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What is an Expedition Sailboat?

Published Oct 24, 2021

The terms “Expedition yacht” or “Explorer yacht” conjure up images of adventure and global discovery. Expedition sailboats are growing in popularity among owners and charterers alike since they combine high-end accommodations and amenities with the exciting ability to travel further and longer than conventional yachts. 

Individuals with a flair for adventure will be enticed by sailing yachts, which combine advanced technical equipment and highly qualified crews to provide complete autonomy in exploring less-visited destinations. 

Expedition sailing boats typically take visitors to the cutting edge of discovery by being outfitted with marine research and scientific technology without sacrificing service quality, allowing you to sail in style and follow in the footsteps of some of history’s greatest explorers.

Because the yacht building industry lacks a clear definition of an expedition yacht, the critical question remains: what is an expedition yacht, and why charter one?

Safety and Comfort are Incorporated Into the Hull Design

To begin, expedition yachts must be extremely seaworthy and safe in even the toughest waves. A full displacement hull combined with deep draft results in the most secure and comfortable vessels for trans-ocean sailing voyages. Numerous expedition yachts will also be built in accordance with the International Polar Code , ensuring that they are capable of dealing with ice impact during expeditions to the polar areas for completely uninterrupted travel. Thus, charterers may rest assured that their safety and comfort will not be compromised while aboard an adventure boat, regardless of the destination, even in the most inclement weather .

Increased Range and Autonomy

The capacity of expedition yachts to effectively travel the world, even some of its most isolated regions, is a major draw for charterers. Expedition sailboats must be capable of traveling at least 5000 nautical miles on a single tank of fuel in order to reach the world’s most remote corners. This requires efficient and dependable engines and crews that are supplied with the expertise and spare parts necessary to do maintenance and repairs without visiting a port. Expedition yacht charterers can cover significantly bigger distances and have significantly more autonomy than charterers of other vessels. A charter boat should give the charterer complete freedom to explore the world’s oceans, going wherever their desires take them, and reliability, range, and autonomy are all necessary components of this.

Completely Equipped

When exploring diverse and unpredictable cruising locations, it’s prudent to have a full complement of tenders and toys on hand. Being prepared for everything is one of the most alluring aspects of expedition yachts, whether via helicopters, seaplanes , sport fishing ships, or various tenders and land vehicles. Expedition sailing yachts have the storage space necessary to transport all of the required equipment wherever they visit. When chartering a yacht, passengers have access to all of the yacht’s accessible equipment and accessories, and expedition yachts are frequently equipped with the most comprehensive garage available on the water.

The expedition sailboat’s global mobility entails another aspect, which is a larger crew capacity than other bay boats. This is to accommodate the increased staffing requirements associated with lengthier charters, as well as the more specialized crew members often found on a vessel with complete autonomy. When chartering an expedition boat, charterers benefit from having helicopter pilots, ski instructors, local guides, and other specialized staff available at all times, regardless of the location.

Capabilities in Education and Research

An expedition sail boat is a vessel that has been purpose-built or adapted for long-distance cruising to isolated parts of the world. While the precise features of the ship may vary based on what they are required to perform and where they are required to travel, an expedition yacht has a broad range of capabilities. The best illustration of this is the technical capability of numerous expedition ships for scientific study and marine conservation initiatives. Expedition charters may employ these vessels as research platforms for scientific inquiry or teaching objectives. Other yachts lack the versatility and autonomy necessary for such study, which is why expedition yachts are becoming an increasingly popular alternative for charterers looking to engage in the climate issue.

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About The Author

Krizzia Paolyn has a bachelors degree in Psychology and a passion for yachting in South Florida. She has a desire to be heard and to encourage others to make their voices heard as well.

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• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

43 of the best bluewater sailboat designs of all time

• January 5, 2022

How do you choose the right yacht for you? We highlight the very best bluewater sailboat designs for every type of cruising

Which yacht is the best for bluewater boating? This question generates even more debate among sailors than questions about what’s the coolest yacht , or the best for racing. Whereas racing designs are measured against each other, cruising sailors get very limited opportunities to experience different yachts in real oceangoing conditions, so what is the best bluewater sailboat?

Here, we bring you our top choices from decades of designs and launches. Over the years, the Yachting World team has sailed these boats, tested them or judged them for European Yacht of the Year awards, and we have sifted through the many to curate a selection that we believe should be on your wishlist.

Making the right choice may come down to how you foresee your yacht being used after it has crossed an ocean or completed a passage: will you be living at anchor or cruising along the coast? If so, your guiding requirements will be space, cabin size, ease of launching a tender and anchoring closer to shore, and whether it can comfortably accommodate non-expert-sailor guests.

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All of these considerations have generated the inexorable rise of the bluewater catamaran – monohulls can’t easily compete on these points. We have a full separate feature on the best bluewater multihulls of all time and here we mostly focus on monohulls. The only exceptions to that rule are two multihulls which made it into our best bluewater sailboats of 2022 list.

As so much of making the right choice is selecting the right boat for the venture in mind, we have separated out our edit into categories: best for comfort; for families; for performance; and for expedition or high latitudes sailing .

Best bluewater sailboats of 2022

The new flagship Allures 51.9, for example, is a no-nonsense adventure cruising design built and finished to a high standard. It retains Allures’ niche of using aluminium hulls with glassfibre decks and superstructures, which, the yard maintains, gives the optimum combination of least maintenance and less weight higher up. Priorities for this design were a full beam aft cabin and a spacious, long cockpit. Both are excellent, with the latter, at 6m long, offering formidable social, sailing and aft deck zones.

It likes some breeze to come to life on the wheel, but I appreciate that it’s designed to take up to five tonnes payload. And I like the ease with which you can change gears using the furling headsails and the positioning of the powerful Andersen winches inboard. The arch is standard and comes with a textile sprayhood or hard bimini.

Below decks you’ll find abundant headroom and natural light, a deep U-shape galley and cavernous stowage. For those who like the layout of the Amel 50 but would prefer aluminium or shoal draught, look no further.

Allures 51.9 price: €766,000

The Ovni 370 is another cunning new aluminum centreboard offering, a true deck saloon cruiser for two. The designers say the biggest challenge was to create a Category A ocean going yacht at this size with a lifting keel, hence the hull had to be very stable.

Enjoyable to helm, it has a practical, deep cockpit behind a large sprayhood, which can link to the bimini on the arch. Many of its most appealing features lie in the bright, light, contemporary, clever, voluminous interior, which has good stowage and tankage allocation. There’s also a practical navstation, a large workroom and a vast separate shower. I particularly like the convertible saloom, which can double as a large secure daybed or pilot berth.

Potentially the least expensive Category A lift keel boat available, the Ovni will get you dreaming of remote places again.

Ovni 370 price: €282,080

There’s no shortage of spirit in the Windelo 50. We gave this a sustainability award after it’s founders spent two years researching environmentally-friendly composite materials, developing an eco-composite of basalt fibre and recycled PET foam so it could build boats that halve the environmental impact of standard glassfibre yachts.

The Windelo 50 is an intriguing package – from the styling, modular interior and novel layout to the solar field on the roof and the standard electric propulsion, it is completely fresh.

Windelo 50 price: €795,000

Best bluewater sailboat of 2022 – Outremer 55

I would argue that this is the most successful new production yacht on the market. Well over 50 have already sold (an equipped model typically costs €1.6m) – and I can understand why. After all, were money no object, I had this design earmarked as the new yacht I would most likely choose for a world trip.

Indeed 55 number one Sanya, was fully equipped for a family’s world cruise, and left during our stay for the Grand Large Odyssey tour. Whereas we sailed Magic Kili, which was tricked up with performance options, including foam-cored deckheads and supports, carbon crossbeam and bulkheads, and synthetic rigging.

At rest, these are enticing space ships. Taking one out to sea is another matter though. These are speed machines with the size, scale and loads to be rightly weary of. Last month Nikki Henderson wrote a feature for us about how to manage a new breed of performance cruising cats just like this and how she coaches new owners. I could not think of wiser money spent for those who do not have ample multihull sailing experience.

Under sail, the most fun was obviously reserved for the reaching leg under asymmetric, where we clocked between 11-16 knots in 15-16 knots wind. But it was the stability and of those sustained low teen speeds which really hit home  – passagemaking where you really cover miles.

Key features include the swing helms, which give you views from outboard, over the coachroof or from a protected position in the cockpit through the coachroof windows, and the vast island in the galley, which is key to an open plan main living area. It helps provide cavernous stowage and acts as the heart of the entertaining space as it would in a modern home. As Danish judge Morten Brandt-Rasmussen comments: “Apart from being the TGV of ocean passages the boat offers the most spacious, open and best integration of the cockpit and salon areas in the market.”

Outremer has done a top job in packing in the creature comforts, stowage space and payload capacity, while keeping it light enough to eat miles. Although a lot to absorb and handle, the 55 offers a formidable blend of speed and luxury cruising.

Outremer 55 price: €1.35m

Best bluewater sailboats for comfort

This is the successor to the legendary Super Maramu, a ketch design that for several decades defined easy downwind handling and fostered a cult following for the French yard. Nearly a decade old, the Amel 55 is the bridge between those world-girdling stalwarts and Amel’s more recent and totally re-imagined sloop designs, the Amel 50 and 60.

The 55 boasts all the serious features Amel aficionados loved and valued: a skeg-hung rudder, solidly built hull, watertight bulkheads, solid guardrails and rampart bulwarks. And, most noticeable, the solid doghouse in which the helmsman sits in perfect shelter at the wheel.

This is a design to live on comfortably for long periods and the list of standard features just goes on and on: passarelle; proper sea berths with lee cloths; electric furling main and genoa; and a multitude of practical items that go right down to a dishwasher and crockery.

There’s no getting around the fact these designs do look rather dated now, and through the development of easier sail handling systems the ketch rig has fallen out of fashion, but the Amel is nothing short of a phenomenon, and if you’ve never even peeked on board one, you really have missed a treat.

Photo: Sander van der Borch

Contest 50CS

A centre cockpit cruiser with true longevity, the Contest 50CS was launched by Conyplex back in 2003 and is still being built by the family-owned Dutch company, now in updated and restyled form.

With a fully balanced rudder, large wheel and modern underwater sections, the Contest 50CS is a surprisingly good performer for a boat that has a dry weight of 17.5 tonnes. Many were fitted with in-mast furling, which clearly curtails that performance, but even without, this boat is set up for a small crew.

Electric winches and mainsheet traveller are all easy to reach from the helm. On our test of the Contest 50CS, we saw for ourselves how two people can gybe downwind under spinnaker without undue drama. Upwind, a 105% genoa is so easy to tack it flatters even the weediest crewmember.

