Wally wallywhy150 Review (2023 Edition)

The wallywhy150 debuted at the 2023 Venice Boat Show and is the next in line after the 2021 wallywhy200. Designed by Wally-Ferretti Group Engineering with interior design by Studio A. Vallicelli & C Yacht Design, the wallywhy150 maintains the characteristics of its older and bigger sister but in a more compact 24m (79ft), 150 GT package.

Wally wanted to emphasise the exterior spaces and once onboard, this is quite apparent. The sundeck offers a complete dining option, a bar, a kitchen with a grill, fridges, and all the open-air living amenities one could wish for. It's absolutely enormous for its size. Access to the top deck is straightforward with two entry points: one interior route through the bridge and a hatch, and another via an exterior staircase. This top deck stretches almost the entire length of the boat. 

The main deck's integration between the cockpit and saloon is truly extraordinary. You are greeted by a massive aperture with a huge door, a flat flush threshold, and grates for water drainage if you happen to take a wave over the aft deck. This design ensures a wonderful indoor/outdoor transition.

Inside, the wide-body design with its 7m (22ft) beam and floor-to-ceiling glass floods the flexible dining and lounging space of the main saloon with light and it has an almost unheard-of 2.5m (8ft) of headroom, that carries through to the main-deck owner's cabin. The hallways are surprisingly spacious and practical, providing ample wardrobe storage leading forward to the owner's cabin.

The layout options on the lower deck are versatile. You can choose between two big double cabins or a three-cabin layout featuring two doubles and a twin. The latter layout is the one we toured and it provides identical double cabins fore and aft, with an adjacent twin.

The wallywhy150 has a dining area that really blends indoor and outdoor living as it has prime positioning close to the yacht's flush threshold. The space is connected to its surroundings because of the double-height windows and vast doors that flood the space with natural light, creating extraordinary visuals for a yacht of this size.

There is 2.5m (over 8ft) of headroom in the dining area and the wooden panelling on the ceiling curves upwards, following the deck's movement up to the mezzanine. There's even a double-sided television mounted here, allowing you to enjoy your favourite shows from the dining area or the sofa up in the mezzanine.

Talking about the mezzanine space, this area overlooks the dining area and, thanks to those double-height windows, offers stunning views out over the water. But the real treat is the sofa seating area, well positioned to take in the vista. Imagine sitting here on a cool evening, gazing out over the back of the boat — it's awesome.

Owner’s Cabin

Thanks to the wrap-around 270-degree glass in the owner's cabin on the wallywhy150, the views are glorious. The connection to your surroundings, an essential part of this why project, is fabulously realised in this space. Imagine waking up, lying in bed, and gazing out those incredible windows — tremendous, isn't it?

Of course, you can get some shade and privacy with the blinds and curtains, but the natural light and panoramic views are too good to miss. There's even a TV that pops up, so you can enjoy a bit of entertainment while relaxing in bed.

As cabins go on a boat of this size, it really doesn’t get much better. Now, let's talk about the ensuite. Spectacular! With extraordinary headroom, twin sinks, and an enormous shower cubicle complete with a built-in seat and a rain showerhead. The view from the shower is almost as good as the one from the bed.

Guest Accommodation

The twin cabin of the wallywhy150 is amidships and, despite being tucked away, it boasts a surprising amount of floor space and two good-sized single beds. Natural light floods in through a generous window, which shows that even in the bowels of the boat, you don't miss out on daylight. Each cabin, including this twin, comes equipped with a wall-mounted television. And let's not forget, every cabin has its own bathroom, featuring separate shower cubicles. You can rest assured, that the fit and finish are consistent throughout. Headroom? Lovely, no issues to worry about there.

In the double cabins, the beds are arranged across the boat, providing a cosy yet spacious feel. Plenty of storage with double wardrobes on one side. The suede headlining transitions smoothly into the bedside table, giving a very stylish look. The lighting is spot on, with a mix of spotlights and subtle under-lighting that works brilliantly. The bathroom, accessed via a sliding partition door to save space, continues the theme of great headroom and has a separate shower cubicle. 

Crew Space

The crew accommodation is located right forward on the lower deck beneath the owner's cabin. Although there's no direct connection to the machinery space from this area — a bit of a downside —the height of the bow provides lots of headroom. For a sub-24m (79ft) boat, the crew quarters are pretty good, even if there’s no dedicated crew mess.

The cabins, split on either side of the bow, are identical and come with a couple of bunks and a bit of storage. Bathrooms are situated right forward. On the plus side, crew members have really easy access to the galley from here.

Galley

The galley is on the portside and can be either made to be open by removing the bulkhead for a more connected feel, ideal for a family setting. However, on a crewed boat, you might prefer it closed off to offer some privacy for the crew, who have their quarters close by down below.

In its current configuration, the galley is a nice U-shape, featuring a big domestic fridge freezer and all the cooking appliances on one side, including a hob. The windows are well-aligned with the internal spaces, giving good natural light and a nice view out. 

The helm station of the wallywhy150 is seriously cool. The entranceway feels like stepping into a spaceship, with angular glasswork leading you down into the heart of the beast. The view from up here is absolutely lovely; on a nearly 24m (79ft) yacht, you're high above the waterline with a beam running right down the middle and a huge piece of glass arching overhead and dropping deep forward. It’s an incredible spot to command the vessel.

The tiny carbon fibre Wally steering wheel and dash at the helm are complemented by massive Simrad MFDs — a tech-lovers dream. These helm seats, which we first saw on the wallypower58, are just as fabulous here.  

There is only so much you can learn about helm stations on a static boat, but just standing here gives you a wonderful sensation of control. The triple IPS setup ensures a smooth, efficient cruising experience with a top speed of 23 knots, and there's joystick control. 

The swim platform can drop down into the water, allowing the tender to float off. As it descends, steps are revealed, so when it's down, there's still access up into the cockpit.

Once in the cockpit, there's a smart seating area where the seats have two-way backrests — allowing them to either face out over the water or turn around to look into the saloon. There's also a convenient side door on the starboard side for access when moored side-to at a pontoon or high quay.

Upper Deck

At the aft, this area serves as more of an extension to the cockpit and features lovely aft-facing sofas, providing that all-important vista out over the back of the boat. It's a perfect spot for sunbathing, with ample space that works very, very nicely.

Moving forward, you'll find wing stations on both sides, giving the skipper the flexibility to control the boat from either side. Thanks to the IPS joystick, the control system is incredibly effective, offering a smooth handling experience despite the three engines, making the skipper’s job easier while providing a good view on both sides.

There is an alfresco dining area alongside a nice big wet bar complete with a grill, sink, storage, and cooling space underneath. This lovely table sits under the shade of an amazing hardtop, which is a design highlight. The hardtop's spurs and connecting beams link to the top of the superstructure, creating a sort of glass house that characterises the boat's profile. 

The engine room of the wallywhy150 houses a trio of Volvo Penta IPS 1350s. This space onboard is the one area that has made the sacrifice for all the high headroom up top. Now, despite this and the fact that there are three engines, the layout allows for easy movement around the systems. You can access all the major components, even the generator which is tucked over to one side.

The big SeaKeeper is mounted neatly under the platform, so straightforward to reach if needed. The arrangement of the three engines and their pods proves to be incredibly user-friendly. The exposed pods are easy to inspect and effortless to navigate around for any necessary maintenance. The primary focus here is on A) efficient packaging by pushing the engines further back in the boat compared to traditional shaft drives and B) the enhanced performance that IPS technology brings.