Explorer
Octopus
- Length
- 126.2 m
- Builder
- Lürssen
- Year
- 2003
- Range
- 12,500 nm at 12 kn
- Ice class
- Ice-class 1A hull (full notation not published)
Explorer & expedition yachts
An independent guide to long-range yachts: what they are, how far they go, ice class, support vessels, builders and cost. Every figure has a source.
An explorer yacht is a yacht built or converted to cruise long distances without outside support. Typical traits are a displacement hull, a range of several thousand nautical miles and stores for weeks at sea (Boat International, YachtBuyer). Boat International treats an expedition yacht as a subset of explorers that must be more autonomous where there is little shore-side support (Boat International).
Boat International's Global Order Book 2026 counts 101 expedition yachts in build or on order, about 9% of 1,093 projects, and the first fall in that number since 2019 (Global Order Book 2026). A year earlier the count was a record 105 (Global Order Book 2025). In 2024, 35 explorer yachts were delivered (Boat International).
Explorer Yachts is a reference site, not a broker: we sell nothing and take no bookings. Where sources disagree on a length, a range or an ice class, our tables show both figures rather than pick one silently.
- 101
- Expedition yachts in build or on order (2026)
- 70%
- Of explorer yachts are 24–40 m long
- 139.7 m
- Longest on BI's list: Solaris
- 35
- Explorer yachts delivered in 2024
Notable explorer yachts
Twelve of the 40 vessels in our list. Sources for every figure are on the list page.
Explorer
Solaris
- Length
- 139.7 m
- Builder
- Lloyd Werft
- Year
- 2021
- Range
- Not confirmed
- Ice class
- Not confirmed
Explorer
Andromeda
- Length
- 107.4 m
- Builder
- Kleven
- Year
- 2016
- Range
- 8,500 nm at 12 kn
- Ice class
- DNV Ice(C)
Expedition
Olivia O
- Length
- 88.5 m
- Builder
- Ulstein Verft
- Year
- 2020
- Range
- Not confirmed
- Ice class
- Ice-class steel hull to Lloyd's Register standards (notation not published)
Expedition (conversion)
Arctic P
- Length
- 87.57 m
- Builder
- Schichau Unterweser
- Year
- 1969
- Range
- 17,000 nm at 12 kn
- Ice class
- Germanischer Lloyd E3 as built (current notation not published)
Explorer (conversion)
Legend
- Length
- 77.4 m
- Builder
- IHC Verschure (1974 tug); conversion Icon Yachts
- Year
- 1974
- Range
- 7,640 nm (speed not stated)
- Ice class
- Lloyd's Register Ice Class 1A (Icon Yachts); built as a Class 1 icebreaker
Expedition
La Datcha
- Length
- 76.9 m
- Builder
- Damen Yachting
- Year
- 2020
- Range
- 6,000 nm at 11 kn (Damen)
- Ice class
- DNV Ice-C; Polar Ship Certificate
Expedition
Yersin
- Length
- 76.6 m
- Builder
- Piriou
- Year
- 2015
- Range
- 15,000 nm at 11 kn
- Ice class
- Bureau Veritas Ice Class IC
Explorer
Planet Nine
- Length
- 73.2 m
- Builder
- Admiral
- Year
- 2018
- Range
- More than 10,000 nm at 10 kn
- Ice class
- Lloyd's Register Ice Class 1D
Explorer
Scout
- Length
- 63.72 m
- Builder
- Royal Hakvoort
- Year
- 2019
- Range
- 4,800 nm at 12 kn (Hakvoort)
- Ice class
- Lloyd's Register Ice Class 1D
Expedition
Hanse Explorer
- Length
- 47.76 m
- Builder
- Fassmer
- Year
- 2006
- Range
- 5,000 nm at 12 kn (Fassmer)
- Ice class
- DNV E3 (Germanischer Lloyd E3 as built)
Expedition
Heeus
- Length
- 44.2 m
- Builder
- Bering Yachts
- Year
- 2022
- Range
- 5,000 nm at 10 kn (Northrop & Johnson)
- Ice class
- Ice belt, no class notation (Bureau Veritas)
What to look at in a specification
No single figure makes a yacht an explorer. Range only means something with a speed attached: Boat International notes that most yachts over 40 m can already cross the Atlantic with about 3,000 nm of range (Boat International), and a calculated range can be far above what a boat achieves at sea: a published 8,200 nm figure for a 41-ft Nordhavn trawler came from a design-office calculation that ignored wind, waves and drag (Passagemaker, data 2019). More in What is an explorer yacht?