Down below, the finish level of the joinery work is up there among the best and the interior is full of clever touches, again updated and modernised since the early models. Never the cheapest bluewater sailing yacht around, the Contest 50CS has remained in demand as a brokerage buy. She is a reassuringly sure-footed, easily handled, very well built yacht that for all those reasons has stood the test of time.

This is a yacht that would be well capable of helping you extend your cruising grounds, almost without realising it.

Read more about the Contest 50CS and the new Contest 49CS

Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Hallberg-Rassy 48 Mk II

For many, the Swedish Hallberg-Rassy yard makes the quintessential bluewater cruiser for couples. With their distinctive blue cove line, these designs are famous for their seakindly behaviour, solid-as-a-rock build and beautifully finished, traditional interiors.

To some eyes, Hallberg-Rassys aren’t quite cool enough, but it’s been company owner Magnus Rassy’s confidence in the formula and belief in incremental ‘step-by-step’ evolution that has been such an exceptional guarantor of reliable quality, reputation and resale value.

The centre cockpit Hallberg-Rassy 48 epitomises the concept of comfort at sea and, like all the Frers-designed Hallberg-Rassys since the 1990s, is surprisingly fleet upwind as well as steady downwind. The 48 is perfectly able to be handled by a couple (as we found a few years back in the Pacific), and could with no great effort crack out 200-mile days.

The Hallberg-Rassy 48 was launched nearly a decade ago, but the Mk II from 2014 is our pick, updated with a more modern profile, larger windows and hull portlights that flood the saloon and aft cabin with light. With a large chart table, secure linear galley, heaps of stowage and space for bluewater extras such as machinery and gear, this yacht pretty much ticks all the boxes.

Discovery 55

First launched in 2000, the Discovery 55 has stood the test of time. Designed by Ron Holland, it hit a sweet spot in size that appealed to couples and families with world girdling plans.

Elegantly styled and well balanced, the 55 is also a practical design, with a deep and secure cockpit, comfortable seating, a self-tacking jib, dedicated stowage for the liferaft , a decent sugar scoop transom that’s useful for swimming or dinghy access, and very comfortable accommodation below. In short, it is a design that has been well thought out by those who’ve been there, got the bruises, stubbed their toes and vowed to change things in the future if they ever got the chance.

Throughout the accommodation there are plenty of examples of good detailing, from the proliferation of handholds and grabrails, to deep sinks in the galley offering immediate stowage when under way and the stand up/sit down showers. Stowage is good, too, with plenty of sensibly sized lockers in easily accessible positions.

The Discovery 55 has practical ideas and nifty details aplenty. She’s not, and never was, a breakthrough in modern luxury cruising but she is pretty, comfortable to sail and live on, and well mannered.

Photo: Latitudes Picture Library

You can’t get much more Cornish than a Rustler. The hulls of this Stephen Jones design are hand-moulded and fitted out in Falmouth – and few are more ruggedly built than this traditional, up-for-anything offshore cruiser.

She boasts an encapsulated lead keel, eliminating keel bolts and creating a sump for generous fuel and water tankage, while a chunky skeg protects the rudder. She is designed for good directional stability and load carrying ability. These are all features that lend this yacht confidence as it shoulders aside the rough stuff.

Most of those built have had a cutter rig, a flexible arrangement that makes sense for long passages in all sea and weather conditions. Down below, the galley and saloon berths are comfortable and sensible for living in port and at sea, with joinery that Rustler’s builders are rightly proud of.

As modern yachts have got wider, higher and fatter, the Rustler 42 is an exception. This is an exceptionally well-mannered seagoing yacht in the traditional vein, with elegant lines and pleasing overhangs, yet also surprisingly powerful. And although now over 20 years old, timeless looks and qualities mean this design makes her look ever more like a perennial, a modern classic.

The definitive crossover size, the point at which a yacht can be handled by a couple but is just large enough to have a professional skipper and be chartered, sits at around the 60ft mark. At 58ft 8in, the Oyster 575 fitted perfectly into this growing market when launched in 2010. It went on to be one of the most popular models from the yard, and is only now being superseded by the newer Rob Humphreys-designed Oyster 565 (just launched this spring).

Built in various configurations with either a deep keel, shoal draught keel or centreboard with twin rudders, owners could trade off better performance against easy access to shallower coves and anchorages. The deep-bodied hull, also by Rob Humphreys, is known for its easy motion at sea.

Some of the Oyster 575’s best features include its hallmark coachroof windows style and centre cockpit – almost everyone will know at first glance this is an Oyster – and superb interior finish. If she has a flaw, it is arguably the high cockpit, but the flip side is the galley headroom and passageway berth to the large aft stateroom.

This design also has a host of practical features for long-distance cruising, such as high guardrails, dedicated liferaft stowage, a vast lazarette for swallowing sails, tender, fenders etc, and a penthouse engine room.

Privilege Serie 5

A true luxury catamaran which, fully fitted out, will top €1m, this deserves to be seen alongside the likes of the Oyster 575, Gunfleet 58 and Hallberg-Rassy 55. It boasts a large cockpit and living area, and a light and spacious saloon with an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, masses of refrigeration and a big galley.

Standout features are finish quality and solid build in a yacht designed to take a high payload, a secure walkaround deck and all-round views from the helm station. The new Privilege 510 that will replace this launches in February 2020.

Gunfleet 43

It was with this Tony Castro design that Richard Matthews, founder of Oyster Yachts, launched a brand new rival brand in 2012, the smallest of a range stretching to the flagship Gunfleet 74. The combination of short overhangs and centre cockpit at this size do make the Gunfleet 43 look modern if a little boxy, but time and subsequent design trends have been kind to her lines, and the build quality is excellent. The saloon, galley and aft cabin space is exceptional on a yacht of this size.

Photo: David Harding

Conceived as a belt-and-braces cruiser, the Kraken 50 launched last year. Its unique points lie underwater in the guise of a full skeg-hung rudder and so-called ‘Zero Keel’, an encapsulated long keel with lead ballast.

Kraken Yachts is the brainchild of British businessman and highly experienced cruiser Dick Beaumont, who is adamant that safety should be foremost in cruising yacht design and build. “There is no such thing as ‘one yacht for all purposes’… You cannot have the best of all worlds, whatever the salesman tells you,” he says.

Read our full review of the Kraken 50 .

Wauquiez Centurion 57

Few yachts can claim to be both an exciting Med-style design and a serious and practical northern European offshore cruiser, but the Wauquiez Centurion 57 tries to blend both. She slightly misses if you judge solely by either criterion, but is pretty and practical enough to suit her purpose.

A very pleasant, well-considered yacht, she is impressively built and finished with a warm and comfortable interior. More versatile than radical, she could be used for sailing across the Atlantic in comfort and raced with equal enjoyment at Antigua Sailing Week .

A modern classic if ever there was one. A medium to heavy displacement yacht, stiff and easily capable of standing up to her canvas. Pretty, traditional lines and layout below.

Photo: Voyage of Swell

Well-proven US legacy design dating back to the mid-1960s that once conquered the Transpac Race . Still admired as pretty, with slight spoon bow and overhanging transom.

Capable medium displacement cruiser, ideal size and good accommodation for couples or family cruising, and much less costly than similar luxury brands.

Photo: Peter Szamer

Swedish-built aft cockpit cruiser, smaller than many here, but a well-built and finished, super-durable pocket ocean cruiser.

Tartan 3700

Designed as a performance cruiser there are nimbler alternatives now, but this is still an extremely pretty yacht.

Broker ’ s choice

Discovery 55 Brizo

This yacht has already circumnavigated the globe and is ‘prepared for her next adventure,’ says broker Berthon. Price: £535,000 + VAT

Oyster 575 Ayesha

‘Stunning, and perfectly equipped for bluewater cruising,’ says broker Ancasta International. Price: £845,000 (tax not paid)

Oyster 575 Pearls of Nautilus

Nearly new and with a high spec, this Oyster Brokerage yacht features American white oak joinery and white leather upholstery and has a shoal draught keel. Price: $1.49m

Best bluewater yachts for performance

The Frers-designed Swan 54 may not be the newest hull shape but heralded Swan’s latest generation of displacement bluewater cruisers when launched four years ago. With raked stem, deep V hull form, lower freeboard and slight curve to the topsides she has a more timeless aesthetic than many modern slab-sided high volume yachts, and with that a seakindly motion in waves. If you plan to cover many miles to weather, this is probably the yacht you want to be on.

Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Besides Swan’s superlative build quality, the 54 brings many true bluewater features, including a dedicated sail locker. There’s also a cockpit locker that functions as a utility cabin, with potential to hold your generator and washing machine, or be a workshop space.

The sloping transom opens out to reveal a 2.5m bathing platform, and although the cabins are not huge there is copious stowage space. Down below the top-notch oak joinery is well thought through with deep fiddles, and there is a substantial nav station. But the Swan 54 wins for handling above all, with well laid-out sail controls that can be easily managed between a couple, while offering real sailing enjoyment to the helmsman.

Photo: Graham Snook

The Performance Cruiser winner at the 2019 European Yacht of the Year awards, the Arcona 435 is all about the sailing experience. She has genuine potential as a cruiser-racer, but her strengths are as an enjoyable cruiser rather than a full-blown liveaboard bluewater boat.

Build quality is excellent, there is the option of a carbon hull and deck, and elegant lines and a plumb bow give the Arcona 435 good looks as well as excellent performance in light airs. Besides slick sail handling systems, there are well thought-out features for cruising, such as ample built-in rope bins and an optional semi-closed stern with stowage and swim platform.

Outremer 51

If you want the space and stability of a cat but still prioritise sailing performance, Outremer has built a reputation on building catamarans with true bluewater characteristics that have cruised the planet for the past 30 years.

Lighter and slimmer-hulled than most cruising cats, the Outremer 51 is all about sailing at faster speeds, more easily. The lower volume hulls and higher bridgedeck make for a better motion in waves, while owners report that being able to maintain a decent pace even under reduced canvas makes for stress-free passages. Deep daggerboards also give good upwind performance.

With bucket seats and tiller steering options, the Outremer 51 rewards sailors who want to spend time steering, while they’re famously well set up for handling with one person on deck. The compromise comes with the interior space – even with a relatively minimalist style, there is less cabin space and stowage volume than on the bulkier cats, but the Outremer 51 still packs in plenty of practical features.

The Xc45 was the first cruising yacht X-Yachts ever built, and designed to give the same X-Yachts sailing experience for sailors who’d spent years racing 30/40-footer X- and IMX designs, but in a cruising package.

Launched over 10 years ago, the Xc45 has been revisited a few times to increase the stowage and modernise some of the styling, but the key features remain the same, including substantial tanks set low for a low centre of gravity, and X-Yachts’ trademark steel keel grid structure. She has fairly traditional styling and layout, matched with solid build quality.

A soft bilge and V-shaped hull gives a kindly motion in waves, and the cockpit is secure, if narrow by modern standards.

