Exploration 51' OCEANIC SLOOP

1986 EXPLORATION 51' OCEANIC SLOOP,

This sailboat is the work of a lifetime, built in 1986 by its sole owner, a passionate master carpenter. The result of exceptional craftsmanship, its molded mahogany epoxy laminated hull demonstrates robustness and resilience, proven many times over during its 50,000 nautical miles, including a passage in the Arctic. Inside, the same dedication is reflected in every detail: beautifully crafted solid wood paneling and paintings by artists create a warm and refined atmosphere. It is with deep regret that its creator parts with this companion of travels, life, and adventures, fervently hoping that the future buyer will continue the remarkable story of this boat.
Key Features
Dimensions | Length: 15.80 m (51') - Width: 4.60 m - Draft: 1.20 m / 3.05 m (retractable keel) | | Construction | Hull: molded epoxy laminated mahogany (West System) - Deck redone in 2005-2009 (3 layers: marine plywood + red cedar + marine plywood, fiber/epoxy laminated) | | Insulation | Full: 60 mm blue polystyrene panels + polyurethane foam (optimal thermal comfort) | | Engine | Perkins 4.236 84 hp (fully rebuilt in 2022, 300 h) - Cruising speed: 6-7 knots at 1,700 rpm | | Autonomy | 2 diesel tanks (300 L) - 2 freshwater tanks (1,200 L) - Energy autonomy: 6 solar panels (400 W) + 400 W wind turbine | | Maneuverability | Retractable keel (access to shallow waters) - Lewmar 5.4 hp bow thruster - Solo sailing possible | | Performance | Average: 10-12 knots over 24 h (higher peaks) - ARIES wind vane + autopilot |
An exceptional interior: art, comfort, and functionality
Breskell has been designed to live aboard as in a home, with generous spaces and rare comfort for a sailboat of this size.
Layouts
o Owner's cabin forward: large bed on the starboard side, wardrobe, dressing table/desk with articulated stool and mirror, marquetry floor, 12 V fan.
o Guest cabin aft: foldable double bed + single berth, bookshelf, private bathroom (shower, Lavac toilet, wood/epoxy cabinet).
o Main saloon: solid maple table (partially telescopic for an extra berth 99 × 127 cm), benches for 7 guests.
Kitchen and saloon
o Ultra-functional linear kitchen: ample storage (drawers, bread box, integrated trash can), generous countertop.
o Warm atmosphere: hand-painted ceiling (trompe-l'œil by artist Corinne), solid wood paneling, soft LED lighting.
Steering and navigation
o Large chart table with sliding seat, complete instruments (Garmin GPS, Furuno radar, VHF, OpenCPN).
o Central steering station with laminated wood wheel, 360° visibility.
o Watch cabin at the foot of the companionway (single berth).
Bathrooms (2)
o Forward bathroom: shower, Lavac toilet, high/low cabinet with wood/epoxy basin, teak grating.
o Aft bathroom: shower, toilet, storage, marquetry floor.
Technical room and storage
o Large engine compartment with folding workbench, solar/wind controllers.
o Watertight sail locker at the front (chain well, bow thruster, dedicated batteries).
o Optimized storage: closets, chests, solid wood shelves (no veneer).
Rigging and sails: ready for adventure
o Aluminum mast 17.80 m (Z-Spar), boom, 2 levels of spreaders, backstay + checkstays.
o Electric genoa furler 24 V (remote control from the steering station).
o Sails:
o Mainsail 45 m² (3 reefs, traditional battens)
o Genoa 90 m² (~120%)
o Staysail 30 m²
o Symmetrical spinnaker ~90 m² + asymmetrical spinnaker 140 m²
o High-end hardware: Lewmar/Barient winches, mainsail/genoa/staysail cars, spinnaker pole, bowsprit.
Energy and autonomy
o Production: 6 solar panels (400 W) + 400 W wind turbine -> total autonomy at anchor.
o Batteries:
o Service: 4 GC2 batteries (12 V, 120 min at 75 A)
o Starting: 1,000 A MCA / 800 A CCA
o Auxiliaries (windlass, thruster): 4 batteries 800 A MCA (12/24 V)
o Inverters: 12 V -> 110 V (600 W) and 12 V -> 220 V (1,000 W).
o Heating: wood stove + 60 mm insulation (comfort even in cold climates).
Safety and equipment
o Anchoring: Simpson Lawrence electric windlass, Rocna 35 kg anchor + CQR 15 kg, 95 m of chain (10 mm).
o Safety:
o Plastimo 6-person liferaft
o 8 self-inflating life jackets, 9 double tethers, harness, boarding ladder
o 5 fire extinguishers, flare kit, long-range lamp, cable cutters
o Bilge pumps (2 electric + 1 manual Anderson MK V)
History and refits
o 2005-2009: New keel and rudder, completely redone deck, addition of a coachroof (headroom under beams: 2.15 m).
o 2020-2023: Complete refit (electronic modernization, engine, layout).
o 2022: Perkins 4.236 engine fully rebuilt (300 h since).
To remember:
Construction in solid wood (no veneer) by a master carpenter. Artist's interior: sculpted woodwork, wall paintings, custom furniture. Versatile: ideal for coastal cruising, long voyages (Arctic, Caribbean) or year-round living aboard. Total autonomy: solar/wind energy, large tanks, wood stove. Safety and robustness: proven hull (50,000 miles), complete equipment.
This boat is not just a sailboat: it is the culmination of a lifetime of passion, a unique boat in the world, born from the artisanal know-how of a shipwright and the 50,000 nautical miles of its owner, including a passage in the Arctic. Its molded epoxy laminated mahogany hull (West System technique) combines robustness, lightness, and timeless elegance.
Every detail, from the solid wood paneling in noble species (cherry, walnut, maple, cedar...) to the artist's paintings (trompe-l'œil ceiling, decorated doors), tells a story.