ON BOARD1895–1950 1950–1960 1960–1970 1970–1980 1980–1990 1990–2000 2000–20102010–2016Largest yachtThe past: explorer yacht launches 1895 to 2016
Number of yachts13 29(^5736)
24 30 128 114
107' 9"
127' 2" 131' 11"
150' 1"
114' 8" 114' 8" 120' 7"
124' 2"
Average LOA (ft)
1,400
3,687
7,522
5,403
3,441
15,436
2,752 14,156
Total LOA (ft)
THE GOLDEN OLDIE - CALYPSO
Jacques Cousteau’s famous vessel could
be considered the oldest explorer yacht
in the world. She was converted into a yacht
in 1951, long before older commercial hulls
that were converted later.
THE MODERN MARVEL - OCTOPUS
At 413 feet, Paul Allen’s largest yacht
is impressive for many reasons: two
helicopter pads with a garage to protect
them, an internal dock for the 61' 8" tender
and a submarine.
THE FUTURE FANTASTIC - KING SHARK
Although she doesn’t look like an explorer,
this 230 foot project includes adventurous
details: an ice-class hull, a diesel-electric
propulsion system, long range and the ability
to cruise extreme conditions.
Calypso
139'
Seawolf
192' 10”
Arctic P
287' 3”
Sea
Ranger
253' 11”
Enigma XK
234' 3”
Golden
Shadow
218' 11”
Luna
377' 3”
Octopus
414'
The present: the global explorer yacht fleet
The future: explorer yachts under construction
Number of yachts
Famous explorers through the ages
1895 – 2016
431 53,802 124 414
Total LOA (ft) Average LOA (ft) Largest yacht (ft)
56 7,998 142 380
Number of projects Total LOA (ft) Average LOA (ft) Largest yacht (ft)
(Octopus,
see below)
(Kleven 370 –
delivery 2017)
Launched for Roman
Abramovich, Luna’s new
owners bought her in
2014 and put her
through a 14 month, €50
million refit
Luna’s massive power, designed
to nudge her through shallow ice,
can run her at 21 knots, even with
one generator offline
With all generators
engaged and running
at full revs, Luna could
power a town of
25,000 people
1895 - 2016
2017 – 2020
50,000,000
Her pool was the biggest
ever seen on a superyacht
at the time of her launch
She’s designed to roam
the globe, but if you tire
of the views there are
80 TVs on board
Luna’s
tonudg
canru
Iconic explorer: Luna, Lloyd Werft, 2010
Explorers go forth
APRIL 2017 WWW.BOATINTERNATIONAL.COM APRIL 2017
INFOGRAPHICS Valerio Pellegrini
RESEARCH Raphael Montigneaux
They used to be functional, practical and commercial-looking, but more and
more of today’s owners want to see the world – in comfort and style
lthough a relatively recent
evolution in yachting history,
explorers are enjoying a real
“moment” as the statistics to the
right identify. Originally, they tended to be
former research and commercial vessels
converted into yachts: 85 per cent of the
explorer yachts launched before 1990 are
conversions, as are a decent proportion of
those launched after 1990. As John DeCaro,
president of All Ocean Yachts, recalls: “I was
told that no one would ever want a yacht
that looked that commercial. Now every
major line of yachts has something they
call an explorer.”
The real boom in explorers started at the
end of the 1990s. Since then, their designs
have developed to meet the wishes of their
owners. Vasco Buonpensiere, sales and
marketing director of Cantiere delle
Marche, says: “Year after year, the explorer
niche has expanded and has become more
appealing to a wider range of yachtsmen
who are still looking for sturdy and
seaworthy vessels, but at the same time
classy, elegant, contemporary and with
timeless design.”
Current projects suggest the future will
be full of these hybrids – tough boats packing
the latest luxury. The latest order at
Rossinavi, the 230ft King Shark (see
opposite), is a perfect example of this
evolution. Buonpensiere believes this type of
boat is the explorer of the future. “We think
that the pure explorer niche will remain
stable in the next years, while there is going
to be a natural evolution in merging the
contents of the explorers with the style,
luxury and design of white yachts.”
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