Design Showcase: Crew Care
Mark T. Masciarotte
06/01/2006

Say what you will, life in the fo’c’s’le has come a long way since the days when crewmembers slept in hammocks and were rationed a tot of rum per day. Nevertheless, as the size of yachts has increased, the arrangement of crew accommodations has varied little, despite its crucial role in maintaining a smoothly run ship. Whether or not this is because a large percentage of owners give the subject little thought is debatable, but several progressive yacht owners who value their crew—and thus the crew’s peace of mind—have recently taken a closer look at improving life belowdecks for their employees.

Tim Heywood’s GA for Pelorus includes quarters for 40 crew and separate space for her officers. (Click image to enlarge)

The subject of the ship’s complement should be an important point of discussion during any yacht design process. Traditionally, there were two schools of thought: the American and the European. The former tended toward accommodating fewer people, albeit in reasonably comfortable spaces and perhaps sharing the galley/informal dining area, while the latter espoused a larger crew, oftentimes relegated to tighter quarters and a segregated space in the boat. The American theory tended to house captain and crew in the same section of the hull, while Europeans parked their captains next to the bridge. Over the past 20 years, the lines have blurred, and today most designers worth their salt espouse an approach that allows for enough crew cabins for sufficient staff plus the space and privacy they need to live comfortably.

Crew quarters need to work in harmony with the yacht’s physical design as well as its intended use, whether it be heavy charter or the owner’s exclusive use. Privacy is paramount to crew, who usually share cabins. Locking drawers, separate hanging lockers and curtains around bunks help provide a sense of personal space. (Click image to enlarge)

There have been some grand experiments. Certainly, the most daring in recent memory was Gerald Ronson’s 57-meter (187-foot) My Gail III, designed by Jon Bannenberg and built at Amels during the mid-eighties. In what might nowadays be called a paradigm shift, Bannenberg reversed the placement of the crew and guest accommodations, moving the guest cabins to the forward—and less voluminous—portion of the boat, while giving over the most beamy section of the hull to the appreciative crew. Some sailing yachts—Mirabella I and III are examples—have successful crew quarters in their beamy aft sections adjacent to engine room access, galley and technical spaces. This concentrates the noise of operation away from guest areas and takes into consideration that while owners rarely make rough passages, crew always do, and thus benefit most from berths in the most stable part of the boat.

A happy crew. Photograph by Dana Jinkins. (Click image to enlarge)

Despite the enormous amount of total space My Gail III’s arrangement provided, the cabins themselves were not as well planned as they might have been. Nevertheless, one part of the arrangement plan provides a good example: The mess, which sees use around the clock when a yacht is at sea or engaged in charter, was far more spacious aboard My Gail than were such spaces aboard contemporary boats of equal size, and spaciousness is a critical component when designing crew accommodations on blue-water yachts.

There are features that should be included if the spaces are to work well under the 24/7 regime under which most large yachts operate. The crew mess—one that ideally can accommodate the entire crew for meals or meetings—should have plenty of counter space for trays and small appliances.Because it should be separated from the galley, it should have its own large refrigerator/freezer, as well as a large sink, a trash compactor and a dishwasher. Cupboards should have fitted stowage for the flatware, glassware and china that is used by the crew.

Crew dining. Photograph by Dana Jinkins. (Click image to enlarge)

In regard to seating, a common error is to equip the mess with one enormous table surrounded on three sides by a settee and stools on the fourth. It is far better to have two tables, which simplifies access to the corner or middle cushions. In addition, the table bases should be fitted with slides to allow them to move diagonally. For use in a seaway, removable fiddles are helpful.

On very large yachts, there is often a distinct separation between officers and ratings. This may be exclusively a function of rank, but it is often a societal matter, inasmuch as the two strata often do not speak the same native language. In other cases, it is simply a realization that a mixed male and female crew may function more harmoniously if given the chance to relax separately. On vessels with a cadre of officers, such as the 115-meter (377-foot) Lürssen Pelorus, a separate officers’ mess is commonly included in the arrangement. Just as important is a separate mess and lounge for the owner’s staff.Not all captains agree on whether to install entertainment equipment in the mess, but nearly all agree that having audiovisual components in crew cabins is important. Each berth should be fitted with a headset jack.

Crew accommodations. (Click image to enlarge)

There are several other features that help make crew quarters more livable, all of which can be found aboard 62-meter (203-foot) Rasselas, which was delivered by Feadship De Vries during the summer of 2005. Captain A.J. Anderson specified that, in addition to having at least two drawers for each occupant, every cabin be fitted with a locking drawer and a separate hanging locker for each occupant. In bunk cabins, each berth has a short curtain at the pillow end so that an off-watch crewman won’t be jolted awake by the lights of a cabin mate on a different schedule.

Thanks to her draft and careful planning, 50-meter (156-foot) Blue Moon, delivered last year by Feadship Royal Van Lent, has one of the best arrangements ever integrated into a motor yacht. Beyond a large mess, the boat has a private crew lounge below the cabin deck featuring seating, entertainment equipment, a desk, computer and a complete head.

Keeping crew happy goes not only to their accommodations but to the design and flow of working spaces such as Top photo: galleys and Bottom photo: barbecues and service stations. Bottom photograph by Dana Jinkins. (Click images to enlarge)

Ship-to-shore communications has always been a critical ingredient in maintaining crew morale. With the advent of e-mail and VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), the ability to remain in contact with family and friends has been greatly enhanced and the cost substantially reduced. On many existing yachts, the crew has access to the Internet only in the wheelhouse or radio room. However, some crew accommodations are now being fitted with wireless keyboards that can access the Internet from individual cabins.

While there is a vast difference between the available space aboard yachts of 100 feet and those of 100 meters, many of the features noted above can be included on any new build. And as any experienced owner knows, a happy crew makes for a more pleasant cruise.