First look: Oceanbel 128 Explorer is a case when the sail is no worse than the motor

There is a prejudice that sailing ships cannot get the same freedom of movement without restrictions as on motor boats - Oceanbel 128 Explorer breaks this stereotype.

Founding Father

Pekka Koskenkyla, behind this new Finnish brand, founded Nautor's Swan in the 1960s and then created the 41m Concorde Marine luxury monohull yachts in Thailand.

Now he's teamed up with his nephew Sami for another daring experiment, and the result is a fully recyclable 128-foot twin-masted Oceanbel 128 Explorer that can be used alone.

The power of silence and economy

Two generators charge a large battery pack that powers 2 250 hp electric motors. and all other equipment. 

On a ship, at different times and in different situations, different amounts of energy are required. It can be obtained from the storage battery as needed.

This engineering solution provides an extended service life of the ship's batteries. Moreover, the constant power generator will run continuously and will wear out faster.

By the way, the silent engine room is another advantage of this power system. The generators are housed in a special soundproofed enclosure and are mounted on very soft supports. They prevent the transmission of vibration to the housing. There is practically no noise.

Design features

OceanBel boasts two jibs and lacks a mainsail and a small mizzen. Both jibs have electric rolls (roller reefs) to adjust their size. The navigator controls all sail operations using buttons.

In addition to being much easier to navigate, it also provides greater sailing speed for the simple reason that two sails are more efficient than one main sails. This is a fact known to all who sail with one main sail.

The vessel has sufficient ballast in the holds, as well as a lifting keel, which serves to damp the rolling. Koskenkylä argues that the keel design will provide access to shallow water and allow easy passage through difficult terrain.

All this is possible thanks to the deep, thin keel that rises and adjusts to any angle. It is made of spring steel that bends but retains its straight shape.

Everything you need for a good rest

In many remote locations, such as the islands, there is no quality food to buy or there is a limited supply. However, this is not a problem for Oceanbel.

The vessel is equipped with a cold room with freezers. They will last for weeks or even months of storing food and water supplies.

The two decks have cabins for up to 12 people. There is also a raised saloon with panoramic windows and a dining area aft.

Specifications Oceanbel 128 Explorer

Length: 39.00 m / 128 ft 0 inches,

Width: 10.00 m / 13 ft 10 inches,

Draft: 2.00 - 7.00 m / 6 ft 7 in-23 ft 0 in

Displacement: 200 tons

16.08.2021