A three or four cabin catamaran that’s fleet of foot with high bridgedeck clearance for comfortable motion at sea. With tall daggerboards and carbon construction in some high load areas, Catana cats are light and quick to accelerate.

Sweden Yachts 45

An established bluewater design that also features in plenty of offshore races. Some examples are specced with carbon rig and retractable bowsprits. All have a self-tacking jib for ease. Expect sweeping areas of teak above decks and a traditionally wooded interior with hanging wet locker.

A vintage performer, first launched in 1981, the 51 was the first Frers-designed Swan and marked a new era of iconic cruiser-racers. Some 36 of the Swan 51 were built, many still actively racing and cruising nearly 40 years on. Classic lines and a split cockpit make this a boat for helming, not sunbathing.

Photo: Julien Girardot / EYOTY

The JPK 45 comes from a French racing stable, combining race-winning design heritage with cruising amenities. What you see is what you get – there are no superfluous headliners or floorboards, but there are plenty of ocean sailing details, like inboard winches for safe trimming. The JPK 45 also has a brilliantly designed cockpit with an optional doghouse creating all-weather shelter, twin wheels and superb clutch and rope bin arrangement.

Photo: Andreas Lindlahr

For sailors who don’t mind exchanging a few creature comforts for downwind planing performance, the Pogo 50 offers double-digit surfing speeds for exhilarating tradewind sailing. There’s an open transom, tiller steering and no backstay or runners. The Pogo 50 also has a swing keel, to nose into shallow anchorages.

Seawind 1600

Seawinds are relatively unknown in Europe, but these bluewater cats are very popular in Australia. As would be expected from a Reichel-Pugh design, this 52-footer combines striking good looks and high performance, with fine entry bows and comparatively low freeboard. Rudders are foam cored lifting designs in cassettes, which offer straightforward access in case of repairs, while daggerboards are housed under the deck.

Best bluewater sailboats for families

It’s unsurprising that, for many families, it’s a catamaran that meets their requirements best of increased space – both living space and separate cabins for privacy-seeking teenagers, additional crew or visiting family – as well as stable and predictable handling.

Photo: Nicholas Claris

Undoubtedly one of the biggest success stories has been the Lagoon 450, which, together with boats like the Fountaine Pajot 44, helped drive up the popularity of catamaran cruising by making it affordable and accessible. They have sold in huge numbers – over 1,000 Lagoon 450s have been built since its launch in 2010.

The VPLP-designed 450 was originally launched with a flybridge with a near central helming position and upper level lounging areas (450F). The later ‘sport top’ option (450S) offered a starboard helm station and lower boom (and hence lower centre of gravity for reduced pitching). The 450S also gained a hull chine to create additional volume above the waterline. The Lagoon features forward lounging and aft cockpit areas for additional outdoor living space.

Besides being a big hit among charter operators, Lagoons have proven themselves over thousands of bluewater miles – there were seven Lagoon 450s in last year’s ARC alone. In what remains a competitive sector of the market, Lagoon has recently launched a new 46, with a larger self-tacking jib and mast moved aft, and more lounging areas.

Photo: Gilles Martin-Raget

Fountaine Pajot Helia 44

The FP Helia 44 is lighter, lower volume, and has a lower freeboard than the Lagoon, weighing in at 10.8 tonnes unloaded (compared to 15 for the 450). The helm station is on a mezzanine level two steps up from the bridgedeck, with a bench seat behind. A later ‘Evolution’ version was designed for liveaboard cruisers, featuring beefed up dinghy davits and an improved saloon space.

Available in three or four cabin layouts, the Helia 44 was also popular with charter owners as well as families. The new 45 promises additional volume, and an optional hydraulically lowered ‘beach club’ swim platform.

Photo: Arnaud De Buyzer / graphikup.com

The French RM 1370 might be less well known than the big brand names, but offers something a little bit different for anyone who wants a relatively voluminous cruising yacht. Designed by Marc Lombard, and beautifully built from plywood/epoxy, the RM is stiff and responsive, and sails superbly.

The RM yachts have a more individual look – in part down to the painted finish, which encourages many owners to personalise their yachts, but also thanks to their distinctive lines with reverse sheer and dreadnought bow. The cockpit is well laid out with the primary winches inboard for a secure trimming position. The interior is light, airy and modern, although the open transom won’t appeal to everyone.

For those wanting a monohull, the Hanse 575 hits a similar sweet spot to the popular multis, maximising accommodation for a realistic price, yet with responsive performance.

The Hanse offers a vast amount of living space thanks to the ‘loft design’ concept of having all the living areas on a single level, which gives a real feeling of spaciousness with no raised saloon or steps to accommodation. The trade-off for such lofty head height is a substantial freeboard – it towers above the pontoon, while, below, a stepladder is provided to reach some hatches.

Galley options include drawer fridge-freezers, microwave and coffee machine, and the full size nav station can double up as an office or study space.

But while the Hanse 575 is a seriously large boat, its popularity is also down to the fact that it is genuinely able to be handled by a couple. It was innovative in its deck layout: with a self-tacking jib and mainsheet winches immediately to hand next to the helm, one person could both steer and trim.

Direct steering gives a feeling of control and some tangible sailing fun, while the waterline length makes for rapid passage times. In 2016 the German yard launched the newer Hanse 588 model, having already sold 175 of the 575s in just four years.

Photo: Bertel Kolthof

Jeanneau 54

Jeanneau leads the way among production builders for versatile all-rounder yachts that balance sail performance and handling, ergonomics, liveaboard functionality and good looks. The Jeanneau 54 , part of the range designed by Philippe Briand with interior by Andrew Winch, melds the best of the larger and smaller models and is available in a vast array of layout options from two cabins/two heads right up to five cabins and three heads.

We’ve tested the Jeanneau 54 in a gale and very light winds, and it acquitted itself handsomely in both extremes. The primary and mainsheet winches are to hand next to the wheel, and the cockpit is spacious, protected and child-friendly. An electric folding swim and sun deck makes for quick fun in the water.

Nautitech Open 46

This was the first Nautitech catamaran to be built under the ownership of Bavaria, designed with an open-plan bridgedeck and cockpit for free-flowing living space. But with good pace for eating up bluewater miles, and aft twin helms rather than a flybridge, the Nautitech Open 46 also appeals to monohull sailors who prefer a more direct sailing experience.

Made by Robertson and Caine, who produce catamarans under a dual identity as both Leopard and the Sunsail/Moorings charter cats, the Leopard 45 is set to be another big seller. Reflecting its charter DNA, the Leopard 45 is voluminous, with stepped hulls for reduced waterline, and a separate forward cockpit.

Built in South Africa, they are robustly tested off the Cape and constructed ruggedly enough to handle heavy weather sailing as well as the demands of chartering.

Photo: Olivier Blanchet

If space is king then three hulls might be even better than two. The Neel 51 is rare as a cruising trimaran with enough space for proper liveaboard sailing. The galley and saloon are in the large central hull, together with an owner’s cabin on one level for a unique sensation of living above the water. Guest or family cabins lie in the outer hulls for privacy and there is a cavernous full height engine room under the cabin sole.

Performance is notably higher than an equivalent cruising cat, particularly in light winds, with a single rudder giving a truly direct feel in the helm, although manoeuvring a 50ft trimaran may daunt many sailors.

Beneteau Oceanis 46.1

A brilliant new model from Beneteau, this Finot Conq design has a modern stepped hull, which offers exhilarating and confidence-inspiring handling in big breezes, and slippery performance in lighter winds.

The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 was the standout performer at this year’s European Yacht of the Year awards, and, in replacing the popular Oceanis 45, looks set to be another bestseller. Interior space is well used with a double island berth in the forepeak. An additional inboard unit creates a secure galley area, but tank capacity is moderate for long periods aboard.

Beneteau Oceanis 473

A popular model that offers beam and height in a functional layout, although, as with many boats of this age (she was launched in 2002), the mainsheet is not within reach of the helmsman.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

The Philippe Briand-designed Sun Odyssey range has a solid reputation as family production cruisers. Like the 473, the Sun Odyssey 49 was popular for charter so there are plenty of four-cabin models on the market.

Nautitech 441

The hull design dates back to 1995, but was relaunched in 2012. Though the saloon interior has dated, the 441 has solid practical features, such as a rainwater run-off collection gutter around the coachroof.

Atlantic 42

Chris White-designed cats feature a pilothouse and forward waist-high working cockpit with helm position, as well as an inside wheel at the nav station. The Atlantic 42 offers limited accommodation by modern cat standards but a very different sailing experience.

Best bluewater sailing yachts for expeditions

Bestevaer 56.

All of the yachts in our ‘expedition’ category are aluminium-hulled designs suitable for high latitude sailing, and all are exceptional yachts. But the Bestevaer 56 is a spectacular amount of boat to take on a true adventure. Each Bestevaer is a near-custom build with plenty of bespoke options for owners to customise the layout and where they fall on the scale of rugged off-grid adventurer to 4×4-style luxury fit out.

The Bestevaer range began when renowned naval architect Gerard Dijkstra chose to design his own personal yacht for liveaboard adventure cruising, a 53-footer. The concept drew plenty of interest from bluewater sailors wanting to make longer expeditions and Bestevaers are now available in a range of sizes, with the 56-footer proving a popular mid-range length.

The well-known Bestevaer 56 Tranquilo  (pictured above) has a deep, secure cockpit, voluminous tanks (700lt water and over 1,100lt fuel) and a lifting keel plus water ballast, with classically styled teak clad decks and pilot house. Other owners have opted for functional bare aluminium hull and deck, some choose a doghouse and others a pilothouse.

Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The Boreal 52 also offers Land Rover-esque practicality, with utilitarian bare aluminium hulls and a distinctive double-level doghouse/coachroof arrangement for added protection in all weathers. The cockpit is clean and uncluttered, thanks to the mainsheet position on top of the doghouse, although for visibility in close manoeuvring the helmsman will want to step up onto the aft deck.

Twin daggerboards, a lifting centreboard and long skeg on which she can settle make this a true go-anywhere expedition yacht. The metres of chain required for adventurous anchoring is stowed in a special locker by the mast to keep the weight central. Down below has been thought through with equally practical touches, including plenty of bracing points and lighting that switches on to red light first to protect your night vision.

Photo: Morris Adant / Garcia Yachts

Garcia Exploration 45

The Garcia Exploration 45 comes with real experience behind her – she was created in association with Jimmy Cornell, based on his many hundreds of thousands of miles of bluewater cruising, to go anywhere from high latitudes to the tropics.

Arguably less of a looker than the Bestevaer, the Garcia Exploration 45 features a rounded aluminium hull, centreboard with deep skeg and twin daggerboards. The considerable anchor chain weight has again been brought aft, this time via a special conduit to a watertight locker in front of the centreboard.

