Specialties

We take great pride in fully supporting your project along its entire journey: from that initial spark of inspiration through the smallest details in production until finally on to sea trials and delivery.

Concept Definition

It’s crucial to get an accurate understanding of the aspirations and goals of a project before it begins. Alongside direct input from the client, builder and other invested partners, we will thoroughly research the market and existing fleet to carefully define the brief for a new product or range and understand where opportunities lie for innovation and maximise value.

Conceptual and Preliminary Design

Whether a unique one-off concept or a high-volume project, PYD creates conceptual 3D models, sketches and plans to explore the design space and visualise different solutions in this early phase. Not only does this inform the proportions, the interior volumes and the packaging of various layouts, but it also leads to a greater understanding of the feasibility of various ideas and solutions to the brief. A preliminary weight estimate is also drawn up to ensure that the volumes and naval architecture of the boat are starting on the correct track.

From this starting point, we can ensure that the proportions, styling, innovative design ideas and performance are achievable in reality.

Naval Architecture & CFD

With broad experience in monohull as well as catamaran hull design at speeds of over 70kn (80mph), and multiple projects with foil-assisted technology designed in-house, we are well-placed to develop any custom solution to a project brief. We typically spend thousands of simulation hours in CFD software in order to carefully refine and optimise the hull form and tailor it to a specific set of requirements for comfort, speed, efficiency, and range.

In addition to this hull design, we also carefully refine stability in order to maximise safety at sea at all times. Stability reports, deck drainage, window calculation and other supporting documentation for the class are also drawn up for each project.

Coupled with decades of production engineering and detailed design, we create solutions that not only push the boundaries of yacht design, redefine segments or shape the future but are also exhilarating to experience and easy to build.

Exterior, Interior Design and Styling

Alongside cutting-edge naval architecture and performance, exceptional styling is essential for drawing sales interest, retaining product value as an owner, and helping to allow boatyards to build a model longer into the future without ‘going out of fashion’ or looking outdated.

By developing the interior design and arrangement in tandem with the exterior design, we ensure that the right interior volumes are allocated and created whilst simultaneously wrapping these in an exterior package that is both beautifully proportioned, elegantly styled and with no compromise to the naval architecture and running surfaces.

With a background in Engineering and Naval Architecture but also in the arts and Vehicle Design, Chris Peart leads the design team on these fundamental elements so that they work together seamlessly.

Engineering

We choose to partner with leading engineering firms like Waterfront Composite Solutions to develop world-class engineering for every project. Alongside weight savings and part reduction, we also push to create simple, easy-to-assemble layouts, whether in carbon pre-preg, infused, or GRP. An understanding of the difference between stiffness and strength helps us to add or remove material in the right places to make the boat feel solid and reliable. Careful integration of mechanical and electrical systems into the overall structural concept can massively reduce integration time and cost. This in combination with our tooling expertise, allows us to radically reduce part count, integrating as much of the structure as possible into the other parts of the design to result in modular designs that go together like Lego, yet are structurally optimised too. These tandem workflows help to bring down tooling costs and build time and increase quality and reliability, which are important not only for production projects but also for one-off projects.

We often run detailed FEA analyses to ensure structural parts are fit for purpose, such as hydrofoils and other highly loaded parts. We deliver scantling reports to Class to assist the builder or client with registration and insurance, providing peace of mind in all conditions.

Visualisation

Creating virtual images and moving CGI that fully encapsulates the concept, ideas and experience on board is essential to our workflow; we use the latest tools and software to help you see your dream come to life during the design process and ensure that the final product exceeds expectations. This content can also be used for marketing and drawing interest in the project as the first vessel nears completion.

Production Design

Alongside advanced design and naval architecture, careful attention is paid towards making each boat as easy as possible to build. This not only influences the approach to structural engineering and part count reduction but also in creating modules which can be built off the boat to allow rapid construction time, repeatability and quality. This helps lower build time and cost on any project, whether one-off or high volume.

We carefully engineer parts to fine tolerances to ensure easy mould/tooling production, as well as easy part production from those tools. The integration of multiple parts to create a monocoque is often utilised, which requires high precision in design to ensure all these parts go together in production whilst ensuring the builder’s tolerances are catered for. We work carefully with builders during this process to ensure a fully optimised and smooth production is not only planned for, but is achieved.

We regularly create easy-to-build mock-ups and designs for prototypes to help test out ergonomics or specific areas of the design to ensure all details are correct prior to investing in production tooling.

Detailed Design

Whilst some design offices may create renders and sketches and hand those over, we believe the devil is in the details, and careful attention should be paid in this phase to ensure the design is fully realised as intended and as promised to the client. This is also a huge support to boatyards with limited resources in design.

We work closely with builders on all details of the project, providing a turnkey design solution. Areas of detailed design include (but are not limited to):

– cabinetry
– liners
– deck design and equipment optimisation
– tooling and drainage
– interior detailing
– lighting
– infotainment
– below deck equipment placement
– foundations

Detailed 3D files are prepared for each project, bringing together large-scale components with the smallest details.

Systems Design

Careful systems integration is key to efficient and fast production, as well as reducing cost and labour during the build. We provide detailed systems planning and design in cooperation with leading brands and suppliers so that we plan and map out the extent and impact these systems have on the structure and interior of the vessel. This allows us to seamlessly hide or incorporate systems into the design whilst achieving great access for maintenance and service. These systems include (but are not limited to):

– Freshwater systems and plumbing
– Grey and black water systems and plumbing
– Fuel systems
– Propulsion systems
– HVAC
– Lighting
– Infotainment and CZone
– Ballast
– Hybrid and solar installations

Sea Trials and Commissioning

One of our favourite phases must be during the sea trials and vessel commissioning with the client or builder. Years of hard work come together in the final product. We assist with trials and with Class approval to ensure this is a smooth process.