Deerfoot 58

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There is a huge difference in interior volume between a 62-foot and 58-foot yacht. We've found smaller yachts much harder to design than larger projects. The Deerfoot 58 was probably our toughest project to this point.

After examining a variety of different approaches, we came back to the same aft engine room, saloon/galley great room design that had worked so well in our previous yachts.

When we first looked at this boat in the water we'd come from sea trials on one of our 72-footers, and Terra Nova looked tiny. But when we walked below we were very pleasantly surprised at how well the space worked. One of the tradeoffs in any design is hullside and bulkhead material. On one hand you have the warmth of wood. On the other, light-colored surfaces open the space visually. In the end, it's a choice which has to be made by the client.

The office includes the usual electronics, a printer (large by today's standards), and plenty of desk space for charts and paperwork.

This is the first yacht on which we built in a computer. Those of you who are into ancient history will no doubt recognize an early Mac at the bottom of this stack.

The Owner's suite and head are forward.

Hanging locker and storage units with vanity top are to starboard. We resisted the urge to bring the forward section of lockers higher for better volume. This would have significantly reduced the visual space in the stateroom.

It is always tough to get a good head photo. This is about as close as we can get with a wide angle lens. Note the seat molded into the tub. We always try to have a place to sit down in at least one shower. It makes it much easier to take a shower at sea.

Guest staterooms are aft. Note the height of the hanging locker. This maximizes storage, and leaves a small space on top to help create an open feeling. The amount of space above the top is a close call. We would have probably been better off leaving another four inches (100mm).