This is a yacht designed to be lived on for extended periods with ample storage, and panoramic portlights to give a near 360° view of whichever extraordinary landscape you are exploring. Safety features include a watertight companionway door to keep extreme weather out and through-hull fittings placed above the waterline. When former Vendée Globe skipper Pete Goss went cruising , this was the boat he chose to do it in.

Photo: svnaima.com

A truly well-proven expedition design, some 1,500 Ovnis have been built and many sailed to some of the most far-flung corners of the world. (Jimmy Cornell sailed his Aventura some 30,000 miles, including two Drake Passage crossings, one in 50 knots of wind).

Futuna Exploration 54

Another aluminium design with a swinging centreboard and a solid enclosed pilothouse with protected cockpit area. There’s a chunky bowsprit and substantial transom arch to house all manner of electronics and power generation.

Previous boats have been spec’d for North West Passage crossings with additional heating and engine power, although there’s a carbon rig option for those that want a touch of the black stuff. The tanks are capacious, with 1,000lt capability for both fresh water and fuel.

If you enjoyed this….

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EXPLORER expedition, adventure and world travel

e X plorer 54

The Explorer 54 is a strong all aluminum sailboat for expedition, charter, adventure and life aboard. The pilot house concept brings protection from the sea and the sun for the crew with panoramic views at 360 ° from the watch station and galley.

While primarily designed for exploration and far away travels the Explorer made no compromise on sailing performance.  The modern and powerful hull from the naval architecture office of Bernard Nivelt allows for high daily mileage on ocean passages.

The NACA profile swinging center board opens endless possibilities of exploration in poorly chartered waters as well as beaching the boat. The ballast has been placed in a “bustle” below the hull which lends a particularly low center of gravity for a center boarder.

"Stout aluminum construction assembled from CNC panels will make for a very strong boat. While production boats try to be everything to everyone, this boat does not. The Explorer 54 is simply a well-designed offshore sailing yacht.

Bob Perry - Sailing Magazine

Find more about the Explorer 54 aluminum sailboat ...

Copyright © 2009-2012 Futuna Yachts. All rights reserved.

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Alubat [al.u.bat] noun | Aluminium Bateau | Aluminum Boat

Open House at Alubat

Join us at the Alubat boatyard in Les Sables d’Olonne, France for our Open House this coming May 31 to June 1 and get on board a new OVNI 370 and OVNI 430.

Amazing 43-ft Aluminum Sailboat

Full-time cruisers Roberta and Duca stopped by to visit us during the La Rochelle Boat Show for a tour of the NEW Ovni 430.

The ‘Small’ Huge Sailboat

Tour of the new Ovni 370 with Duca and Roberta on their YouTube channel Odd Life Crafting.

Aluminum Sailboat Misconceptions

“I have a friend, who knows a guy, who has a cousin, that bought an aluminum boat, and after a week in the marina the bottom fell out of her”.

Alubat Pricing

How Much Does a Well-Equipped Alubat Ovni Cost? Find out how we price the Ovni range of aluminum sailboats for the serious off-shore cruiser.

OVNI 490 Preview

The 490 shares some of the hallmarks of the Ovni range: shaft drive, full sailplan, centerboard, and spacious interior with a raised salon layout.

50 years of sailing excellence!

FIGARO nautisme | by François Tregouet

Half a century old and still thriving, Alubat, the Vendée-based shipyard, is not content with just being one of the world’s benchmarks in ocean cruising with its iconic Ovni yachts. Instead, with the enthusiasm of youth, it is preparing to launch three new monohulls over the next two years.

Link to read article [PDF]

STRENGTH ACROSS THE FULL RANGE OF ALUBAT Aluminum SAILBOATS

The new generation OVNI 370 with an inverted bow for improved performance and expanded the interior volume.

The new generation OVNI 430 with an inverted bow for improved performance and expanded the interior volume.

What sets the OVNI 490 apart are the protected pilot house and twin engines. 

The OVNI 450 stands out from the OVNI range and maintains a traditional cabin top styling.

Designing and building aluminum boats for blue water sailing. ​

The  Alubat shipyard  has been designing and building aluminum boats for blue water sailing since 1973. With more than 1,600 yachts built and with 50 years of expertise in metal work and carpentry, Alubat has unparalleled experience in the aluminum sailboat market.

Discover More

Aluminum is green

By having the ability to beach your boat, inspecting and servicing your yacht becomes less daunting than having to haul out.

beach your boat

Go places where other sailboats can't.

Centerboard advantages, navigate shallow water.

From the turquoise waters of the Bahamas to the Alaskan ice fields, a lifting keel gives you the peace of mind to navigate in shallow water. 

The centerboard doesn’t sacrifice performance or safety, in fact, it can enhance performance when it comes to downwind sailing. 

Another advantage of a centerboard is the expanded possibilities to find docking in marinas that would otherwise be too shallow for a fixed keel sailboat.

Without the limitations of fixed keel boats, your cruising opportunities can take you through the maze of Europe’s ancient canals and the historic North American waterways.

The centerboard can be lifted manually or by using a hydraulic system.

traverse canals

Owners sharing experiences from around the world.

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@ 2024 Alubat America. All rights reserved.

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Used Expedition Yachts For Sale

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Are you up for an adventure? Many euro-built yacht owners and sailboat enthusiasts are now turning to expedition yachts to satisfy their need for long-distance cruising. Whether spending weeks exploring the Caribbean or cruising the countless islands of the Pacific Northwest, most expedition yacht builders focus on comfort and seaworthiness first and foremost. These are not boats that will exceed 30 knots, but rather are meant to cruise in the 8-12 knot range while burning very little fuel. Cutting-edge construction techniques like infusion with high-quality resin, have allowed these explorer boats to become lighter without losing durability. United Yacht Sales has expert brokers on staff that have sold many expedition yachts and would be happy to represent you in the purchase or sale of your next boat.

PRE-OWNED Expedition Yachts

126' Inace Explorer 2024

Fortaleza, Brazil

120' Inace Overing 2024

100' Custom Tri-Deck Explorer Yacht 2026

Unknown, Florida, United States

86' Trawler 26,5M Trawler 2024

Mugla, Turkey

85' Terranova Yachts T85 2018

Unknown, United States

84' Custom Mural Yachts 85 Semi Displacement Trawler 2022

78' Commercial Trawler 1980

Eleuthera, Bahamas

75' Northern Marine 1998

Anacortes, Washington, United States

ELIZABETH RUTH

74' Custom Robinson Modified Monk 1991

Poulsbo, Washington, United States

THREE OF A KIND

70' Hampton Endurance 700 Skylounge 2009

Solomons, Maryland, United States

70' Delta Marine Pilothouse 1988

Seattle, Washington, United States

70' Marlow 70E 2003

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

70' Bering 2017

68' Cheoy Lee 2009

Miami, Florida, United States

65' Ocean Alexander Classico 2001

Moorehaven, Florida, United States

• Page 1 of 13

SEARCH ALL YACHTS

Expedition Yachts vary in materials just like they do in design. Do you want full displacement or semi-displacement? Would you rather have a steel, composite, or aluminum hull? And most importantly, what type of range do you require for your anticipated cruising plans? These are all questions that a professional United Yacht broker can assist you with.

Below are some of the prominent expedition yacht brands available today :

• Hampton Yachts
• Hampton Endurance Yachts
• Lurssen Yachts
• Marlow Yachts
• Nordhavn Yachts
• President Yachts

While some explorer yacht builders use steel for their hull, some believe aluminum may be thebetter choice in the case of weight reduction, higher performance speed, better fuel consumption and seaworthiness.

The expedition yacht requires lots of crew space. Expert crew members are typically needed for long-range expeditions. An excellent example - the 26 meter Octopus, is well-known as the world’s largest explorer yacht and boasts an enormous crew of 50! However most owner/operators and couples wanting to cruise tend to buy a yacht that is easily managed. Now with many yachts having joystick controls and bow thrusters, the ease of handling has improved substantially.

The expedition will be taking its owners and guests to remote and exotic destinations so a full line-up of tenders and toys is a must. Look for seaplanes, helicopters, and sportfish yachts! The whole gamut. Ulysses, the 107.4 meter line-up is beyond awesome, with six motorbikes, a landing craft, an amphibious tender in its garage, not to mention a 21-metre, 50-knot catamaran support boat that can be hoisted off the foredeck by a pair of custom-designed cranes!!!

Many boating enthusiasts feel that explorer yachts are at their best measuring in at least at 40 meters long to carry all the essentials. Cantiere Delle Marche has been highly successful in building compact expeditions. This Italian builder has manufactured these ‘minis’ in the size range of 25 meters to its 33.4 meter Narvalo, created and born to cruise with the narwhals she was named after.

Want to test if a yacht is, indeed, an expedition yacht, then just zero in on the details of her maximum cruising range which translates to the distance it can travel without making a fuel stop. The majority of the yachts 40 meters and up usually have a transatlantic cruising range of around 3,000 nautical miles, but there are some exceptional expedition builds are set up to have an even longer range. And her long distance speed ranks in between 10 to 12 knots.” Ice, the extraordinary 90 meter Lürssen yacht is a prime example being able to cruise up to 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots and never needing to make a fuel stop!

The best shoppers will also want to consider the expeditions in questions emissions control, deep storage, and extreme maneuverability.

The mission profile for building an expedition yacht can be for any (or a combination) of the following…entire family reunion exploration, worldwide big game or fly fishing, remote dive expedition, the urge to check out unique and different cruising areas, a feeling of freedom while cruising, or several other reasons.

Since they were built to handle the roughest voyage conditions, safety and comfort of the owners, guests and crew must be the focus of the engineering and buying criteria . An expedition yacht needs possess an extremely efficient and sea-kindly hull. To meet this, the vessel should be a full displacement hull combined with excellent fuel capacity to reach at least a 4000nm range at 10 knots. Of course, the latest in high efficiency propulsion and energy systems, ensuring there are new batteries, chargers and converters, is necessary.

The entire exterior and interior of the vessel you decide on must be a piece of cake to maintain. This makes a key difference between many long range yachts and trawlers being built and one that you can call your own. Another idea when choosing the best expedition yacht is to know you can give it a new look, such as a white yacht, by replacing teak rails or decking with stainless or the latest in deck systems (i.e. Stone Decking). Since these yachts make thousands of miles a year, the up keep and standard of materials and systems is most important to help with all upkeep.

Finally, the engine room is another factor of crucial importance. Ensure that proven high wear equipment is used throughout and that it is a large, well laid out engine room designed to be easy for the crew to tend to. The goal is for any engineer hired will walk in and add a smile to his face!

Follow these tips and a smile will be eternally on yours too as the proud owner of a quality expedition yacht!

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Sailing Antarctica

Fly-Cruise Antarctica on an Expedition Sailboat. Fly into Antarctica and explore for 14 days.

