When This Trawler-Style Explorer Yacht Popped Up, I Couldn’t Look Away…
An ice-class heritage hull, eight cabins, and a track record that spans from Iceland to the Indian Ocean—this is one of the most compelling explorer yachts on the market today.
You know those moments where you see something and just know it’s going to be special? That’s exactly what happened when this 29.75-metre long-range expedition vessel popped up on my radar. I spotted it, did a double-take, and immediately thought—right, I need to write about this.
This thing is a proper steel-hulled beast with a global pedigree, a fascinating history, and one of the most compelling layouts I’ve seen on a sub-30m explorer in ages. I’m hoping I’ll get the chance to head over to Malta and film her properly over the next couple of months, but I couldn’t wait that long to share it with you. I know my audience fairly well and I know you lot are going to be just as intrigued as I am.
From Icelandic Workhorse to World Cruiser
She started life in 1960, built by Ernst Thalmann Werft in Germany as an Icelandic fishing vessel designed for tough conditions. Heavy steel construction, a full displacement deep-V hull, and a long keel meant she was built to take a beating in the North Atlantic. Her hull plating ranges from 6 to 8 millimetres thick, with 6 millimetres in the superstructure. The decks are steel, finished in teak.
She had a full commercial career before undergoing a massive refit in the Netherlands in 2007, transforming her into a private family home and charter dive boat. From 2011 to 2014, she cruised the Med, the Red Sea, and even the Indian Ocean on commercial operations. And now, fresh from another extensive refit in 2024, she’s on the market, ready for her next chapter.
Living Aboard? This One’s Practically a Floating Chalet
Accommodation is one of this vessel’s standout features. She offers eight cabins and sixteen berths, which is unusually generous for a yacht of this length. The layout lends itself well to a range of uses, whether that’s private family cruising, commercial charter, or expedition support.
There are five en-suite guest cabins, along with a master and two dedicated crew cabins. The interior is finished in a mix of ash, cherry, and teak, with a combination of teak and tiled flooring throughout.
She’s also kitted out for serious off-grid living: central diesel heating with radiators and underfloor heating below deck, plus air conditioning. Whether you’re punching through Arctic fog or basking in the Red Sea, she’s ready.
Let’s Get Technical—This Is Where She Shines
At the heart of it all is a Caterpillar 3408 V8—an absolute stalwart in the explorer world. Why does that matter? Because Cat engines are known for two things: simplicity and support. They’re found all over the world, especially in commercial fleets, which means parts and technicians are never too far away. This one was overhauled in 2025 and burns around 40 litres per hour.
She’s got a max speed of 12 knots, but you’ll be cruising comfortably at 7 to 9 knots. With a 25,000-litre steel fuel tank and that 40L/hr burn rate, you’re looking at a theoretical range of about 4,000 to 5,000 nautical miles—which is transatlantic territory. Add in her 6,000 litres of fresh water, a watermaker, two generators (a Perkins 27kVA and a Caterpillar Olympian 35kVA), plus solar panels with a full inverter setup, and you’re completely kitted for serious long-haul voyaging.
The gearbox is hydraulic, and the prop is a fixed 3-blade bronze unit on a steel shaft with grease lube. Closed keel cooling, dry exhaust, and manual plus electric bilge systems. She’s got everything you’d want to see in a proper expedition build.
Navigation and Tenders? She’s Fully Loaded
Raymarine G-series electronics, a full suite of comms and nav, plus EPIRB, AIS, MOB systems, and even a weather receiver. On deck, she’s got a 7-metre RIB with a Mercury diesel inboard and two more serious tenders: a Delta Offshore 8.87m GRP with a Yamaha 240hp jet and a 6.5m V-rib with a Mercury V6 260hp diesel sterndrive. Dive gear for 20 people? Yep—she’s ready for action.
And the Price?
She’s asking €1.19 million, VAT exempt.
When you look at the engineering, the accommodation, the tankage, and the upgrades, it’s a very tempting proposition. This isn’t some half-finished expedition project needing work. She’s got the bones of a commercial vessel, the heart of a liveaboard, and the spec list to support serious long-range ambitions.
Final Thoughts
This is a proper explorer. She’s for someone who wants to head off-grid and stay there, without giving up comfort or capability along the way. If you’ve been looking for something with character, practicality, and a serious track record at sea, this one’s worth a closer look. I’ll be keeping tabs on her myself, and with a bit of luck I’ll get the chance to film her soon.
She’s not just built to cover the miles. She already has. From tough beginnings in Iceland to running charters in the Indian Ocean, she’s done the work and proven what she can do. For premium subscribers, I’ve pulled together a look at her past routes, the oceans she’s crossed, and why her history matters if you’re serious about expedition yachting. You’ll find that just below.
She’s currently listed for sale with Arjen Hoeksma at De Valk Yacht Brokers. Click here if you’d like to find out more
If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or chartering a yacht—whether it’s an explorer like this or something entirely different—feel free to get in touch. I’m always happy to help, whatever stage you’re at. You can reach me at john@yacht-buoy.com.
Premium Content: Following Her Wake – Historic Routes of a Proven Explorer
One of the things that makes this vessel so compelling isn’t just the spec sheet, it’s the miles already under her keel. She’s not a paper project or a coastal weekend. She’s lived a proper working life, and it shows.
