Why Miele appears on so many yachts
Miele is a German family company, founded in 1899 and headquartered in Gütersloh. Alongside its household appliances, it builds a professional range of washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers for hotels, care homes, salons and commercial kitchens. That professional side is what interests yacht builders and crew.
On board, laundry and dishwashing run every day, often several times a day, with a small team and very little room to spare. Crew tend to favour machines that are simple to operate, easy to keep clean and built for frequent cycles. Miele's compact professional laundry line, known as the Little Giants, suits that brief: commercial-grade machines in a footprint close to a household appliance. That matters when the laundry room is tucked below deck or squeezed in beside a crew corridor.
Where Miele equipment fits on board
Most yachts split their Miele needs across three areas.
- Crew and guest laundry. Professional washers and tumble dryers handle uniforms, bed linen, towels and guest clothing. Larger yachts often keep separate machines for crew and guest items so the two workflows do not compete for the same drum.
- Galley dishwashing. A professional dishwasher in the galley keeps up with crew meals and guest service, and its shorter programmes help on busy charter days.
- Guest pantry and bar. A second dishwasher close to the guest areas keeps glassware and fine china away from the galley and saves the interior team a lot of walking.
On a smaller boat, one washer and dryer pair plus a single dishwasher may be all that is needed. On a larger yacht the laundry becomes a dedicated room with stacked machines, a folding table and sometimes an ironer. If you are planning a heavier laundry setup, our Electrolux marine page covers a wider professional laundry range, including ironers.
Spin cycles, dryer venting and other laundry room checks
50 Hz, 60 Hz and the generator capacity
Professional machines are built in different electrical versions. Yachts built in Europe usually run at 50 Hz, many American builds run at 60 Hz, and voltage and phase vary from boat to boat. We confirm the ship's supply and the available generator capacity before proposing a model, because the wrong version is expensive to correct after delivery.
Washers on a fast spin in a seaway
A washer on a fast spin in a seaway needs solid fixing to the deck or to a reinforced plinth. Stacked washer and dryer pairs need a proper stacking kit and restraint. Door swing should be checked with the boat heeled as well as level.
Vented, condenser or heat pump dryers
Tumble dryers either vent outside or use a condenser or heat pump arrangement. On a yacht, a vent run through the hull or superstructure is not always practical, so the dryer type is often decided by the route available. Dryers and dishwashers also release heat and humidity, so the room needs adequate extraction.
Water use per cycle and grey water outlets
Fresh water is made or carried on board, so water use per cycle is worth comparing between models. Drain pumps, grey water connections and outlet heights must suit the yacht's plumbing. Dishwashers also benefit from attention to water hardness, especially when the yacht takes on shore water in different ports.
Hatches, stairs and lint traps
Measure the route to the final position, not only the position itself. Hatches, stairs and corridor turns decide what can come aboard during a refit. Leave room to reach filters, lint traps, drain pumps and service panels once everything is fitted.
Stacking kits, plinths and the right electrical version
We are an independent marine equipment supplier with an office in Wallingford, Connecticut, and a supply chain across Europe, Asia and the United States. For Miele laundry and dishwashing equipment we typically:
- review the space, power, water and usage you describe, then suggest suitable professional models with clear options;
- source the correct electrical version and the accessories the installation needs, such as stacking kits or plinths;
- consolidate the order and ship it to the shipyard, marina, agent or warehouse you choose;
- work with your yard or contractors on installation questions and commissioning;
- help with spare parts and replacements after delivery.
Read how a project runs in our process section, or see every brand we supply on the brands page. If the dishwasher is part of a wider galley refit, the Rational marine page covers combi cooking.
A rating plate photo to match the machine
Send us the yacht name or length, the project type, the machines you have in mind and your timeline through the quote form. If you are replacing existing equipment, a photo of the rating plate helps us match the electrical version quickly.
"Miele" is a trademark of its respective owner. VST Marine is an independent supplier of marine equipment; this page is not an official Miele website.