Fly-Fly Antarctica

Join intimate expedition sailboat.

Join expedition sailing vessel, Ocean Tramp, and her crew to explore the Antarctic Peninsula: penguins, whales, icebergs, Exploration History.  Enjoy the flexibility and seclusion of a small vessel to take advantage of the polar wonders of Antarctica as they unfold. Maximum 8 passengers. 

Highlights: Two weeks in Antarctica No Drake Passage (fly both ways) Flexibility of a small vessel Intimate wildlife encounters Onboard Scientist  Passionate Crew

Duration: 14 Days

Costs: $18,150 – $23,460

(INCLUDES cost of charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica)

Dates: Dec 21, 2023

Jan. 29 2024 Jan. 29 2025

What makes this trip Unique?

Quality time.

By flying across the Drake Passage, all of our time is spent in Antarctica. The two weeks are two weeks in the ice, with the icebergs, the whales, and the penguins. If there are a few days of snow, then within two weeks there is a high chance you’ll get a few great days of sun. Hoping for a great high latitude sunset or two? By having two weeks, you increase your chances of experiencing it. Two weeks allows us the chance to feel the rhythm of Antarctica, to notice changes, and to observe the details and differences of each penguin colony.

Small Group

When we say small group, we mean small group. Ocean Tramp carries a maximum of 8 passengers. This means when going ashore to a penguin colony you are not crowded with 100 other passenger vying for the best view. It means that you can have space and quiet to explore Antarctica. It means on the deck of Ocean Tramp you can have your space. No elbowing or hurrying on deck for the best spot.

With maximum 8 passengers, you leave with new friends. There is strong camaraderie onboard between guests and with crew!

All Included

Once you step onboard, it’s all included: excursions, meals, kayaking, camping, wine with dinner, gin and tonics with glacier ice (collected by guests!).

When in Antarctica the focus should be on the experience – the whole experience.

Flexibility

The vessel’s size means we can maneuver into small coves and passages. The crew and itinerary flexibility means that when there is an opportunity – we go for it.

The light is fantastic after dinner and a few passengers want to go for a zodiac cruise – let’s go! Whales are bubble feeding? Let’s stay and watch. A leopard seal is on the hunt for a penguin – let’s slow down and see what happens. The afternoon is so amazing at a penguin colony that no one wants to rush back for dinner? We’ll push back dinner another hour to enjoy the time onshore.

Going to Antarctica we want to take the opportunity to bring a scientist who has data he or she needs to collect. They will join the voyage and allow guests to participate in the data collection.

Each scientist will also give lectures during the trip about their research and past projects. Each trip is different. Past research has included penguin vocalizations, background antibacterial resistance, oxygen/hydrogen isotope levels, and mercury levels in the Southern Ocean.

Pre Trip: Arrive AT LEAST one day prior to the trip in Punta Arenas. In the afternoon collect your Muckboots and attend a briefing about the flight for the next day. (hotel for this night not included)

Depart from Punta Arenas and fly across the Drake Passage. Join the Expedition sailing yacht at King George Island and start your Antarctic Adventure.

Explore Antarctica on an Expedition sailing yacht. Each day will be different and can include zodiac tours, landings at penguin colonies, exploring historic scientific bases and whaling sites, kayaking. The flexibility allows you to take full advantage of whatever Antarctica gives to us – be it an incredible southern sunset or a breaching whale. We can stop and enjoy – not just once, but every time. While South there will be an Active scientist onboard, so all guests are invited to participate in real Antarctic research. In the evenings the scientist will present on their research, as well as pressing current Antarctic issues. The scientist will be a part of the team and ready to answer questions at dinner, or on deck!

Return to King George Island and board your flight to Punta Arenas.  Look out your window and get a last glimpse at the white continent. Once back in Punta Arenas, enjoy a celebration dinner with your fellow passengers.

· Flights to/from Punta Arenas – Antarctica · Muckboots for use in Antarctica · Meals and Accommodation in Antarctica · Kayaking and camping · Celebration dinner in Punta Arenas · Wine with dinner · Luggage up to 50lb/23kg

Not Included:

· Flights to/from home to Punta Arenas · Insurance: medical, evacuation, travel · Personal equipment and clothing · Delays due to weather · Meals and accommodation in Punta Arenas before and after the trip · Communication charges

FAQ’s

This is a great trip for photographers, especially those looking to get the perfect shot. Our size offers us incredible flexibility. We can help you get some great shots and we can take advantage of the weather and the light!

Don’t worry – we will send you a list of gear you will need.  If you have winter clothes, most of it you will already have.  A must have are some Arctic Muck boots – insulated rubber boots.  They are amazing.

YES! Please join us. Anyone with a sense of adventure and a desire to spend quality time in Antarctica will find our trips enjoyable. We teach you everything you need to know. Sailors and non-sailors alike both have incredible experiences.

Our cabins are some of the most comfortable available for sailboats. We have private double cabins, and even one with a private bathroom. Each cabin has a door that can be closed, they are fitted with warm and cozy duvets and storage space for your things. A luxury suite it is not, however each cabin gives you a place to call your own for the duration of the journey.

Everyone is a little different, but we highly recommend bringing some seasickness pills with you. While you will not be sailing across the Drake there could be a rough day to two down south. We recommend having a chat with your doctor and bringing some seasickness pills with you.

When we are in Antarctica Ocean Tramp will act like a base camp. Some days we will travel other days we will stay put. Once we are anchored we will launch the zodiac to explore. Sometimes we will cruise around the in the zodiac exploring the area, other times we will use the zodiac to bring us to shore. Sometime on shore we will be able to freely move around, explore and hike, other times we may be limited due to the wildlife and limiting our impact on them. We also bring kayaks and can use them to explore at eye level.

On-board you will eat hearty well-made delicious home cooked food. Lunch is often warm soups and sandwiches, while dinner is the big meal of the day and can be a wide ranging based on the cook and crews’ favorites. The food might be described as healthy, comforting fare. We also always have snacks available during the day and water ready for coffee or tea. If you do have any special snacks or teas that you can’t live without, we recommend bringing some with you. Passengers with dietary needs: The vessel is small and not a full-scale restaurant with multi options each meal. Our cooks will make their best effort to try to meet your needs, but some flexibility and understanding is also asked. We are a small boat, with only a fortnightly resupply by plane.

Once you are onboard everything is included – port fees, meals, wine with meals. We also provide your basic safety equipment including life jackets. Flights to/from Punta Arenas to Antarctica. One night between Antarctica and Puerto Williams in Punta Arenas.

Flights to/from Punta Arenas, airport transfers, and REQUIRED evacuation insurance. Accommodation before and after the trip is not included.

Yes. The places we go are quite remote and while what we do is safe, it does require some physical activity and advanced care could be days away. Once you sign up for a trip we will require you to fill out a medical form and have it signed by a doctor.

One of the wonderful aspects of this trip is it allows you to unplug and get away from emails, phone calls, etc. We do have a connection to the internet via our satellite phone. We use this for weather updates, email to update our position, emergencies, and facebook and blog updates. We encourage everyone to tell their friends and families to subscribe to our blog and like us on facebook. Then they can get updates while you are here with us. Our guests and their families have appreciated these “news” updates in the past.

Alcohol consumption is that the discretion of the captain. If we are underway sailing then we do not drink, as it is not in the interest of safety for crew and guests. If we are comfortably in a cove for the night then indeed, we all enjoy a nice glass of Argentine wine with our meal. Inebriation will not be tolerated onboard and the Captain has the right to cancel a trip should guests not adhere to this policy.

We recognize that this trip is not cheap. When shopping around for Antarctica Trips consider how many days a vessel is actually in Antarctica. Many have two days crossing the Drake each way (or 4 days each way in a sailboat). Our trips are 14 days in ANTARCTICA. If you look at cost per day of actually being in Antarctica – our costs aren’t so different. In addition, our vessels only carry 8 or 12 passengers and we need to charter a plane.

Is this trip for me?

Sailing to remote areas means that we are away from everything! That also means that if we need medical assistance it can be days away. It also means that we have no access to emails, phone, facebook, etc, for the duration of the trip.

Sailing on an Expedition Yacht means that the cabins and common places are small and we all the crew and passengers share pretty much everything. It can be considered as an Adventure in its true meaning! Having said that, we operate one of the biggest and more comfortable sailing boats in the area, with private double cabins, water maker, 4 bathrooms, hot showers now and then, and a 24/7 running heater keeping the inside dry, warm and cozy! Am I in good shape for participating on these expeditions? If your answer to the questions below are YES, then yes! You are fit to join us! Any questions, Please ask us!!

• Can you stay without external medical assistance for the duration of the expedition? -it could be up to 20 days
• Can you swim or float?
• Do you have good balance: Can you stay standing on a bus/metro/train with little to minimum holding in normal conditions?
• Can you embark/disembark from a zodiac to a beach with little swell?
• Can you walk 10 blocks without getting exhausted?
• Can you climb a 6ft / 2m vertical ladder?
• Are you aware that you are going to a remote area, with no phone/email/contact/etc with external people/family/etc for the length of your trip? (note: we have a satellite phone and we can send out facebook updates to family and friends, although the Sat phone is only for Weather download and any emergency)

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Hood Expedition 55

• By Ralph Naranjo
• Updated: June 4, 2008

A spring northerly ruffled Narragansett Bay, and I was about to go for a sail with Ted Hood aboard his latest Robin. In short, things couldn’t get much better. Before our departure, crab cakes and a pineapple-and-kiwifruit salad appeared on the shiny teak cockpit table, and the lunch conversation turned to the theme of the day: cruising in the fast lane. Although the new Hood design features all the comforts of home, I was intrigued by the promise of a vessel as capable under power as under sail. Ted, in his usual unassuming way, shared design details between bites and seemed as eager to go sailing as he must have been when he launched the first Robin in 1959.

Midday heating had discouraged the northerly, so we were greeted by a glistening calm when we slipped the Expedition 55 out of Hinckley Yacht Services, the big marina complex Ted created in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. This was an ideal time to test the six-cylinder, 300-horsepower John Deere 6068 housed belowdecks. The barnyard favorite proved fit for sea duty, and with neither smoke nor excess noise, the diesel sprang to life, pushing more than 50,000 pounds of cruising boat effortlessly. The knotmeter registered nine, with still more juice left in the throttle. I marveled at the lack of vibration and the efficiency of the spray chine molded into the forward portion of the hull. Ted checked the bow and stern waves and pointed out how the boat’s flat run aft and wide stern kept it from squatting as hull speed was reached. The thrust derived from the four-bladed Bruntons Varifold folding prop left a churning stream of whitewater smoothly slipping astern-another good indicator of the engine’s power.

