Xplorer Yachts | Expedition Yacht Design, Technology & Innovation
Paul Madden
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About This Podcast
The expedition yachting podcast for owners, designers, builders, and maritime professionals. Host Paul Madden - a lifelong sailor and expedition yacht specialist - brings you inside the world of explorer vessels, superyacht conversions, wind-assisted propulsion, and cutting-edge maritime technology.
From technical tours of standby vessels in Norway to conversations with the designers behind iconic superyachts like MALTESE FALCON and BLACK PEARL, each episode delivers insider access to the expedition yachting sector you won't find anywhere else.
Topics include: expedition yacht design, wind-powered hybrid yachts, DynaRig and wingsail technology, hydro-generation, long-range global cruising, yacht conversions, shipyard tours, and the history of ocean exploration.
New episodes weekly. Follow the show and leave a review to help other expedition yacht enthusiasts find us.
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Recent Episodes
S2E13 Ken Freivokh on Designing MALTESE FALCON & BLACK PEARL - DynaRig Superyacht Innovation
Maltese Falcon is a full-rigged ship using DynaRig technology, which was built by Perini Navi in Tuzla, İstanbul, and commissioned by her first owner, Tom Perkins. It is one of the world's most…
S2E12 The History of Expedition Yachts: From Magellan to Modern Explorer Vessels
This series looks at the first expeditions and the vessels chosen by Magellan, Darwin and Shackleton; examining Mission, Vessel and Outcome. Part 1 takes us from the 1500's to the late 20th Century…
S2E12 Inside an Ulstein 719-R Standby Vessel: Bridge & Engine Room Tour (Norway)
See Matterport 3D of bridge and engine room here: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=jHXF2cpt4huMain Description Survivor Class........FSV Class ‘A’ ERRVYear…
S2E6 Espen Oeino on ECO, OCTOPUS & REV Ocean - The Largest Expedition Superyachts
According to bolidt.com: "With an average of at least three to four 63 meter + sophisticated yachts in his name on a yearly basis, Espen Oeino is a legend in the world of yacht design. Who is this…
S2E11 Building the World's First Wind-Powered Hybrid Expedition Yacht
Xplorer Yachts™ is building the first wind-powered hybrid expedition yacht. This vessel is based upon an existing, ocean-proven wind-powered commercial vessel that has already achieved 30% fuel…
S3E1 Wind Propulsion Tech for Expedition Yachts: Wingsails, Kites & Flettner Rotors
The International Maritime Organization has mandated that large ocean-going ships must cut their carbon emissions by 40% by the year 2030. As a result, the shipping industry is embracing…
S2E10 Next-Gen Wind-Powered Global Expedition Yachts: Design & Technology
Growing up sailing with my dad, he always referred to motor-boats as 'stink-pots'. Motor-boaters, I am told, refer to sailors as 'rag-baggers' due to their proclivity to bag their sails at the end of…
S2E9 Hydro-Generation for Expedition Yachts: Powering Long-Range Ocean Crossings
Since our wind-assisted expedition yacht will have the ability to operate solely with sail power in certain condition, which will deliver speeds in the 8-14 knot range; we also want to have the…
S2E8 Technical Tour of legendary 172' ex-NOAA Research ship
Sadly, this vessel went to scrappers. U.S. - BUILT FOR U.S. Navy and NOAA, MNG Flattery is one of the finest ocean-going research ships in the world. The US Government built these ship's to the…
Serious Ice-Class Search & Rescue Vessel for Conversion
The 221' SNAPPER was built in Canada as a Lloyds Class 1 Search & Rescue vessel for Arctic Duty. With 7,200 hp she can ram through a meter of ice. She has a cruising endurance of more than 30…
S2E8 63m /206ft Technical Tour of Norwegian Stand-By vessel on North Sea Duty
See Matterport 3D of bridge and engine room here: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=jHXF2cpt4hu Main Description Survivor Class........FSV Class ‘A’ ERRV Year Built/Converted..............1992/2014…
S2E13 Wealthy Americans Built the Largest Yachts in the World. Part 2 of The History of Expedition Yachts
In Part 2 of the series, Paul Madden shows how 1930 and 1931 saw more than a half-mile of new Expedition Yachts built by the world's wealthiest people at a cost in excess of $2 billion. Yachts…
Best Conversions for the Expedition Mission
Paul Madden takes a step back to review what the expedition yacht mission is, and he examines which commercial vessels are most sought after for conversion to become global expedition yacht.
Converting an OSV into an Expedition Yacht
Paul Madden returns to Louisiana to delve more deeply into the conversion of OSV vessels into expedition yachts. He looks at 220 ft to 260 ft offshore supply vessels (OSV's) suitable for conversion…
207 ft Search & Rescue Ship is being Converted into Expedition Yacht Yacht
This yacht is currently finishing conversion. See upcoming tech tour.
S2E5 DOOMSDAY YACHTS vs BUNKERS with Paul Madden at Xplorer Yachts (Extended Version)
The Doomsday Yacht offers: - Limitless Global Range from abundant and free Wind Energy - Generates electricity under sail - Unlimited Fresh Water with desalinisation and rain catch - Unlimited Food…
S2E4 Paul Madden discusses expedition yacht conversions with Chuck Levert of Edison Chouest at TampaShip
The Chouest family builds, owns and operates a global fleet of commercial ships and vessels. They also own Westport Yachts and the American Shipyard in Stuart, Fl. Chuck Levert is their yacht…
S2E2 Wind-Powered Expedition Yacht Can Operate with Zero Emissions while Generating Electricity
Ocean Xplorer Wind-Powered Multi-Purpose Global Expedition Yacht Optimized Hull with Next Gen Low-emission to No-emission Integrated Hybrid Systems. Over 3,000 HP of equivalent engine power generated…
Wind is Back! World's First Wind-Assisted Diesel-Electric Expedition Yacht
Xplorer Yachts™ is building the first wind-assisted diesel-electric hybrid expedition yacht. This vessel is based upon an existing, ocean-proven wind-assisted commercial vessel that has already…
S2E7 Built during the Cold War, this 323' NOAA research ship appeared to have covert mission capabilities
Rumors swirl around the idea that this vessel was built at the height of the Cold War and its real mission was tracking Soviet Submarines. From Wikipedia: USC&GS Oceanographer (OSS 01) was…
Frequently Asked Questions
Xplorer Yachts | Expedition Yacht Design, Technology & Innovation has published 21 episodes since December 2025, covering topics in Places & Travel, Society & Culture.
Xplorer Yachts | Expedition Yacht Design, Technology & Innovation is currently dormant with new episodes every few days. Average episode length is 8m.
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