The U.K.-based Arksen brand reached the Northwest’s shores earlier this year, with its 30’ Adventure Series yachts that turned a lot of heads. Soon, Arksen’s much bigger sisters in the Explorer Series will take the spotlight, first with an 85-footer in early 2024, and then the more compact 65’ model. Both new aluminum-hulled Explorer Series vessels will be capable of extended sea excursions, along with a host of luxurious, customizable layouts.
The Arksen 85, designed by naval architect firm Humphrey’s Yacht Design, recently completed a global tour with its first prototype, which features an enormous aft deck capable of fitting a tender or RIB with room to spare for two open-air settees and other personal watercraft. Inside the lobby area of the customizable salon is a day head to port and a short passage forward to a starboard galley. Past the galley is the main salon, with two C-shaped sofas facing each other, bisected by a central passageway and a central table that can unfold to accommodate up to 12 people. All of the salon area is surrounded by wide windows, providing sweeping views. One other layout option replaces the galley with an expanded salon seating area for casual dining and includes another passenger cabin forward.
An interior stairway from the lobby leads to the bridge deck above, which features a walkaround passageway and two outside seating areas, fore and aft. Inside the enclosed bridge is another C shaped settee and table to starboard, opposite a sofa to port, with a chart table located aft. Forward is the main helm with two captain’s chairs and an array of digital displays and navigational tools. A watertight door to port leads to an outdoor Portuguese bridge.
Belowdecks, the generous beam of the Arksen 85 allows space for four cabins, each with their own en suite heads. The master, located aft, includes a king-size berth, a side seating area to starboard, large porthole windows for natural lighting, and a shower that can double as a steam room. The two other guest cabins forward can be converted into single or double berths, with the third bow cabin configured for two single bunkbeds.
The Arksen 65 may be 20’ shorter, but it is still a very capable bluewater vessel. With a range of 3,700 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 9 knots, the 65 can accommodate up to eight people for an extended ocean voyage. It has a large and comfortable interior and ample storage for an entirely self-sustainable cruise of up to a month with six people.
The aft deck includes a wide swim step that can carry an RIB tender, plus two facing sofas around a central table and an outdoor BBQ to starboard. The interior cabin includes a portside galley equipped with Miele appliances. Forward of the galley is a salon with an L-shaped settee opposite a sofa chair and a folding dining table suitable for eight people. Just forward of the salon is the navigational bridge with two helm chairs that can be rotated to face the salon seating area and encourage interaction. A second upper bridge is accessible from the aft cockpit and can be arranged in an open-air or enclosed configuration for better navigational visibility.
With the engines located midship on the Arksen 65, the cabins are separated into two fore and aft sections. From the starboard side of the helm, stairs lead down to the master cabin at the bow, with an en suite head and shower, and a guest cabin with twin berths and shared access to the day head. An aft staircase opposite the galley leads to the separate third cabin which can be converted into twin or double berths, and also has an en suite head.
The Arksen 85 is powered by twin Cummins QSL9 diesel engines that can reach a top speed of 14 knots, but cruise comfortably at 9 to 12 knots. The total range is 7,000 nautical miles, making it capable of a round trip from Seattle to Hawaii and back. The Arksen 65 includes two John Deere turbocharged diesels that can a achieve speeds of up to 12 knots. A hybrid power system on the 65 also allows the boat to operate in “silent mode” and use electric motor propulsion over short distances, powered by solar-charged batteries.
Arksen 85
Specs & Info
LOA 89’7” · Beam 22’8” · Draft 5’0”
Tankage (Fuel/Fresh/Black)
4,491 gal. / 1,585 gal. / 317 gal.
Engines
Twin Cummins QSL9 Diesel
Specs & Info
LOA 69’7” · Beam 17’1” · Draft 3’10”
Tankage (Fuel/Fresh/Black)
2,708 gal. / 396 gal. / 185 gal.
Engines
Twin John Deere Diesel/ Hybrid Solar-Powered System
Contact
Oaksmith Yachts
Seattle, WA
Ben Oaksmith
206.949.2270
ben@oaksmithyachts.com
oaksmithyachts.com
