Review: Hargrave 84' Raised Pilothouse

Hargrave 84' Raised Pilothouse​

Opening New Vistas​

By Capt. Tom Serio​

At the 2008 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, Hargrave Custom Yachts stepped
outside the box with an innovative interior design concept that quickly became the buzz of the docks.
Hargrave's president Michael Joyce, a veteran of the yacht industry, questioned the status quo
and in doing so, may have very well influenced the future of the Raised Pilothouse Motoryacht. ​

So what's everyone talking about? A Raised Pilothouse, minus the wheelhouse, sorta speak. Yes, a control station is still present, but it's taken a side seat to open air vistas and views that are unmatched by any raised pilothouse from the past. To the untrained eye, exterior styling and lines make the new 84' look similar to other yachts in the 100+ foot range, including full pilothouse windows. Closer scrutiny reveals a departure from other Hargrave yachts with an emphasis on grand living accommodations and wide open spaces.

Hargrave heard the call from clients who wanted a raised pilothouse yacht that could be handled by a couple. In most circumstances, exceeding 70 feet in length means adding a helping hand. So, Hargrave did a design study in conjunction with Ted Black, along with some underwriting support from a private owner and the 84 Hargrave RPH was born, along with a whole new RPH concept. But, more on this later...

Up high on the flybridge, creature comforts are under the fiberglass “hardtop” which has a built-in convertible soft top that retracts forward, offering a more open-air feeling for soaking up rays or watching the stars. It opens right behind the helm, keeping the captain shaded and not frying in the sun. The 21-foot beam allows for a wide bridge deck, which also extends aft sufficiently to store a 15-ft Nautica Tender (with 90 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard) and a Quicklift 2,000 lb electric davit.

To port behind the helm seats is a C-shaped bar topped with Verde San Francisco style granite for an elegant but durable touch. Three padded, fixed stools with footrests are high enough to take in the sights while taking in your favorite beverage. Aft and starboard are curved, integrated lounges with high-gloss teak tables on stainless pedestals. Whether you are entertaining a dozen guests or looking for a personal hideaway, the 84’s flybridge is inviting, open and comfortable.

The flybridge helm is chock full of space for full electronics and a chart or two. The layout includes Caterpillar engine displays flanked by two Furuno Navnet plotters running Nobeltec chart software. Raymarine displays for depth, speed, temp and wind logs; a Simrad auto pilot, dual ICOM radios (one a regular VHF, the other a remote Command Mic which offers full radio functions and wired to the ICOM VHF at the lower station), Bennett trim tab indicator, bow thruster joystick, remote spotlight controls and a few other electronics. The absence of most switches and breakers, which are located at the lower station, keeps the upper helm dash uncluttered and resistant to the elements.

The flybridge is fully self contained when hunger pangs, thanks to a built-in propane grill, Grohe sink/faucet, U-Line fridge/freezer and icemaker at the bar. Storage under the grill allows for a second fuel tank, as it’s tough to get propane when cruising the islands.

The radar arch is mounted on the aft section of the hardtop. It's stylish, tubular frame and polished finish support a TracVision array, antennas, radar, camera and the audible equipment to let others know you've arrived. Life raft canisters are mounted on either side of the arch, with dual remote spotlights mounted forward.

Down the aft stairway with integrated grab rails and lighting is the aft deck, which may prove to be a popular spot, thanks to the built-in bench seating and teak chairs that surround the high-gloss teak table with inlay designs. With the flybridge overhang covering this teak-soled area, al fresco dinning or sightseeing is certainly a must, and you can do that with 8-10 of your guests. A hatch in the deck is the emergency escape from the engine room.

Dual curved, molded stairways in the stern make access to the integrated platform a breeze while keeping the lines of the yacht asymmetric. Removable aft railings convert the stern into a swim platform or tender dock. A hot/cold hand held shower in a protected recessed case allows for fresh water rinsing of equipment or kids before coming aboard. The lazarette is located directly under the swim platform, which provides an access hatch to the steering mechanisms, trim tab gear and other systems. It also serves as a storage space.

