Yachting USA — January 2018

6 6 YACHTING JANUARY 2018

INSIGHTS TRENDS Van der Valk BeachClub 600

A VIVID VIEW

Instead of an aft bulkhead, this yacht has glass between the salon and swim platform.

By Michael Verdon

 P

lacing a yacht’s engines

under an oversize swim

platform might not sound

conventional, but very little

about the Van der Valk BeachClub

600 is. The Dutch builder connects

that 150-square-foot swim platform

to the salon’s after end via glass, pro-

viding exceptional vistas and access to

the water. ¶ “Using the Volvo [Penta]

IPS drives lets the builders incorpo-

rate the pod system beneath the plat-

form, so the size of the engine room is

minimal,” says designer Cor D. Rover.

“That allowed me much more interior

space to work with.” ¶ The glass that

surrounds the salon’s after end and

sides is strong, with as much structur-

al integrity as the aluminum hull it’s

joined to. But Van der Valk installed

metal reinforcements as well. ¶ “On

its own, the glass passed certifi cation

standards,” Rover says. “The yard

decided to insert metal beams for psy-

chological reassurance. Most owners

aren’t used to so much glass near the

water.” ¶ The yacht’s two-tier inte-

rior layout provides visibility for the

captain while keeping the helm sep-

arate from the salon. The layout also

makes the area seem large. ¶ “Getting

the most out of the available space was

the real driver behind this design,” says

Rover, who packed the 270-square-

foot foredeck with lounges and tables.

The fl ybridge, at 200 square feet, is the

third exterior social area — so at least

some conventions remain the same.

Take the next step: wimvandervalk.com

INNOVATIONS

1. T he B eachClub 60 0 ’s
   extended after section is
   beneath the swim platform and
   houses the Volvo Penta IPS pods.
   Hull No. 1 of the aluminum yacht
   is due this spring. 2. A break-
   through feature is the salon’s aft
   glass panel, which opens onto
   the swim platform and adds
   views through glass bulkheads
   to port and starboard.

Van der Valk added metal reinforcements to structural glass panels to ease the minds of owners who are used to seeing less glass.

2

1

LOA

62'6"

CRUISE

SPEED

19 KNOTS