Ice class is optional (YachtBuyer), and most listings say only "ice-class hull". The notation, and the society that assigned it, tells you more: see Ice class yachts. Owners who want tenders, toys and extra stores carried off the yacht sometimes add a support vessel (Boat International, Boat International).
Boat International reports that 70% of explorer yachts are between 24 and 40 m long (Boat International). For the yards that build them, from Arksen and Bering to Damen and Sanlorenzo, see Explorer yacht builders; for published prices, Explorer yacht cost.
The ten largest explorer yachts on Boat International's list
Boat International's list, dated 26 November 2021 and read on 9 October 2026 (data 2021). Another Boat International article ranks Nord, 141.6 m, Lürssen, 2021, ahead of Solaris. REV Ocean, 194.9 m, is still in build and not ranked.
| # | Yacht | Length | Builder | Delivered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solaris | 139.7 m4 | Lloyd Werft | 2021 |
| 2 | Octopus | 126.2 m4 | Lürssen | 2003 |
| 3 | Multiverse | 116.2 m4 | Kleven | 2018 |
| 4 | Luna | 115 m4 114.2 m in BI's specification box | Lloyd Werft | 2010 |
| 5 | Le Grand Bleu | 112.8 m4 | Bremer Vulkan | 2000 |
| 6 | Andromeda | 107.4 m4 | Kleven | 2016 |
| 7 | Tranquility | 91.5 m4 92.8 m in BI's specification box | Oceanco | 2014 |
| 8 | Voyager | 91.4 m4 | Swiftships | 1997 |
| 9 | Ice | 90.1 m4 | Lürssen | 2005 |
| 10 | Olivia O | 88.5 m4 | Ulstein | 2020 |
Lengths as in the headings of the Boat International article; where its specification box gives another figure, it is shown under the length. The small number after a length is its source in the list at the bottom. Voyager was built in 1997 as a 63 m supply ship and converted to an explorer yacht in 2019.
Questions
What is an explorer yacht?
A yacht built or converted to cruise long distances without outside support: typically a displacement hull, a range of several thousand nautical miles and enough fuel and stores to stay self-sufficient for weeks (Boat International, YachtBuyer). More on the definition.
Is an expedition yacht the same as an explorer yacht?
Sources disagree. YATCO says there is no difference and many people use the two terms interchangeably (YATCO); YachtBuyer covers both in one definition (YachtBuyer). Boat International treats expedition yachts as a subset of explorers that must be more autonomous where there is little or no shore support (Boat International).
What is the largest explorer yacht in the world?
On Boat International's list of the largest explorer yachts it is Solaris, 139.7 m, built by Lloyd Werft in 2021 (Boat International, data 2021); another Boat International article ranks Nord, 141.6 m, Lürssen, 2021, first (Boat International). REV Ocean, 194.9 m, will be longer: Vard gave completion as the fourth quarter of 2026 in March 2025 (Vard), YachtBuyer gives 2027 (YachtBuyer).
How far can an explorer yacht go without refueling?
Boat International quotes EYOS Expeditions co-founder Rob McCallum: an explorer is simply any seaworthy boat that can cover the 2,600 nm between Gran Canaria and Barbados on one tank of diesel. It also quotes Floating Life's Andrea Pezzini, who puts the minimum for a true explorer at 5,400 nm and 10 to 12 knots (Boat International). Large yachts go further: Octopus is quoted at 12,500 nm at 12 knots (Boat International, May 2022), Yersin at 15,000 nm at 11 knots (Piriou, data 2015). See the full list.
What is a shadow boat?
