One of the stars of the Dusseldorf boat show in January was the Heyman 42 PPH (pocket pilothouse). A semi-custom pilothouse design with a tall sloop rig and shoal draft, the new 42-footer was designed by Swedish designer Gabriel Heyman and built by the well-respected Estonian builder Radis Yachts.
The 42 PPH has a springy sheer, a plumb bow with a rounded forefoot, a flat ransom and a handsome pilothouse that sits very pleasingly on deck. In many aspects, the 42 could be a Bob Perry design since he has drawn many pilothouse cruisers with similar lines.
But that is not to downplay Heyman’s sweet looking boat, particularly because he has managed to fit truly amazing accommodation and living spaces –both inside and out—in a relatively small package.
The first thing you note on climbing aboard is the huge cockpit, with a wide folding platform aft. This is as spacious and outdoor living area as you will find on a boat under 50 feet. Even better, the cockpit space flows into the saloon through large full height glass doors.
The cockpit has twin wheels and twin tables with folding leaves, so the pathway from the stern to the companionway is unobstructed. Yet, when it is lunch time, the table leaves fold up and make room for six adults to sit down for a meal.
The door to the saloon leads to two steps down and there a sliding hatch in the coach roof so tall crew won’t bang their heads coming and going. The dinette is raised to port and has an ingenious seat with a folding back on its in-board side. When folded up, the seat accommodates two adults and when down it reveals a teak shelf and below that there are three drawers.
The galley across from the dinette is U-shaped and large enough for two people to work on the facing counters. This will be an excellent sea-going galley with good places to brace a hip or a knee in bouncy conditions so you can work with both hands while preparing a meal or doing dishes.
Down another step going forward is the main lounging area with an L-shaped sofa and coffee table. There is a good place to mount a TV across from it above another set of teak faced lockers. There are two cabins with double berths and a head between them. The master cabin has a large walk-around double while the guest cabin has a low, built-in double.
This ingenious use of space gives the 42 PPH three distinct living areas– the huge cockpit, the raised dinette with great views and the lower lounge and TV room, all of which seems impossible in a 42-foot boat.
Designed for a couple who want to live aboard, the Heyman 42PPH is a remarkable new design and is built by seasoned craftsmen. With shoal draft it will be versatile and with the optional centerboard it will be weatherly and fast.
It turned a lot of heads and drew big crowds in Dusseldorf, and it will certainly turn heads in every harbor it visits.
