ALASKA to PATAGONIA: Our First Look at an Explorer Yacht

Nikki Wynn

Jul 5, 2025 — 1 min read

We’ve said we’re open to all seafaring possibilities for our next big adventure, and we meant it. From sails to steel, we’re exploring every option for a...wait for it...pause for effect...Alaska to Patagonia journey.

Which means we need a vessel fit for pole to pole extreme conditions and all the heat in between. A run of the mill production boat really won't cut it for high latitude sailing.

So this week we teamed up with our friends Rico and Victoria from NautiStyles to get our first serious look at an explorer yacht. AKA a vessel that’s built like a tank and can handle long range cruising to remote locations.

We explored two very different vessels that really got our wheels spinning with possibilities. The first is a classic DeFever (which you can watch over on Nauti Styles channel) and the second is a one of a kind 1997 Real Ship (yes, that's actually the manufacturer's name). This 61-foot steel beast caught our attention because it simply looks like nothing else we've ever seen. And at $599k it's a lot of bang for buck.

Kites, Hybrids, and the Future

Of course, considering any motor vessel would require a huge shift from our sailing mindset. BUT, we like challenging norms and the idea of a kite system is super intriguing. Especially paired with efficient toroidal props and hybrid motors. So it could be a really cool project.

What's Next?

This is just the beginning of our exploration into explorer vessels. We've got a whole list of sailing and motor vessels to step on before we make any final decisions.

Whether we end up under sail or under power, we'll bring you along for whatever adventure comes next.