300 FLY
The Galeon 430 Skydeck is a 43-foot express cruiser yacht with a flybridge that was launched by Polish yacht-building firm Galeon in 2014. This intriguing vessel packs a lot into its compact footprint, demonstrating once again why Galeon are considered one of the most innovative yachting firms around at the moment. The boat abounds with features typically only found on much larger vessels, such as a beach-club, a skybridge, sculptured glazing, ultra-modern interiors and three comfortable lower-deck cabins, making this a great option for those who want super-yacht characteristics on a more modest budget. No surprise then that this Tony Castro-designed boat won the title for “Yacht of the Year” in its class at the 2014 Champion Yachting awards held in Warsaw, Poland.
Though compact, there is enough room on the open-air skybridge for twin sunpad seating at the rear and a trio of modular helm seats facing the upper helm controls. Safely protected from spray thanks to a wrap-around, Venturi-style windshield, the helm features everything you need for swift coastal cruising from an elevated and centrally-located vantage point.
Galeon Yachts have jettisoned a transom wall on this model in order to directly connect the aft-cockpit with the full-beam, teak-lined swimming platform to create a single beach-club space at the stern. All the furniture and fittings out here are modular, and can be switched around, folded out, or packed away to give this sun-kissed space a variety of feels and functions. You can leave the pair of side chaise-longues as they are and enjoy coffees and cocktails around an extending Hi-Lo table that can also be used as for more formal meals. Alternatively, you can easily connect these chaises to turn them into a three-seater daybed, or even a five-panel sunpad. This sun-island also comes with an outdoor shower, a passarelle and a ladder up to the flybridge. Out on the foredeck, meanwhile, there is room for another two sunpads, this time with exquisite, marina-facing views.
The main deck internal cockpit is a masterclass in how to get the most out of limited dimensions, and this oak or walnut-lined space features a U-shaped dining sofa in diamond-stitched leather or Alcantara suede surrounding a breakfast table, a loveseat and a galley with snakeskin-granite or marble-effect Corian work surfaces, a microwave, a two-zone induction hob, fridge-freezer units and a stainless-steel sink. Also to be found in here is the main helm, where you will find Raymarine electronics, rudder indicators, VHF radio, thruster and trim tab controls, an optional Penta joystick and power steering, all snugly situated below a retractable electronic sunroof.
It is rather astonishing to find three spacious staterooms on the lower deck of a yacht in this class, but Galeon have somehow pulled it off without any of these rooms feeling cramped. A pair of amidship twins with Pullman beds are joined by a double master stateroom to the bow with a skylight, hull windows and a roomy en-suite with a shower cubicle. There is also a day-head and plenty of storage on this level, making this yacht a great option for extended weekend cruising.
There are a variety of propulsion options available on the Galeon 430 Skydeck, ranging from IPS pod-drives and Aquadrive or Axius systems to more conventional shaft or stern-drives. Engines, meanwhile, come in the form of twin Volvo Penta D6-440s, providing top speeds touching the 30-knot mark.