As if by magic, Newport’s famous sea breeze materialized, and the transition from power to sail was nearly instantaneous. Facnor electric-furling headsails and mainsail turned the arduous side of sail setting into mere button pushing. I watched Ted, 80, checking sail shape with the same analytic gaze that once assisted him in making Hood Sailmakers the biggest loft in the world. He zeroed in on the furling mainsail and its vertical battens, quickly deciding that the first batten was positioned a little too high.

Meantime, I took the helm and discovered a big boat with a friendly feel that tracked well at seven-plus knots and had a wide groove. It used its form stability to stand up to the gusty sea breeze, which filled in with 20-knot puffs. Cracking off on a reach, the knotmeter was back in John Deere range, twitching between nine and 10. Steering was butter smooth and fingertip light with the hydraulic system’s power assist, and when the boost pump was turned off, it was stiffer but still manageable. Visibility from either of the dual wheels in the cockpit and from the electronic helm in the pilothouse was excellent, and the sheet leads and winches all seemed well placed. In less than an hour, I was convinced that the Expedition 55 performed well under both power and sail.

Design Challenges

The Expedition 55 is a distinct departure from the successful Little Harbor line of cruising sailboats that Ted designed, built, and sold. This heavy, high-sided sloop with the big John Deere and tankage for 500 gallons of fuel, at first glance, seems more motorsailer than performance sailboat, but a look aloft dispels the stereotype. Standing as tall as a church steeple is a triple-spreader rig that’s half again as long as the boat. Turning compromise on its ear, Ted has drawn upon the best of both worlds to deliver a long-distance cruiser that can motor by many trawler yachts and turn in similar performance under working sail.

To take advantage of the horsepower, Ted added lots of flare and freeboard to the bow along with a spray-taming chine that keeps the water where it belongs. Belowdecks, the accommodations plan mimics what’s found on yachts 10 or 15 feet longer, while topside, there’s indeed a feeling of harmony between power and sail. Wide beam and high freeboard give the flush-deck hull of the Expedition 55 considerable windage, but on the return from our sail, it became clear that the boat is still maneuverable. With Ted at the helm and a gusty wind on the beam, he spun her around in little more than her own length and backed into a tight slip. It was a good example of the boat’s responsiveness, the skill of her skipper, and, as Ted put it, the value of a not-so-old-fashioned bow thruster.

Ted says he’s always felt that wide beam and large genoas were both good for performance and readily adaptable to cruising boats-a vision verified by the 55 under sail. He adds that the shoal-draft Scheel keel was ahead of its time, and on this boat, by adding a centerboard to the Scheel keel’s flat bulb, he’s ensured good windward performance.

The 55’s extra freeboard adds a bit of a trawler look and increases windage, but it also affords drier decks on a rough slog to weather.

A neat bit of seafaring subtlety lies behind the design of the inside steering station. The enclosure provides superlative shelter but isn’t part of the interior volume of the vessel, and in the unlikely scenario that the windows are damaged by heavy seas, water is kept abovedecks by companionway “washboards” that can be slipped into place during a storm. This, like the watertight bulkhead forward, is a seamanlike feature of definite value for serious passagemakers.

When the sun reappears and the crew emerges from the comfortable pilothouse-like hard dodger that protects the front of the cockpit, they can take the helm at either of the twin wheels. The hydraulic-steering system and dual-rudder design integrate flawlessly with the autopilot.

Construction Basics

Tekad Marine, in Turkey, did a good job of laminating a rugged, well-engineered hull. Vinylester resin was used for the outer skin coats, and a schedule of E-glass stitched roving and mat constitutes the laminate on either side of one-inch ATC Core-Cell AL-500 foam-sandwich material. The Expedition 55 was built on a male jig rather than in a female mold. Computer-generated station templates were used to define the transverse shape of the hull and deck, and these were set up on a center-line strongback, with battens slotted in place defining the hull’s contours. The foam core was secured to the jig, and the outer layers of fiberglass were laminated over the core. Once cured, the vessel was rolled right-side up, the jig removed, and the inside hull skin applied. The core was cut out in high-load areas and in-filled with extra layers of glass laminate. The deck was built in a similar fashion, with solid-fiberglass backing plates used where appropriate. Once fully cured, a combination of bonding and mechanical fastening joined the hull and deck. Fiberglass tanks were built into the hull, and a stick-built approach to the custom interior made good use of the shipwright’s carpenters.

Robin’s interior is finished in satin-varnished cherry, and there’s a teak-and-holly-veneered plywood cabin sole. Throughout, the carpentry skills of the Turkish builder are a clear indicator of traditional craftsmanship. Adding European flair, in both head compartments I found extensive use of ceramics and metal appointments as well as marble surfaces and recessed bullet lights with metal trim. Aft, the owner’s cabin features an island berth of suite proportions, and with its own head and the cockpit-length separation from the main saloon, true privacy can be maintained.

The saloon makes use of all 18 feet of the boat’s maximum beam and provides for a dining and entertaining experience usually seen only on much larger yachts. The interplay between the galley, to starboard and aft, and the combination dining table and port settee as well as the “cocktail alcove,” to starboard, means that between offshore adventures, guests have no need to hold a drink and hors d’oeuvres on their laps. Add to this the large, collapsible cockpit table, and entertaining can take on a whole new level of sophistication.

From stem to stern, the layout should work as well at anchor as it does at sea. There are plenty of storage lockers and drawers, along with room for 800 amp-hours of 24-volt ship’s batteries and a large inverter. The tradeoff for all this creature comfort in the stern of the boat is the lack of a “climb-in” engine room, but that’s compensated for with good access-panel openings to get at key components associated with the engine and generator. By no means, however, is there full-360-degree convenience for the mechanic coping with an overhaul, and when it finally comes time to repower, some disassembly of the surrounding joiner work and the engine will be necessary.

The Expedition 55’s deck, forward of the mast, is that of a no-nonsense flush-deck cruising sailboat, sporting the right gear placed in the right location. Whether it’s the functional stem rollers and powerful Lofrans Tigres anchor windlass, rugged chainplates, or the utilitarian choice of Awlgrip nonskid rather than teak, the E-55 is all about form and function.

The in-mast-furling spar, from Charleston Spar, has winches and rope clutches located where they’re handy and easy to use. The genoa can easily be poled out on a self-stowing, extendable carbon-fiber whisker pole. The massive triple-spreader rig and the Facnor headsail furlers handle 2,000 square feet of working sail and make reefing and furling possible for a shorthanded crew. The mainsail itself is a tricky compromise between performance-enhancing draft and roach and a flatter, no-roach, easy-to-furl alternative. During our sail, Ted demonstrated how to toggle a power furler to clear a furling mainsail that starts to bind. He emphasized the importance of not trying to overpower the bind by winching either in or out; instead, one should gently toggle back and forth, coaxing the bind to release.

As might be expected aboard any Hood-designed sailboat, the rig and deck hardware are in the right place, and the layout of sailhandling equipment proved to be well thought out. For example, Ted pointed out why the inner forestaysail was tacked well aft of the headstay, closer to the main, where the sail would actually clean up the airflow past the large, turbulence-producing obstacle the mast represents. It also moves the center of effort of this handy heavy-weather sail aft and adds versatility to the sail plan.

Under sail, the high freeboard has some beneficial effects. It allows the center of buoyancy to move up and to leeward of the centerline, in effect causing it to separate from the fixed vertical center of gravity, thereby significantly increasing the righting moment. Much of the Expedition’s ability to stand up to its high-aspect-ratio sail plan has to do with this additional freeboard and the vessel’s wide beam carried aft. The powercruiser-like chine that’s been molded into the forefoot of the vessel works in conjunction with the freeboard and flare to keep the decks dry when powering dead to windward. And the wide stern and leaner forward sections help dampen pitching moment in a seaway.

For decades, Ted’s formula for success has been to design, build, sail, and sell the boats he envisions. The latest Robin is an amalgam of power and sail, an effort to draw from the best of both worlds-and after a close look and a short sea trial, it was clear that the man from Marblehead may well have done it again.

Ralph Naranjo lives in Annapolis, Maryland. His book, The Art of Seamanship, will be published by International Marine next year.

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HIGH-LATITUDE ADVENTURE SAILING

Book your summer 2024 adventure to the land of the midnight sun.

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A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

Experience elemental landscapes and extraordinary wildlife with an unforgettable high latitude sailing adventure.

Under the power of sail, explore the pristine waters and imposing landscapes of the high latitudes. Onboard the 68-foot expedition yachts and over land by foot, we will guide you to some of the most remote, untouched natural environments on the planet during a seemingly endless summer, with long days and short nights. Experience the thrill of navigating past icebergs, marvel at majestic wildlife and catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis. 

The route, divided into five legs, spans from two to 12 weeks, journeying from the UK to the Arctic Circle and back again. Take on one leg, combine several or complete all five legs in the voyage.

THE EXPEDITION LEGS

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EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING

12 WEEKS · 4470 NAUTICAL MILE · FIVE COUNTRIES

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ICELAND, ISLES AND ISLANDS

Expedition yachts.

SKIRR Adventures makes use of expedition adapted Clipper 68 ocean racing yachts. These 68ft yachts were purpose built to take on the worlds toughest ocean conditions or low wind, with the manoeuvrability to go where larger boats can not.

OCEAN PROVEN ULTRA-TOUGH YACHTS

SKIRR Adventures fleet of Clipper 68’s have proven themselves in the worlds most extreme ocean conditions including multiple North Pacific crossings.

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The SKIRR Adventures Arctic sailing adventure is inspired by our founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnstons very own voyage to Greenland in 1991.

ADVENTURE, IT’S IN OUR DNA

SKIRR Adventures is part of Clipper Ventures that owns and operates the iconic 40,000 nautical mile Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

HEAR FROM PAST EXPLORERS

All guidance and instruction on helming was done in a calm, constructive and instructive manner. I got a lot from this aspect of the trip. Course planning to suit weather/sea conditions and log maintenance briefings were effective and beneficial.

LEG 5 | ICELAND, ISLES & ISLANDS

Seeing the Northern Lights from the helm at night was almost enough. Seeing the low sun on the ocean with snow capped mountains beyond has to be experienced, no photographs do it justice, especially when some of those mountains turn out to be icebergs.

LEG 4 | GREENLAND EXPLORER

It was an adventure of a lifetime, and I would eagerly look forward to participating in another one in the future. Additionally, the friendships I forged during this expedition are something I value immensely; they truly feel like they are going to be for a lifetime.

LEG 1 | SCOTISH ISLES

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EXPEDITION YACHTS FOR SALE

These are the bluewater, transoceanic passagemakers that can be found circling the globe safely, efficiently, and comfortably. Typically full displacement vessels large enough to carry thousands of gallons of fuel and water, these vessels can cruise at speeds up to 10 knots in most seaways and remain untethered to shoreside facilities for months at a time. They are rugged and supremely capable. The best of this breed come from the commercial and military worlds. Inspect the size and quality of the gear on an expedition yacht and that will be obvious.