Upon entering the salon through the large, curved glass and steel doors from aft, there is a low-profile service bar in the aft starboard corner with an onyx countertop. LED under counter lighting gives a glow to the onyx. Twin barrel chairs make this an intimate setting. Cabinetry runs forward on the starboard side, including a retractable TV compartment. An L-shaped sofa runs the port side, offering generous seating capacity while acting as a divider from the galley. Fabrica International’s Abrash-style carpeting runs through the salon until it meet the teak and holly flooring in the galley area. Italian made Cantalupi light fixtures along with upholstered ceiling panels accent the Sapeli and Maitore wood cabinetry. Thanks to the lack of a typical pilothouse, the areas flow well into each other.

The galley should make any chef cheer. A three-seat nook on the aft side allows for serving of snacks or informal meals. But when there is real work to be done, a surround-spread of Santa Cecilia granite counter space facilitates culinary creations. A GE five-burner surface stove compliments the oven and microwave. Add in other GE appliances such as dishwasher, trash compactor, warming drawer, and Sub-Zero Refrigerator/Freezer, and you’ll be cooking like Emeril in no time. All appliances are stainless, which stand out handsomely against the rich Sapelli wood finishes found throughout. Teak and holly flooring facilitates spills and drips. Above the galley is a 50-inch flat screen TV to keep the chef company, but it also well-positioned for viewers at the forward dinette.

With the satellite helm, the new design opens up the interior, making available more usable space and allowing a line of sight from the aft deck clear through the salon to the forward windows. No obtrusive bulkheads, plenty of headroom and creative space planning help make this design functional. No matter where you are on the main deck, you will be part of the action. According to Captain Patrick Nedrick, he said his new owner is sold on the layout. “The owner finds the yacht to be very functional. He loves it”.

And now, getting back to the buzz... follow these steps from the salon to the future. Essentially, Hargrave removed the traditional pilothouse that spans the beam of a boat and created a fully functioning pod helm on the starboard side of vessel, raised above the main deck in a satellite position, overlooking the accommodations below. The result is a completely open floor plan with soaring ceilings and a full 360 degree view of the horizon.

Feeling more like a pod than a station, this concept is unique on several fronts. From a captain’s point, it’s a fully operational helm with Stidd seat for long passages. Although the design does reduce the available work area around the lower helm, it makes full use of electronics, specifically chartplotters, for navigation. Since the majority of time running a yacht like this is done primarily from the flybridge, this station works as needed, without taking up valuable interior space. It’s a pioneering design that gives more of the yacht back to the owner, and that’s the real value.

For dining, there is a forward curved dinette with cushioned seating (additional seating is obtained with stools from nook). Tons of storage is in the forward dash under the windows. With the open floor plan, coupled with forward and side windows, natural light floods the area for a dining experience among the best in the biz.

Staterooms below, accessed by a forward stairs next to the dinette, have accommodations for up to 10 guests, with a common center-line foyer. A VIP is forward, with two guest mid-ship staterooms on either side and a full-beam master stateroom just aft.

Relax on the king-sized bed in the Sapelli and Maitore wood finished master with a 42-inch TV. A vanity to port with pull out seat faces three large oval windows. Twin, full-sized closets are situated in the room corners, with two full-sized dressers along the sides. End-tables flank the bed. His/her heads continue the Maitore wood motif, with granite counters and backsplashes. A disguised hatch in the ceiling allows for emergency egress, exit just behind the galley on the main deck.

The master head has his/her sinks and toilets, sharing a center shower with Grohe fixtures, finished in marble and brown onyx. This layout helps to insulate the sleeping area from extraneous noise from the adjoining engine room. This picture doesn't convey the actual size of the shower, which is huge by any measure.

The VIP includes a king-sized berth, two hanging closets, full head with marble accents and 20-inch flat screen TV. The two guest staterooms mirror each other as to layout and décor. Each has portholes for lighting and ventilation, and the heads feature gloss Maitore wood finish and shower stalls. Twin single berths are standard but can be slid together to create a queen-sized bed. Pullman berths in each room add convenience when there are a few extra kids on board.

Access to the engine room is from the outside aft bulkhead entrance, where you will also find the crew quarters. As Michael Joyce envisioned the Hargrave 84 with the owner/operator in mind, he planned for crew in the event an owner prefers to give up the conn or for those times when an extra hand is needed. Walking in, there is one bunk with a Pullman berth, sitting chair, desk and plenty of draw storage to starboard. To port is the head, with sink and shower stall. There are studio apartments in New York City smaller than this.