A pilothouse yacht is one where the design and layout allow the crew to keep a safe and effective watch without having to be on deck. There must be all-round visibility from within the yacht's accommodation - somewhere for a crewmember to keep watch comfortably whilst fully protected from the elements.

Most pilothouse yachts have an inside steering position, but this is not essential provided that it only takes a few seconds to reach the cockpit. If there is no proper inside steering position, you may still find engine controls by the chart table together with an autopilot joystick instead of a wheel.

A wheelhouse

Wheelhouse

Wheelhouse or Wheel-house may refer to a number of topicsIn nautical context*The location of the steering wheel of a boat or ship**Bridge **Pilothouse...

 is a pilothouse

Pilothouse

A pilothouse or pilot-house is a glass-enclosed room from which a ship is controlled by the ship's pilot. The pilothouse also is known as the wheelhouse....

which contains the vessel’s main steering position.