If the engine is your boat’s beating heart, then the helm station is undoubtedly her brain. Indeed there may be no more important area onboard than the place from which you control the vessel. Slow maneuvers, fast maneuvers, plotting courses, monitoring your propulsion system, keeping watch; all of this happens at the helm. And to help you with all of these responsibilities, builders put great effort into making sure that the technology, ergonomics, and yes, aesthetics, in these areas are top notch.

All that work has paid off in spades for these seven vessels, which have some of the most enviable helm stations we’ve seen.

VIKING 52

Not all helm accoutrements need to be high tech. Take for example this striking teak console, made by Release, and seen here onboard the new Viking 52. Smooth and muscular, traditional yet still pleasingly sleek, it borders on art. It imbues the helm station with a minimalist feel while simultaneously reminding you that you’re not exactly piloting a New Bedford dragger. The price will remind you of that fact too. Currently it retails for $5,775. That ain’t cheap for what’s essentially a block of wood, but if aesthetics matter to you as much as performance, it might just be worth it.

MARLOW 97E

The Marlow 97E is a classic example of a “little ship,” and combines stylistic flair with great sightlines. The Marlow flagship helm station is truly, well, commanding. Replete with wood and exceptional lines of sight, it fits the bill as both nice to look at and look out of. Another notable feature is the annunciator panel in the electronics box above the steering wheel. It’s a salty element that might be more at home on a commercial ship. Critical components are marked with small bulbs that light up if there’s a problem so you (or your captain) will know exactly where to head to suss things out in short order. That’s a comforting luxury to have on a boat that’s built to undertake long and arduous voyages. Another trait about this helm that we like is the flat wooden surface to port of the seat. That’s handy for paper charts, and a nice touch for a bluewater cruiser.

MJM40z

The star of the show at the helm of the MJM 40z is undoubtedly the 24-inch teak wheel made by Edson. In a standing position, the driver of the boat can rest his hands in a comfortable driving position, which means no ungainly leaning forward or having to futz over a wheel the size of a DVD. And when seated, you can “drive with your foot on the spokes,” as MJM Founder and CEO Bob Johnstone is wont to do.

That big wheel helps to impart a certain “oneness” between the driver and the boat. Johnstone says the 40z lets the driver really feel the water at speed, like he would on a much smaller vessel. And that’s good, because with top speeds approaching 40 knots, you’ll want as much environmental feedback as you can get. One more point on the 40z’s ergonomic layout; that joystick, centrally located, lets you face aft while docking, and putting her port side to is an absolute breeze.

Monte Carlo MC5

Monte Carlo is known for being two things: chic and sleek. Case in point, the command station on the MC5. Those three analog gauges on the dash are the only ones in the whole setup. The rest of the readouts are all on the twin NSO 12 displays from Simrad. The touchscreen displays are fully integrated and essentially buttonless, all of which makes for an exceptionally clean-looking helm station. To aid that effect, the MC5’s designers eschewed any features that they felt made the dash look busy—such as decorative carbon fiber—and instead concentrated on using fine leathers with exceptionally intricate stitching. The result of their efforts is hard to argue with.

NISI 2400

NISI went fully minimalist with the helm on its 2400. The company’s designers had been seeing helms that they described somewhat derogatorily as “like spaceships.” Unimpressed by all the bells and whistles, they set out to design something exceptional for its simplicity. Notably, everything you see in this picture save for the main Garmin screens and the load management and basic control systems can be neatly covered with their own lids; usually hinged and leather. That makes for a clean design that doesn’t overwhelm the eye. And it’s not something you’ll see every day.

Another interesting trait of this helm is that at the press of a button it can lower so that it doesn’t obstruct the sightlines from the aft deck, and guests can fully enjoy the oversized forward windows that NISI is known for. All of which means that for the aesthetically minded, this NISI 2400’s helm is tough to beat.

HATTERAS 100 RPH

It’s pretty impressive that the upper, bridge helm on the Hatteras 100 RPH, which debuted at the 2013 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show, made this list, considering it’s not even the primary helm onboard the boat. But we’re infatuated with the idea of adding a topside helm, with its attendant controls and electronics, because it means the boat will be used for cruising rather than just as a party platform. And of course, there’s another seriously accoutered helm down below, good for inclement weather or just a nice dollop of privacy.

TIARA 50 COUPE

Perhaps the most talked-about helm station in the past year or so is the one onboard the Tiara 50 Coupe—and rightly so. The Glass Cockpit system it employs was inspired by aeronautic design and was developed by Tiara in conjunction with Garmin and Volvo Penta. All the Garmin electronic and Volvo propulsion systems on the boat, as well as sundry other systems built by Tiara, are fully integrated, making for an ease of use that some feel is unparalleled. The helm is also advanced in an ergonomic sense, since the button-and-knob system that controls it is fully accessible even when sitting down (a trait we wouldn’t mind seeing more of, come to think of it.)

One last point, the 50 Coupe doesn’t even need a steering wheel. She can be fully controlled—even at speed—using her joystick, just in case you feel like going into Han Solo mode. May the force be with you if you choose that route, bold sir.

Source: Power&Motoryacht