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Search expedition yachts by length, search expedition yachts by year, more about used expedition yachts.

These are not production boats, and no two yachts are the same. Each is a custom or semi-custom yacht tailored to the desires and cruising plans of its owners.

Most of these yachts have a single diesel engine in an engine room that is central to the design of the boat, with outstanding access to machinery and systems. Multiple generators supply electrical and hydraulic power as needed, much like a small ship. 

The engineering that goes into expedition yachts eliminates single points of failure in all systems, and redundancy is factored into all critical areas. Self-sufficiency is also a key element of the design spiral of an expedition yacht. Unlike most other categories of cruising yachts, the living space elements of the best yachts in this category, such as galley and staterooms, are secondary to the engine room where supreme reliability and accessibility of the machinery and systems is first and foremost.

As a result, most expedition yachts use commercial grade, hydraulic systems for windlass, bow and stern thrusters, stabilizers, and tender cranes for the ultimate performance. All gear is oversized and capable of operating in extreme conditions.

If a trawler is considered an SUV vehicle, think of an expedition yachts as an Earth Roamer, a crossover between a luxury yacht and research vessel. In fact, some expedition yachts do conduct research when they go on a long cruise to remote areas or during a circumnavigation, on marine life, health of reef ecosystems, and the impacts of climate change.

The layout includes a fully outfitted pilothouse like a ship’s bridge, offering the safest place to operate the vessel at sea. The latest and best in communications and navigation electronics are located in the pilothouse, including Class A AIS transponders, satellite phone, and commercial radars. Everything, in fact, that allows the owners to safely remain at sea, or meander through island chains, with enough provisions, fuel, and water to travel non-stop halfway or more around the world.

The expedition yacht is fully insulated to operate in both tropical and extreme latitudes, where it can remain for months. Larger yachts will have a captain and crew, but with today’s technology and systems, owner-operated yachts are found up to 85 feet or so. All expedition yachts are stabilized for comfort at sea.

Builders use steel, aluminum, or fiberglass to build these yachts, and all are classified for open ocean, and many rated for ice, for high latitude exploration.

Luxury accommodations are typically two or three staterooms for owner operated vessels, or more, depending on size, as larger yachts will have crew quarters. Living spaces are well appointed for full-time living aboard with all appliances, entertainment systems, and comforts of home. The galley is most often nicer than one would expect in a luxury townhouse.

These boats can cruise exotic places with little or no outside support, so are equipped with dive compressors and all the water toys and other equipment to explore reefs, uninhabited islands, as well as enjoy the most luxurious European marinas in the Mediterranean. Wreck diving in Truk Lagoon, watching glaciers in Alaska and Greenland, and following in Shackleton’s footsteps are all within the mission statement of the expedition yacht. 

Some of the larger yachts in this category carry multiple tenders and the largest expedition yachts may also carry large express boats and even a helicopter for scouting ahead for anchorages or crew transfer. 

For adventure that is hard to replicate elsewhere on this planet, while providing the ultimate in luxury living, expedition yachts represent the highest level of comfort, capability, and self-sufficiency.

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CREATING AN ALUMINIUM SAILBOAT FOR BLUEWATER CRUISING

"I have always been fascinated about the idea of sailboat traveling on the ocean energy self-sufficient like the satellite rounding the earth. Producing its own energy by the power of wind, sea and sun.

The Li Yachts project started with my own desire of the boat that will be used in dive expeditions with aim to reach even the remotest locations – and I wanted to do that with freedom of fossil fuels."

Voyage started from my hand drawn sketches. Here drawing the 47 ft centreboarder.

We have designed a 40 ft centreboard pilothouse sailboat made of aluminium and the 33 ft version is in initial sketch stage. My search for the perfect cruising boat lead me to start the design project and a company called Li Yachts in 2015 in Finland. The name was borrowed from my old aluminium yacht and now refers to low impact because of sustainability goals.

The basis for the project was a life-time passion for the sea. Contributing personal factors included my long sailing experience in Nordic waters and the technical and artisan education I had completed earlier. Also my desire to realise long research expeditions on the world’s oceans in the future was part of my personal background.

The strongest motivational factor was the fact that I was not satisfied with the properties of most modern yachts. Based on the above, the need for a totally new sailing boat concept crystallised

Late autumn gale approaches, I'm dreaming of keeping watch from warmth of the pilothouse.

My goal in the Li Yachts project is to create a modern sailboat made of aluminium, the simple and strong tool for bluewater cruising. The main design elements will include safety, practicality and sustainability The new design concept covers production, use and maintenance. Zero pollution and high level of recycling of materials are some of the specific goals. Please read more about the background in The Blog  page.

At a very concrete level, I have understood what changes in design will be needed for the boat of the future when I have been owning, sailing and re-building an old aluminium sailboat called Li built in 1967 , since 2011.

During the years with my current aluminium yacht, I have kept notes on the observations as regards the design elements which could be improved. In many cases they would actually need to be drastically redefined in order to satisfy my dreams as to the perfect expedition sailboat. For more information of these details, kindly see  The Concept  page.

Familiar snowy views while winter sailing at 60°N has given lessons on how well an aluminium sailboat intended for high latitude sailing should be insulated.

I believe I am not alone with my thoughts. I think most experienced sailors would share my ideas. I believe many of them have actually realised there is a need for some basic changes in the design as regards our future yachts.

As the resources of the world are becoming more and more scarce, we need to take this into consideration, in addition to considering the improvements needed in other operational details of a sailing boat.

Please contact me in case you need more information or want to share design or production ideas. At the moment we are working hard to be able to build the 40 ft prototype. The goal is to produce a small serie, which would give reasonable priced opportunities for the first interested sailors.  I hope that a new advanced and sustainable aluminium sailboat will soon sail the seas and oceans of the world.

Fair winds,

Simo Nyrönen

Founder of Li Yachts

Breaking the ice for expedition sailors

OUR MISSION

   Arctic Yachts is an expedition sailing & documentary film production company founded by Peter Madej - a captain, ice pilot and expedition leader with very deep knowledge of Greenland, Arctic Canada, Svalbard, Arctic Norway and Iceland. Peter sailed approx 250.000 Nm over the past 20 years, and assembled a small team of very experienced expedition sailors driven by genuine passion for the Arctic.

  Each year we take part in remarkable expeditions, with main focus on providing safe, reliable and efficient platform to film production, wildlife photography, science, as well adventure & sports projects, that combine sailing with mountaineering, skiing and exploring some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the Arctic.

   We also produce expedition video content for our YouTube channel  and recently created a short documentary film " Jojo ".

   When back on land, we offer expert advise to the interesting people and projects that share our passion and core values. If you are up for an amazing expedition, film shoot, or even a mission impossible, and need to find the most suitable yacht, get a professional advise or connect to our network of trusted expedition sailors and guides, we can assist in making your dream come true! 

Photo by  Florian Ledoux

OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE

ice navigation

navigating uncharted waters

finding the most suitable expedition yacht to buy or charter

preparations to the expedition ​

itinerary planning

film production onboard a yacht

approaching Arctic wildlife ​

location scouting for films

   Documentary film is our big passion. Most recently we've supported the production of amazing feature documentaries “Aquarela” (Victor Kossakovsky), “Polaris” (Ainara Vera) and natural history series “America”, as well produced our own short documentary – “ Jojo ” which premiered in the Cinema Galeries in Brussels in October 2022.

When the pandemic closed the borders and shut down most of the expedition projects, we came up with the idea to create Expedition Sailing Virtual Boat Show - a virtual event that would promote some of the nicest projects and people operating in the Arctic. During the strict lockdown, we produced a series of video interviews with expedition sailors, guides, and artists in order to connect them with the audience via a dedicated website and YouTube channel .

  Our long-term goal is to create a large (2000+ minutes) documentary series that will follow an expedition circumnavigating each continent. The primary aim of this project is to study noise pollution in the oceans and develop effective solutions to significantly reduce the human impact on marine mammals that rely on echolocation and vocalization for communication, navigation, sourcing food, and detecting predators. This expedition project is in an advanced stage of development and offers unique opportunities for partners who wish to join us. We are currently engaging with various investors, business partners, artists, expedition sailors, and PR specialists to bring this beautiful project to life.

S/Y Polski Hak,  photo by  Florian Ledoux

My Cruiser Life Magazine

Aluminum Sailboat – The Ultimate Expedition Yacht?

Love them or hate them, aluminum sailboats are an excellent option for serious blue water cruising. They’re robust and sturdy and can come out of a scrap saying, “But you should see the other guy!”

Table of Contents

Advantages of aluminum sailboats, aluminum hull sailboat disadvantages, alubat ovni, garcia yachts, van de stadt, is an aluminum blue water sailboat right for you, faqs (frequently asked questions), why an aluminum sailboat.

In one particular niche of the sailboat industry, aluminum is all the rage. They certainly aren’t every man’s boat. Aluminum sailboats are reserved for high-end expedition-level long-distance cruising.

These boats are literally made to go anywhere and do anything. They’re practically indestructible, and they perform well. They can do things that make fiberglass boat owners fear for their gelcoat finish . Beach themselves on rocky shorelines? No problem. High latitude sailing while dodging icebergs? Sounds like part of a perfect cruise for an aluminum sailboat.

While browsing some of the aluminum sailboat manufacturers listed below, you’ll notice that many of these vessels look alike. They’re built for a similar purpose, after all. They are not charter boats going to the Caribbean—they are expedition yachts serving live aboard cruising couples.

These boats probably benefit from their limited market share. Their extra cost means that the makers don’t spend time marketing their boats to other buyers. The result is a sailing yacht that’s hyper-targeted to the task at hand—long-distance and long-term cruising.

Nearly all of these boats fall between 30 and 60 feet long, and nearly all of them are appointed for blue water cruising for a couple. In addition, more and more makers are branching into the multihull market, with several new aluminum catamarans coming out soon.

Once you start researching these boats and understanding the mission they’re designed for, their utility and robustness are apparent. For an owner who wants a worry-free vessel that can take on any challenge, it’s hard to beat an aluminum sailboat.

Here’s a list of just a few advantages of aluminum sailboats.

• Lighter than other sailboat materials
• Strong and difficult to damage, won’t crack
• Lifetime hull warranty possible
• Doesn’t need painting or top-coating
• Impervious to water—no blisters
• Doesn’t rust like steel
• More space down below
• Many are designed to dry out or sit on the bottom

Lightweight Material

Aluminum is used in many applications. Most aircraft are made of aluminum, so it is obviously lightweight and strong. It’s easy to machine into complex shapes and curves, and modern welding techniques mean it can be put together into a completely smooth surface.

Compared to other boat-building options, it is much stronger and thinner than fiberglass. It is lighter than wood, too. Compared to other metals, it is lighter than steel and does not rust.

