Pioneering semi-custom motoryachts with fully patented innovation

Van der Valk Shipyard in the Netherlands is making excellent progress on the first two motoryachts in its highly innovative BeachClub range. The first BeachClub 600 will be launched in Q1 2019, after which it will tour the major boat shows and be available for sea trials. Meanwhile, the first BeachClub 660 Flybridge has already been sold and will be delivered to her owner in July 2019.

The BeachClub range fully embodies the forward-thinking outlook and commitment to excellence that have propelled Van der Valk and its partners to the standing they enjoy in the sector today. With some 50 years of experience, Van der Valk has a well-established and hard-earned reputation accumulated while building over 1200 motoryachts. Ginton Naval Architects and Cor D. Rover are similarly appreciated in their respective fields, and together the trio are on the verge of launching something very special with the BeachClub concept. 

A NEW CONCEPT

OF ON-BOARD SPACE

As construction advances, it is becoming increasingly apparent how impressive the two new BeachClub yachts will be, especially when it comes to onboard space. Built entirely in aluminium, they boast a contemporary, dynamic appearance with a moderate-V hard-chine hull. The model will be ideal for use in sailing hotspots such as the South of France, southern Florida and the Caribbean. The 19.05-metre BeachClub 600 will feature a twin Volvo Penta IPS-950 propulsion system, giving a top speed of 25 knots, while the 20.50-metre 660 Flybridge will be equipped with twin Volvo Penta IPS-1050 for a speed of up to 30 knots.

A RADICAL PROJECT

TAKES SHAPE

“The BeachClub is a unique project in many ways,” says Van der Valk’s yard manager Bram Kooltjes. “In aesthetic terms, for instance, the range has lots of glass across the entire side profile. Noise levels are kept down by the location of much of the sound-generating equipment inside the swimming platform. The interiors flow seamlessly from one space to the next, with smooth transitions when it comes to carpentry, for instance. And, of course, the yachts provide much more useful space than any comparable vessel.

PHENOMENAL FLOW

Cor D. Rover is equally enthusiastic. “It’s been tremendous to see the design coming to life in these first two yachts,” he says. “The propulsion solution and swimming platform aft create an incredible beach club space that strikes the perfect balance between safety and being as close to the water as possible. The resulting connection to the ocean is phenomenal. I strongly believe in the comforting effect of being near the water – there’s nothing quite like it.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

“The second radical innovation is the elimination of a full-height collision bulkhead reaching all the way to the main deck,” Rover continues. “We instead fitted a partial bulkhead, which allowed us to enhance the connection to the ocean all the way through to the owners’ suite in the bow. This has given a fantastic open feel throughout the lower deck that is really enhanced by the big windows.”

REACHING FOR THE STARS

The completely novel ways of doing things that typify the BeachClub concept posed a number of challenges, which have been solved with characteristic flair by Van der Valk and its partners. “Most of the glass panels are curved, with only four being flat,” points out Bram Kooltjes. “Another ingenious engineering solution is the elegant placement of the tender and its lifting solution. However, most of the challenges were linked to the engine compartment/swim platform. The gangway/passerelle extends out of the platform, for instance, which means it had to be placed inside a box between the engines. Similarly, the exhausts of the Kabola heater and the water/gas separator had to be positioned far above the waterline, but the vessels have a quite low profile in that section.”

Cor D. Rover agrees. “The aft compartment propulsion and beach club solution was quite the challenge. We didn’t want to take the combustion air from too low a point in order to avoid soot particles getting into the engine room. We therefore beefed up the two corner mullions of the beach club and made them do double service as mullions and air trunks: the air is aspired above deck and led down to the engine compartment. This clever use of space allows for an open feel while providing a safe solution for combustion and ventilation air.”