A support vessel that travels with a yacht and carries tenders, toys, supplies, spare parts and fuel for her, sometimes a helicopter (Boat International, Boat International). See yacht support vessels.
What is the 10% rule for yachts?
A rule of thumb that annual running costs are about 10% of the purchase price. YachtBuyer calls it an often-quoted theory with major shortcomings for larger, crewed or older yachts (YachtBuyer). Fraser puts the industry benchmark at 10–15% (Fraser, April 2026). See explorer yacht cost.
Explore the guide
What is an explorer yacht?
Definition, criteria and how it differs from an expedition yacht
Explorer yachts list
40 yachts, support vessels and models with length, range and ice class
Yacht support vessels
Shadow boats: what they carry, sizes and notable examples
Explorer yacht builders
Who builds explorer yachts and their main models
Ice class yachts
Ice classes explained, the Polar Code and yachts
Explorer yacht cost
Published list prices with dates, and running costs
Sources (43)
- Boat International: Explorer yacht vs motor yacht: what makes an explorer yacht? 17 Oct 2023, updated 14 Nov 2024
- YachtBuyer: What is an expedition or explorer yacht? updated 10 Jul 2024
- YATCO: 2024 Ultimate Explorer Yacht Guide 23 Jul 2024
- Boat International: Top 10 largest explorer yachts in the world 26 Nov 2021 (data 2021)
- Vard: REV Ocean delivered from Vard 18 Mar 2025
- YachtBuyer: REV Ocean
- Boat International: Octopus, new pictures 25 May 2022 (data 2022)
- Piriou: Yersin 77 m, specification undated (© 2015) (data 2015)
- Boat International: The rise of the support vessel 27 Jul 2021 (data 2021)
- Boat International: Shadow boat: 8 superyacht support vessels as cool as their motherships 21 Aug 2025
- YachtBuyer: How much does a new yacht cost to run? 10 Aug 2026
- Fraser: Hidden costs in yacht ownership 22 Apr 2026
- YachtBuyer: Octopus (length/refit 2024)
- Boat International: Andromeda (length/year/range)
- YachtBuyer: Andromeda
- Boat International: Olivia O (length/builder/year)
- YachtBuyer: Olivia O (ice)
- Boat International: Arctic P (length/builder/range)
- Boat International: Fact file: five things you didn't know about converted explorer yacht Arctic P (conversion 1993) 16 Jan 2024
- Hansa: Arctic P (ice) 4 Nov 2024
- Boat International: How a 77m Soviet icebreaker became the ultra-tough explorer Legend (length/builder/ice quote) 2 Jul 2021, republished 11 Jun 2025 (data 2021)
- Fraser: Legend (range, speed not stated)
- Icon Yachts: Legend (conversion/ice)
- YachtBuyer: La Datcha
- SWZ|Maritime: La Datcha (delivery) 12 Nov 2020 (data 2020)
- Boat International: Yersin (year/expedition) 6 Jun 2024
- Boat International: Planet Nine 17 Sep 2021 (data 2021)
- YachtBuyer: Scout (length/year/range)
- Boat International: Scout (explorer, 4,800 nm range) 1 Aug 2023
- Fassmer: Hanse Explorer
- Boat International: Hanse Explorer (expedition)
- Boat International: Heeus (length/year/range)
- YachtBuyer: Heeus (range/ice)
- Boat International: Global Order Book 2026 Jan 2026
- Boat International: Global Order Book 2025 Dec 2024
- Boat International: The largest explorer yachts hitting the water in 2025 16 Dec 2024
- Passagemaker: No, the new Nordhavn 41 won't have an 8,200-nm range 20 Aug 2019 (data 2019)
- DNV Vessel Register: Andromeda (IMO 9692545, class and ice notation) accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Damen Yachting (Xplorer Yachting): La Datcha (length/range)
- DNV Vessel Register: La Datcha (IMO 9849021, class and ice notation) accessed 16 Oct 2026
- Royal Hakvoort: Scout (range/ice class)
- Boat International: Arctic P (ice class as built) 28 Jan 2015 (data 2015)
- Northrop & Johnson: Heeus (range) 2026