When I was a little boy, one of my parents’ friends asked me: “What do you want to do when you grow up?”
My answer? “Go on adventures.”
So simple. So pure. So honest. Luckily for me, that’s exactly what happened. And the adventures continue in spite of the fact that the trips I take these days are lot more luxurious than the ones that informed and inspired my youth.
As a result, I’ve been on every type of yacht ranging from the 40-footer we sailed from Newport, Rhode Island to Antigua, to exploring both the Arctic and the Antarctic onboard much bigger and more comfortable yachts.
In fact, I’ve been on pretty much ALL of the large “adventure yachts” that have been built recently. But, I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve not covered the Arksen 85 (or any of the other products this innovative company builds), until now. So let’s jump right in.
First off, Arksen builds more than boats. In fact, the company’s published mission statement explains it better than I could. “Arksen was created to push the boundaries of adventure, delivering new opportunities for the next generation of explorers while simultaneously supporting ocean conservation. Our class-leading product range includes performance apparel, vessels and vehicles while our carefully curated experiences are designed for life’s greatest journeys, from climbing Mount Everest to taking on the legendary Transat Ocean Race.
“Inspired by the stories of great explorers from the past – Jacques Cousteau, Fridtjof Nansen, Thor Heyerdahl and Bill Tillman – we design for the curious, engineer for the extremes and build with a complete lack of compromise. Because it is in our most freewheeling, untethered and challenging moments that we feel most alive.”
How’s that for a mission statement? Sign me up!
At first glance, all the products Arksen produce—full lines of fashionably rugged outwear, off-road-capable vehicles, and explorer yachts—may seem dissimilar. But, the opposite is actually the case. Each are designed and engineered to be the ultimate adventure tool. And that’s certainly is the case with their Arksen 85 long-range explorer yacht.
Founder Jasper Smith developed Arksen’s new breed of efficient, sustainable explorer yachts to be capable as well as comfortable. And since the company puts sustainability at the forefront of everything they stand for, the 85 is built with recycled material wherever possible and designed to operate with minimal environmental impact and maximum energy.
As a result, the Arksen 85 is built of robust aluminum that will last for years. It will also be easy to maintain and repair. And it will be easy to recycle at the end of the vessel’s long life too. The hull is also strong enough to operate safely in the ice-strewn waters of Greenland, or be able to dry out on a remote beach to do mid-voyage maintenance far from the nearest shipyard.
Over three decks, the Arksen 85 offers a range of layouts. Each interior is designed to have uninterrupted sightlines that insure an intimate connection with the outdoors. The full-beam master suite can lie forward on the main deck, or aft on the lower deck with another three twin guest cabins plus optional crew cabins.
According to the Arksen design team, “Being able to escape the elements but still feel completely connected to the environment was a main consideration in the interior design and layout of the vessel.” The interior is also designed with the company’s core values of functionality, beauty and sustainability to provide a calming, light, and airy ambience while using products that minimize damage to the environment where possible.
And since the Arksen 85 needs to provide comfort while having simple control of lighting and HVAC systems, entertainment controls, and safety features through comprehensive monitoring and alarm systems. Audio visual integrator ClearSphere deployed a Crestron control system and combined it with a range of third-party systems to create a complex and comprehensive integration for the luxury explorer yacht.
And if all that’s not enough to ignite your unquenched thirst for adventure. Arksen also offers an innovative and inspired co-ownership program. It’s designed to not only let members share ownership of an Arksen 85—Project Ocean—that’s launching this summer. The community-first program also provides explorers with an opportunity to discover new places in new ways with exclusive access to curated, multi-year cruising itineraries around the globe.
Simply put. When it comes to adventure, Arksen seems to have it all.