The number one advantage of a metal boat is that it is strong. If your boat is made of metal, you don’t worry about scraping a dock or even bumping a rock. Gelcoat scratches and chips are a thing of the past. 

Metal boats are difficult to damage and won’t crack during an impact. In the worst case, it’s most likely that it will dent. Therefore, a hull breach is extremely unlikely. 

Compare this to the ubiquitous fiberglass boat, and the difference is stunning. Fiberglass is, by comparison, fragile. An impact with a sea buoy or a dock piling can easily cause cracking and severe damage to a GRP hull. These things are just in a day’s work for an aluminum hull.

Lifetime Hull Warranty Possible

The best aluminum sailboat makers can offer lifetime hull warranties. They put the time and effort into making their boats last a lifetime, and they will stand by that commitment.

No Painting

Love it or hate it, aluminum boats fare best without paint. Over time, the paint will bubble and chip away, so adding paint adds maintenance. As a result, most owners leave their aluminum hulls bare.

Impervious to Water

The fear of every fiberglass boat owner is the dreaded osmotic blister. These blisters form on the bottom of the boat and occur when water seeps into the fiberglass laminates. Of course, it’s not the end of the world, and they can be repaired and are preventable. But aluminum boats have no blisters—the metal is entirely impervious to water.

Doesn’t Rust

The other common option for vessels is steel. But unlike steel, these boats don’t rust. This is why they don’t have to be painted.

More Space Down Below

Compared to similar-sized fiberglass yachts, a boat will have more space down below. Since the hulls and bulkheads are thinner, they leave more space for storage and furniture. It might sound like a minor thing, but on a 30 or 35-foot sailing yacht, a few extra inches on each side of the cabin makes a huge difference.

Shallow Draft and Safe to Dry Out

Many of these designs are made to go absolutely anywhere. As such, shallow draft is a desirable feature—and one not often found on ocean-going blue water sailboats . Quite a few of these boats, particularly the French aluminum sailboats, have swing keel designs for getting in and out of skinny water.

For these boats, another great feature is the ability to dry out on their keel and remain upright. For areas with big tidal swings, this means access to harbors that dry on the outgoing tide. It also means easy access to haul-out facilities for repairs—just find a comfortable sandbar and do what you have to do.

Related: Best Trailerable Sailboats

If aluminum is so grand, why aren’t all sailboats made of it? Unfortunately, for as many pluses as these boats have, there are negatives as well. All boats are a compromise, so for all the benefits, you will have to give something up while you drive your boat around the boating world .

Here’s a list of a few disadvantages to owning an aluminum sailboat.

• More expensive to make and purchase
• Extreme care must be taken to avoid dissimilar metals penny in the bilge etc
• Subject to corrosion
• Harder to add deck fittings
• Repairs require specialized welding techniques expensive
• More difficult to apply anti-fouling paints
• Thinner hulls mean noisier rides and harder to heat and cool insulation is key
• Problems with weak welds
• Rare finds on the used market
• Custom one-off builds have the unpredictable build quality and resale value

More Expensive

Everything about an aluminum sailboat is more expensive. For the manufacturer, materials, labor, and construction time increase costs which they pay particular attention to. These are passed on to the buyer, so aluminum sailboats are nearly always more expensive than a comparable fiberglass yacht.

Dissimilar Metal Corrosion

Aluminum is more or less indestructible, with a few exceptions. What you get in protection from the elements and sturdiness at sea you pay for in routine maintenance and upgrades.

Aluminum quickly corrodes when it comes in contact with other metals. If you look at the aluminum mast of the typical sailboat, you’ll find corrosion around practically every stainless fastener. You must take extreme care to avoid dissimilar metals in a metal boat, where every attachment point and accessory presents the possibility of dissimilar metal corrosion.

Stories abound of people who have dropped pennies or batteries in the bilge only to find a hole corroded through the boat. To some extent, these problems are hyped up a little bit too much, but there is no denying that the danger is real.

Subject to Corrosion

While on the subject of corrosion, dissimilar metals are only one possible cause. Aluminum yachts must also be extremely careful of galvanic and electrolytic corrosion. So, in addition, you must take care that the boat’s electrical system does not introduce any stray DC currents. The same may be said of marinas and shore power connections, which can also introduce problems.

Harder to Add Deck Fittings

The risk of corrosion and damage to the aluminum hull and superstructure means that accessories or deck hardware are more difficult to add on. Generally speaking, drilling holes and bolting on new doodads is a straightforward task on a fiberglass boat. In the end, what matters is that it is sealed well enough not to allow water into the deck coring or the hull itself.

With these boats, things are a bit trickier. Owners are understandably more hesitant to go drilling holes in their expensive boats because holes are much harder to repair. Furthermore, unless all new hardware is made from aluminum, care must be taken to keep the two metals from touching. This might mean painting the metals or adding an extra layer of an insulator.

Difficult Repairs

Repairs to an aluminum boat require specialized welding techniques. It’s already boating, so the word specialized should be a warning—this isn’t going to be cheap. While you can pull into any port town in the world and find someone with fiberglass repair skills, a skilled aluminum welder might be a tougher ask. The good news is that it will need far fewer repairs throughout its lifetime.

Anti-Fouling Paint Problems

While regular boats can slap on any anti-foul that their local marine store or chandlery sells, aluminum boat owners need to be extra cautious. Like deck fittings and stray objects in the bilge can cause problems, so can the wrong paint. 

The active anti-fouling ingredient in most bottom paints is cuprous oxide. Copper reacts with aluminum and causes corrosion. So you cannot apply regular bottom paint directly to an aluminum hull. 

There are special paints that are safe for aluminum, however. It is generally believed that these formulas are at least somewhat less effective, which means you might have to reapply them more often or invest in bottom cleanings more often.

Thinner Hull Skin

For the same strength, aluminum is much thinner than other boat-building materials. It also conducts sound well. That means you will hear wave noise and hull slap more down below.

It also means that the boats will be harder to insulate against very hot or frigid weather. Newer boats make up for this with a perfect layer of insulation all around the hull, which should fix these problems. They’re still, like all boats, subject to condensation in the winter months.

Aluminum Boat Build Quality Problems

There aren’t many aluminum yachts on the market, which means that you are more likely to come across custom, one-off boats as a buyer. These may be works of art, but you’d have to research the shipyard that built it very carefully to determine if they have experience with aluminum yachts. These one-off boats often have unpredictable build qualities and a lower resale value.

For the most part, the production boats, even if they are custom or semi-custom models, have fewer problems. But issues with weak welds do pop up from time to time.

Finally, if you’re in the market for a used aluminum sailboat, you will likely need to search for a while. There aren’t many companies making them, and only a handful are built and sold each year. They are out there, but you’re going to have a very short list of options.

For example, a quick look at Yachtworld shows that for used sailboats between 30 and 50 feet long, there are currently listed the following.

• 5,665 Fiberglass or composite boats
• 87 Aluminum
• 9 Ferro cement

Best Aluminum Sailboat Makers

The original aluminum blue water sailboat was made famous by cruising legend Jimmy Cornell. Cornell did a five-year circumnavigation on Aventura III, an Ovni 43 .

Ovnis are centerboard yachts with shallow drafts. They have distinctive double hard chines on the hull and a go-anywhere look that feels as much at home anchored in a French Polynesian lagoon as it does tie to an iceberg in Patagonia.

Ovnis are built by Alubat, a French builder of several types of aluminum boats. They are currently marketing their new aluminum catamaran Ovnicat 48 , which will turn a few heads.

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Garcia makes expedition yachts between 45 and 60 feet. Their Exploration range of monohulls features raised salons and sleek lines that make them look like production fiberglass boats. Their boats feature centerboards and can be dried out thanks to their protected running gear and double rudders.

Garcia also makes a catamaran, the Explorcat 52 , and one-off designs for custom clients. Garcia yachts are built in France.

Kanter is a Canadian builder of top-quality aluminum yachts, both power, sail, and commercial vessels. Their pilothouse sailboats, available in sizes from 47 to 80, are as sleek as any fiberglass boat and built to go anywhere. Several designs come from the table of yacht designer Chuck Paine. 

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Futuna, also built in France, makes expedition monohulls between 50 and 70 feet long. Their boats tend to look more like ocean racers, with a focus on performance.

Boreal yachts are unmistakable with their half-dome-shaped dodgers. The Boreal 44 has won numerous “sailboat of the year” awards. Boreal yachts have centerboards and can be dried out.

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Meta has a storied past. They built Bernard Moitessier’s Joshua , the boat made famous in the book The Long Way . Today they build semi-custom and custom aluminum blue water and expedition boats in both power and sail.

Another popular French builder of aluminum yachts is Allures yachting. Their boats are between 40 and 50 feet in length and feature a similar centerboard design as the Ovni, Boreal, and some Garcias.

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Van de Stadt is not a boat brand but rather a famous Dutch yacht designer. Many of his plans were built in steel or aluminum, so it’s not uncommon to see Van de Stadts listed for sale.

Another famous designer of aluminum sailboats was German Kurt Reinke. Many of his boats are smaller and feature twin or bilge lifting keels.

If you’re in the market for an expedition yacht, looking at a circumnavigation, or are interested in sailing in high latitudes, an aluminum blue water sailboat is worth a look. Of course, like any yacht, they have their pluses and minus. But the peace of mind you’ll get from driving a nearly indestructible go-anywhere vessel is hard to beat.

How long do aluminum sailboats last?

If properly cared for, an aluminum sailboat has no particular lifespan. Several manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on their hulls. If the hull is well built and protected from corrosion, there is no reason that it couldn’t last forever.

What is the best material for a sailboat?

Most sailboats in the world today are built with fiberglass. It is inexpensive, easy to build with, and easy to repair. In addition, it is strong in its weight ratio and resistant to corrosion and deterioration. But unfortunately, it does not survive impacts well, and it is easily scratched or cracked by docks or rocks. Aluminum sailboats are considered much more robust. A well-built aluminum sailboat does not need to worry about getting scratched or damaged during regular use. Many sailors looking for expedition yachts consider aluminum the best material for these sailboats. Of course, each material has advantages and disadvantages.

What is the best hull material for a sailboat?

Most boats are built with fiberglass because it is generally considered the best overall value. When used to make the hull of a sailboat, it produces a rigid structure and is easy and less expensive to manufacture. However, it is protected by a delicate gelcoat layer, which will deteriorate over time. More expensive yachts favor metal construction for longevity. The best material for sailboats is aluminum, which can last forever if taken care of. It is much less likely to sustain damage like scratches or cracks than fiberglass.

Do aluminum boats last forever?

It is theoretically possible for an aluminum boat to last forever, as long as it is well cared for. Aluminum boats are sensitive to corrosion issues. But with regular maintenance, these boats can easily outlive their crews.

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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