people. But it also limits how many people can be standing at the helm on the lookout. In most of my cruising, there has been room for at least four people to be looking out. It's one of the best parts of cruising, just motoring along, taking in the scenery, making plans for the day or evening. 

So early on Deb and I decided we would want standing room to the left of the instrument area. This does mean giving up some sitting space of course, but boats are all about trade-offs. 
​

Here is a picture HYG's Larry Clark took for me in Shanghai yesterday. Mahalo! 

That's the base of the settee at left. We think we can still fit five people (one uses the helm chair turned around to the table. But now two people can be standing alongside as well.

The configuration we came up with provided two other desirable benefits. First, see that big white area to the left of the helm wheel? That's access to the inside of the instrument area. As these spaces go, that's one nice BIG access door! In the traditional HYG confg the access is a bit more cumbersome, having to remove the settee cushions and panels in order to crawl in. 

Second, we got three more storage drawers, which you can see to the left of the access panel. 

It's really exciting to see our design come to life. Glad to be working with a builder that gives us this flexibility.