Arksen's Jasper Smith on Smallest Explorer Yacht

by Gabrielle Lazaridis

Dubbed the "Land Rover of the seas" by the industry, Arksen yachts are globally recognized as authentic and capable explorers, featuring long-range capabilities on a platform as little as 20 meters. BOATPro sat down with CEO Jasper Smith following the delivery of its largest yacht to date – the 26.2-meter Arksen 85 – to learn why size, in fact, does not matter and how the London-based brand continues to infuse efforts towards sustainability into its primary business strategy.

What gap in the market do Arksen explorers fill?

At the semi-production end of the leisure market, I found it very hard to find explorer vessels built for continual use. They seemed to be designed for summer use in the Mediterranean, focusing more on looks than on true performance and functionality. As the zeitgeist of consumer interest has shifted away from the regular cruising grounds to the wilder parts of the world, a different quality and class of vessel is required. We chose to design our vessels for true explorers and engineer them without compromise. Our aim was to create the most authentic and capable vessels of their kind and to build them in Northern Europe. This means they cost more, but it also means their functionality and efficiency are incomparable within the size range.

What are the benefits of a compact explorer from 20 meters?

A long-range vessel starting from 20 meters offers several benefits. Smaller vessels provide more flexibility and access to various waterways that larger vessels might not be able to navigate, making them ideal for more diverse and remote exploration. Additionally, they are generally more cost-effective to operate and maintain while still offering the capability and robustness expected from true explorer vessels.

What was the design brief for the Arksen 85?

The autonomy of a Tesla, the robustness of a Caterpillar, the elegance of a Rolls, the spine of a high-altitude K2 mountaineer, and the romance and silence of a free diver—wrapped in an engineering envelope that delivers efficiency, range, and potential. But fundamentally the brief was to create a new type of vessel for modern exploration – a step away from what I see as the legacy model of leisure boating that has been with us for the last 15 years. 

The brief was to work within the boundaries of a circular economy so that we can be as sustainable as possible, to focus on designing out ‘bloat’ that makes boats inefficient and to ensure that she could be operated by an owner or small crew. This comes from the fact that our community are navigators, sailors and adventurers. They see themselves as integral to the operation of the vessels, not as guests.

Are there plans to build an even bigger superyacht offering in the future?

Yes, we have been considering this. Some time ago, we explored a 50-meter project, but it was too early for us then. However, more recently, in response to inquiries from our community, we have begun to explore a larger Arksen. At that size, it would need to be a customer-led project, but we have the design, engineering, and build team to deliver at that scale if there is interest. We are a few months away from showcasing the concept.

Where did the inspiration for Arksen come from?

The inspiration for Arksen goes back many years, but I started the project a few years ago when on a trip to the west coast of Greenland with my eldest son. Looking out over the ice sheet and seeing the scale of the landscape was of course awe-inspiring and deeply moving, but it was also distressing to see the pace of climate change. Acknowledging climate change was perhaps the starting point, but my view is that a business has a moral and commercial imperative to have sustainability, responsibility and conservation as core pillars of its strategy.

And what is your business strategy?

Our aim is to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future by empowering people to be curious about our planet. We do this by creating the most capable explorer vessels, overland vehicles, and apparel on Earth. I'm not sure that the opportunity to build a company focused on a single product exists anymore. The costs of marketing and its voracious appetite for narrative make a single product proposition very hard to bring alive, and the concentration of risk is too great to unlock capital. That’s not always the case, but in this sector, I think it holds true. Our core focus for now is to continue R&D investment into our marine products and apparel, letting the other aspects of the business mature organically.

We also support scientists, filmmakers, artists and journalists by providing them with a platform through which they can craft and tell their stories. I was also inspired to develop products with their full lifecycle in mind – from sourcing products and materials to recycling at end-of-life. There is much to do to help transition the marine sector to more sustainable approaches, but I believe we all have a part to play on this journey.

Why did you choose to outsource production?

We manufacture the Discovery Series in-house, and over time, the Adventure Series will be brought in-house too. However, to operate at our scale and speed, you cannot run your own factories. Our approach is, and will continue to be, to partner with the best OEM manufacturers in the world. This model, in my view, is the only sustainable approach in the marine sector. Our operating strategy is inspired by companies like Apple, The North Face, Patagonia, etc., who design exceptional products but outsource manufacturing. This allows us to focus on detailed engineering and customer service, and ensure we are not burdened with quickly outdated infrastructure.

How has Arksen performed financially? Are there any figures you can share?

For the first three years, we invested in R&D, engineering and product development across all the sectors in which we operate, leveraging a significant amount of capital that we are fortunate to access. Revenues started a few years ago, and we reached approximately £10 million in turnover in 2022, expecting to grow close to £100 million over the next five years. In the longer term, we see significant potential to expand the company, focusing on building for the future and cultivating a brand that our community can celebrate for generations to come.

How will you use the latest £2 million you secured in crowdfunding?

Proceeds from both the Seedrs offering (£2 million) and equity funding round (additional £6 million) will be used to accelerate marketing and geographic expansion, for working capital for expanded product development and to increase stock levels to support rapid dealer growth. The company is seeking margin enhancement through more sophisticated customer acquisition technologies and greater direct channel presence, whilst the US and Asia are key markets for development. New product evolution will be enhanced by higher operational expenses and larger teams, and Arksen will begin to hold a limited stock of products for immediate sale instead of making vessels to order.