Updated on October 19th, 2024
We know that the vast majority of our readers adore classic displacement trawler yachts, the appeal of which comes directly from their purpose. Unlike the controversial designs of many modern planing cruisers, real trawlers and explorers are based on functionality, with maximum attention paid to ease of operation, habitability and safety for long-term living on board. From this functionality comes a unique design with a special aesthetics and nautical romance inherent exclusively to trawlers and explorers.
However, the Selene shipyard went even further and took trawlers to a new level by designing and building the Selene 72 model. This is no longer a classic trawler, but a unique pocket ocean explorer created for the model range of the same name.
The teamwork of Howard Chen, Guido de Groot and James Fwu produced an amazing result, and now we see an incredible new generation boat for a full life on board. A few drops of elegance were added to the cocktail of seaworthiness and brutality, as a result of which Selene 72 was immediately added to the list of the most beautiful yachts under 24 meters.
Apparently the Ocean Explorer has a lower windage than most similar sized displacement boats, especially including classic tall trawlers. We don’t like complex multi-level superstructures, but this flybridge option looks perfect and has a lower center of gravity. At the same time, visibility from the helm station is truly excellent, thanks to its close location to the bow.
Having taken to rough seas on smaller Selene boats several times in the past, we are very familiar with the capabilities of their hulls and have no doubt about their seaworthiness. Beyond this, however, the Ocean Explorer 72 offers a level of luxury comparable to that of a superyacht.
Even the exterior hints that inside you will be greeted by superb interiors of the saloon and cabins. Of course, the next moment it turns out that this is so. The yacht’s interiors are filled with comfort and nobility, thanks to the clever use of light and an abundance of wood.
The master cabin occupies the entire beam and is separated from the engine room by a bathroom for better sound insulation. By default, the yacht has 6 cabins and 5 heads, but, as we know, Selene are semi-custom trawlers, so the same boat models from different owners can differ greatly in layout and interior design.
In technical terms, the Ocean Explorer 72 is also excellent: an Opacmare tender lift in exactly the right place, advanced Humphree electrical stabilizers, two Cummins QSL9 engines, as well as the best onboard systems that have proven their reliability and maintainability.
Of course, the Selene 72 is not a boat you can jump on and sail around Europe alone. At a minimum, you will need one experienced assistant for a safe cruise. However, if you are looking for a reliable family trawler that can cross the Atlantic, then this is probably one of the best options among yachts under 24 meters that you can find on the world market today. And besides, it is perhaps the most luxurious pocket explorer, which is undoubtedly our favorite at the moment.
Some details
- Approximate price: 3,450,000 €
- LOA : 23,09 m
- LWL : 20,37 m
- Beam: 5,92 m
- Draft: 1,98 m
- Displacement: 72 t
- Fuel capacity: 11,355 l
- Bridge clearance: 7,6 m
- Cruising speed: 11 kn
- Total engine power: 910 hp