I spent 6 years at sea travelling the world while serving in the Royal Navy (two Frigates and an Aircraft Carrier). But I have been around boats and the sea since I was a kid.
I also spent just under two years volunteering as a coastal crew member in the RNLI (search and rescue) at one of the busiest RNLI stations in the UK.
I LOVE cruising in rough weather (as long as I am on the right vessel!)
I have had a passion for boats/yachts and the sea since I was 9-years-old (31 years ago!). When I was a teenager, I used to read 'Boat International' and I spent many hours daydreaming about life on the water. Anyone who has been to sea, and enjoyed their experience, will confirm that once you are 'hooked' then there is no going back.
I love explorer yachts and trawler yachts and anything that floats on the water. I also love naval architecture and marine engineering & technology. This channel is about sharing my passion with other like-minded seafarers and shipmates :-)
Yacht Buoy
Some modern explorer yachts are just styling exercises. Big-bow white boats with short legs and soft systems. This one is different.
The Humphreys 50m Custom Explorer, built by JFA Yachts, is what happens when an owner asks for real capability. Aluminium hull, composite superstructure, 5,000 nm range, and a hybrid drivetrain that can run silent at anchor. Gyro. Fins. Intruders. Not one system…all of them.
And the best feature? A tank deck tunnel so your engineer never has to walk through the main salon in oily boots. Real crew flow. Real engineering.
I’ve broken the full spec down on the blog, including why this boat quietly outclasses most so-called explorers.
Head to my the link in the comments to read the full article.
4 days ago | [YT] | 191
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Yacht Buoy
From North Sea beam trawler to hybrid expedition yacht. Scintilla Maris began life in 1988 hauling bottom-dwelling fish off the Dutch coast.
Now, after a complete rebuild at Damen Maaskant, she’s unrecognisable! Outfitted with a 1300kW electric motor, 154,000L of fuel, and the range to cross oceans. With her 499GT hull stripped back to bare steel and rebuilt for global autonomy, she’s ready for 9,000nm voyages in comfort and silence.
This photo was taken during the final stages of her transformation. If you want to watch the full video, it's pinned in the comments!
4 days ago | [YT] | 214
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Yacht Buoy
A huge thank you to everyone who has watched the first episode of The Engineering Files! The feedback in the comments has been incredible, and it seems the "Old School vs. New School" debate is heating up.
If you haven't seen it yet, I am comparing the legendary reliability of a Gardner 6LX against the sheer modern power of a Caterpillar C32.
It is a different side of superyachting...less polishing, more engineering. Let me know which engine room you would rather spend a crossing in! 👇
Watch the full battle here
5 days ago | [YT] | 18
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Yacht Buoy
For anyone who missed it, here’s my full boat tour of the Tuna 40.2. This one’s currently for sale and offers a lot for the size and price point.
She’s fitted with twin Yanmar diesels, a bow thruster, and Naiad fin stabilisers, which make a real difference when cruising in open or choppy conditions. Shallow draft, full-length keel, and a CE category B rating mean she’s just as comfortable on inland waterways as she is along the coast.
You can watch the full video now on the channel.
1 week ago | [YT] | 34
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Yacht Buoy
“Never buy a boat that has been used for charter.”
It’s the oldest cliché in the marina bar. The logic seems fairly obvious: Charter boats are the rental cars of the sea, driven by amateurs, beached on sandbars, and repeatedly punished by stag crews. Why would anyone spend serious money on someone else’s wear and tear?
To be honest, I used to agree. But the 2025/26 brokerage data tells a very different and somewhat intriguing story. We’re now in the middle of a supply surge as the major fleets, Moorings, Dream Yacht, Navigare, offload their five-year-old inventory....My latest blog can be found in the comments!
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 169
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Yacht Buoy
The MMS 55 Sea Ranger is a one off steel trawler yacht built to commercial standards. At 18.44 metres long with a 7mm steel hull and bilge keels, she is designed for stability, longevity, and long range cruising rather than marina hopping.
She is powered by twin John Deere 4045AFM8 diesels producing 180hp each, with shaft drive in Kort nozzles, keel cooling, hydraulic thrusters, fin stabilisers, and twin generators. Range is approximately 1,500 nautical miles at around 7.5 knots.
She is currently listed for €1.45 million with offers invited.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 32
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Yacht Buoy
In case you missed it, here’s the full walkthrough of the Menorquin 120. She is designed around a semi displacement hull that delivers steady tracking, predictable handling and a comfortable motion at sea. The layout and systems are practical from an owner’s point of view, making her a realistic option for regular cruising. The full video is linked here if you want to watch it through.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 22
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Yacht Buoy
Built as a North Sea fishing cutter and later rebuilt for long range cruising, this steel trawler is all about strength and seakeeping. The heavy displacement hull, deep forefoot, and full working boat proportions give her a calm, predictable motion in rough water, which is exactly what these vessels were designed for. Thick steel plating, commercial grade systems, and simple, proven engineering make her well suited to extended liveaboard use and serious passagemaking rather than marina hopping.
Down below, the machinery reflects that same mindset. A large displacement diesel, dry exhaust, and generous engine room access prioritise reliability, serviceability, and longevity over outright speed. This is the kind of boat that rewards owners who value range, safety, and real offshore capability above all else.
If you would like to check out the full boat tour, head to the link in the comments!
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 326
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Yacht Buoy
Doggersbank 1900 “Martina” is now for sale at €2,495,000. A proper steel explorer yacht with a hybrid diesel-electric system, full displacement hull and Dutch craftsmanship throughout. I’ve just written a full article on her for the Substack! Link is in the comments below.
1 month ago | [YT] | 210
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Yacht Buoy
This is the Hershine 61 Pilothouse! A 2006-built CE Category A trawler yacht, designed for long-range cruising with a GRP displacement hull, hard chines, and long keel. She runs twin Volvo D6 370s, has TRAC digital fin stabilisers, 5,000 litres of diesel, and twin Northern Lights gensets.
Two en suite cabins, six berths, and a setup built for offshore comfort.
1 month ago | [YT] | 29
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