Below: the optimum investment in “getting it right” – the helmstation of Super-J Hanuman, Elfje’s interior and Aquarius’ main cockpit

Royal Huisman’s full-scale design mock-ups support the design and decision-making process from vision to concept. At first glance a detailed creation in a substitute material might seem just-for-fun or perhaps even “excessive”, but in fact it is a very constructive and practical tool to review and experience the design during the superyacht creation process.

Below: design mockup at the shipyard in 2015, just a few months after the order to build Aquarius: the interior is based on the sketches of her designer, Mark Whiteley. The engineering and production of the accommodation started after signing-off during the following owners’ meeting.

Virtual reality can be very realistic as well, but ergonomics, interactions and a “physical live” experience cannot be 100% imitated with a Virtual Reality (VR) headset or a digital 3D-model.

Apart from the early stage enjoyment of stepping onboard the superyacht that the owners ordered just a short while ago, it is the optimum investment in “getting it right” for a yacht – an investment that will still deliver many decades from now.

VR 3D may create an exciting “first impression”, but when it comes down to assessing those few modified centimeters here or there, “stepping on board” is by far the best way to feel, adjust and optimize the design and ergonomics.

Below: additional design mockups made in 2015 as well as the end result. Aquarius was delivered to her owners in 2018: attention to detail, in every detail

The goal is always to ensure total integration of all potential wishes, and avoid having to make late-stage (or even post-delivery) changes

Below (aside of many more design mockups made by Royal Huisman): Athena’s outside steering station, Ethereal’s pilothouse, deckhouse and helmstation as well as her libary / music room, Sea Eagle II flybridge steering station, Twizzle’s half-raised bridge and adjacent forward salon: the mockup can be converted into a dining too!

Main photo above and continued in sidebar below: project 405

Royal Huisman project 405

To accommodate this very sizeable mock-up of the aft half  main deck the 46m high-performance cruiser sloop, the paint hall on the 30,000sqm shipyard premises was made available for this temporary purpose. There is no substitute for the actual experience of walking around in, touching, assessing and appreciating all aspects of an emerging construction.

Team meetings in the mock-up, with literally all relevant parties on board and carefully looking at the same detail at the same time, helped to identify opportunities and resolve potential issues relating to the use of space. The shipyard’s craftsmen subsequently enhanced the temporary structure based on the concerted input from the owners and their design and build team, consisting of owners’ representative Nigel Ingram of MCM Newport, Nauta Design, Reichel / Pugh, Bouwe Bekking and Royal Huisman.

Nigel Ingram comments: “Building the 1:1 scale mock-up has proven to be a fundamental part of the design process, enabling the owners and their team of architects, designers and builders to fine tune the deck layout down to the smallest details with the greatest confidence.”

Royal Huisman design mockups:

The optimum investment in “getting it right” for a yacht – an investment that will still deliver many decades from now

Project 405 continued below: from concept to realisation. Carbon composite deckhouse and cockpit of 17 meters overall: featherlight by sistercompany Rondal.