XO Boats in Finland just announced that they will unveil their EXPLR 44, their first yacht, at the big Düsseldorf show starting Jan. 20.
In the past, XO has made smaller all-aluminum adventure boats, but the EXPLR 44 is designed as a true family cruiser with forward and aft cabins, two heads, and room for two more people sleeping in the pilothouse. But it will still have XO’s durable aluminum build, with 8 mm aluminum stringers and 5 mm in the deep-V hull so it can go anywhere. Indeed, the company says it’s “the ultimate exploration yacht.”
The new 44, with its straight, minimalist lines and what the company calls a Nordic aesthetic, can be powered by three 450-hp outboards or two 600-hp outboards, producing a top speed of more than 50 knots.
An all-weather boat, the EXPLR comes with air conditioning and heating. It has wide, teak walkaround side decks and a teak swim platform. There’s an opening sun roof for fresh air in the pilothouse, and a large door on the starboard side. The roof has rails to hold bikes or sports gear, and it can also be fitted with solar panels.
The two cabins are the same size. The forward master cabin has a double bed and a large hatch for private access to the foredeck. The aft cabin can be arranged as an atrium or with two single beds or one double bed. It also has large rear-facing windows.
The cockpit has U-shaped seating and a table aft and an outdoor galley set up forward against the bulkhead to the pilothouse. An L-shaped seating area and table are on the starboard side and the galley is to port in the pilothouse; two seats face the helm forward to starboard. Visibility is excellent from windows all around.
Specs.: LOA: 43’6”; Beam: 12’1”; Draft: 3’5″; Disp. (without engines): 18,266 lbs.; Fuel: 430 gals.; Water: NA; Power: 3×450-hp outboards or 2×600-hp outboards.
Read more at http://xoboats.com
