Arksen 28 (2024-)

Brief Summary

With her heavy-duty, deep-V, robust aluminum hull and fiberglass superstructure, the Poland-built Arksen 28 is sure to turn heads wherever she goes.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	28' 1" 8.57 m
Beam	8' 8" 2.64 m
Draft	2' 11" 0.9 m
Deadrise/Transom	24-degrees
Fuel Capacity	80 gal 303 L

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Load	84% fuel, 4 people aboard
Climate	63 deg; 74% humidity; 6 mph wind

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x 400-hp Mercury Verado 6-cyl.

Captain's Report

by Capt. Ken Kreisler

Arksen 28 - Capability Comes Standard

Mission

An exceptionally built dayboat, or weekender away, the Arksen 28 has deep roots in part of the company’s basic philosophy: “It is for those who want to be driven by their own schedule, not by the weather.”

Every boat or yacht in the model lineup, from the Arksen RIB 8 to the awesome, long-range 85 Explorer Vessel, is designed and engineered to take everyone on board to places perhaps only imagined and as yet, unreachable for a variety of reasons, in safety and comfort.

The Arksen 28 is a muscular, no-nonsense boat built for exploring that packs a lot into its 28'1" (8.57 m) LOA and 8'8" (2.64 m) beam including sculpted aft fenders, daybed, pantry unit and head. Just add a destination and go for it.

Key Features

• Fully enclosed cabin
• Aluminum hull
• Insulated hull for sound deadening 
• Bow seating w/removable table and under-seat storage
• Shock-absorbing helm and companion seats
• Electric toilet
• Bow to stern walk-thru
• High-density foam sponsons the entire length
• Heavy-duty, large rub rails at the sheer
• Panoramic electrically-operated sunroof

Notable Options

• Exterior color choices including vinyl wrap option
• Diesel cabin heater
• Electrically operated SureShade awning and aft canvas enclosure
• Starboard side sofa (makes into a bed) instead of a galley
• Air conditioning
• Upgraded nav package, autopilot and auto trim
• Roof rack for bicycles, surfboards and other equipment

Boat Inspection

Bow

Even with its overall length and beam seemingly making space a bit reserved, Arksen has found a way of providing the 28 with comfort for the task ahead. Starting with the deep bow area, where there is over 36" (91 cm) from deck to sheer, sitting up here affords a safe and relaxing way to take in the sights. The seatback is fiberglass, but its angle makes it remarkably comfortable.

Forward is the anchor apparatus, which is on a "swing-up-and-over" cantilevered device that makes the anchor easy to launch. We applaud Arksen for not making this electric — just something to go wrong at the wrong time.

Cabin

Entrance to the cabin area from the bow is via a full-size glass door, which securely closes. Once inside, one is greeted with a sizable space that, while packed with all the basic and necessary equipment for a boat this size, still affords plenty of room to easily move about. Large windows all around allow those inside to enjoy what is going on outside. 

The “wide-body” cabin is a major feature of the boat that differentiates it from other boats in class. By making the cabin wider, it becomes more livable. The trade-off is losing sidedecks, but there is still enough of a catwalk on each side to carefully get out along the side.  Hand-holds are on the rooftop.  Since the boat is small, it can easily be tied up bow and stern, with the spring lines put on from the dock. We think for this boat, eliminating the traditional side decks was a good choice.

Since there are no side decks, the cabin has a walkthrough design with front and rear doors. This makes access to the whole boat safer by obviating the need to get outside on the side decks to go forward or aft in rough conditions. There is a sunken footwell angled through the middle of the boat that is 8-1/2" (21 cm) deep, going from the back door to the front one. This is unusual and allows the seating to be raised so that everyone has a panoramic view of the great outdoors.

Headroom in the cabin is 6’4-3/4” (1.94 m) from the bottom of the footwell. Both doors are 57" (1.44 m) high. The rear door is 27-1/2" (69 cm) wide and the front door is 21" (53 cm) wide.

The head compartment is in the port console and its cutaway door design makes it easy to get into and out of. Inside, standing headroom is 50" (1.27m) and the clearance over the toilet seat is 31" (78 cm). The head is electric and there is hot and cold water in the sink.

The “L-shaped” setttee behind the companion seat measures 32-1/2” (82 cm) front to back and the back bench is 34-1/2” (87 cm) wide.  This is large enough to be comfortable for two or three people, but four would be very tight, unless two were small children. The seats are two-toned with ultra suede and ultra leather used in an attractive design that reminds us of what is found in a premium-quality automobile.

One of the few things that we would like to see improved on the boat are the backrests on this settee.  They are a 90-degree vertical design that should be angled — wider at the bottom than at the top — for more comfort. By necessity, the table is small, but the fold-up leaves and the swiveling top make it workable.

The starboard side console contains a standard sink and an optional propane burner.

Shock-Absorbing Seats

Both the helm and the companion seats on the Arksen 28 are shock-absorbing, spring-actuated seats that are one of the first we have encountered on boats of this type. While Puget Sound was relatively calm on test day, we got a small idea of what they would be like in rough chop by running over our wake. The word “heavenly” comes to mind.

Unlike a center console and other boats where one can stand at the wheel, this boat is a sit-down design, which means knees can’t be used to cushion the G-forces encountered in rough conditions at speed. The seats are a dream come true — our test captain was ecstatic to have them.

We have wondered for years why builders haven’t made shock-absorbing seats standard or optional equipment — and the answer is that consumers haven’t demanded them. (That is probably largely because they don’t know they exist.) Full marks to Arksen for installing them as standard equipment

Four-Season Boat

The buyer of an Arksen 28 can customize many aspects because each boat is built one at a time. Air conditioning and heat are options by reverse cable and a special heating unit. These options mean that buyers in the tropics can opt for A/C and be perfectly comfortable. That, combined with the opening front and rear doors plus the sliding sunroof, means that the cockpit can be filled with balmy air.

Cockpit

The aft section of the Arksen 28 provides bench seating astern and additional seats to either side with storage in port and starboard self-draining hatches. All seats fold up for extra deck space if necessary.

Observations

The Arksen 28 is not cheap, which means she is not for everyone. Because she is an aluminum construction, the cost of materials and labor to create this boat are high. The 28 is built in Poland by skilled craftspeople. While production is well-organized, it is nonetheless more costly than spraying fiberglass in a mold.

The Arksen 28 and the whole Arksen concept are directed to individuals who want to escape the humdrum of modern life. It is for people, particularly adventurous couples, who want an exciting dayboat experience and/or to be able to go boating in any condition and in comfort. We like the idea of not having to look at the weather report before taking off in the morning.

The Arksen 28 is truly a boat for all seasons — and reasons. She is for the individual who wants to stand apart and signal that exciting experiences and the sea are one’s passion. Nothing could cue that persona better than the Jungle Green 28 we tested with its large hard rubber rub rails and North Sea rake to the windshield.

There is more to this boat than just her rugged design. When buying an Arksen 28, one is also buying into founder Jasper Smith’s philosophy of harnessing new technology, opting for sustainability and connecting it all with the power of adventure.

Life is better on a boat!