8.9m of beauty
The Whaleboat O28 is a carbon fibre/ foam/ epoxy matrix, vacuum infused ocean rowboat, 8.9m long, 1.9m wide, for a crew of 2 to 5.
The O28 doesn’t just have the looks – we know, she’s beautiful – but is also optimally functional.
Her longer waterline makes for a faster boat, with larger cabins, where even the tallest crew can rest in comfort, fully stretched out.
Designed for rowing
The O28 is designed to handle like a proper rowboat. Our design minimises the impact of the wind on all angles of the cabins, creating a much more versatile boat. It’s not built for running downwind only, and will deal with headwinds and side winds too. As such, the O28 is a perfect option for ocean crossings in any direction.
Racing is key but safety is priority
The O28 is fully self-righting, even without ballast. The roll-test surpassed all simulation results. So in the off-chance of a capsize, relax. It won’t take long to roll back on your feet.
The entire inner structure of the boat is made of vacuum infused carbon fiber sandwich panels. Two keelsons combined with bulkheads make a compartment. Every single one of these 20 compartments is taped to the deck and the hull, creating individual watertight areas. Even with several punctures the boat will stay afloat. This extremely rigid and stiff construction makes the O28 one of the most seaworthy and safest on the market. Just smile and wave to the approaching freighter’s crew as they prepare for impact…
Tech talk
Robust autopilot capable of dealing with the slower speed of rowboats. Designed to steer much bigger rudders, it can adapt course continuously without getting fried like so many other autopilots. The entire steering system is mounted below the floor level, resulting in maximum aft cabin living space.
Sliding seats construction and adjustment system reduce lateral movement. Wheels are located beneath the seats, protected against direct impact from sea water. Seats stay attached to the boat at all times, and load on the wheel bearings is reduced.
Anatomic seats designed by a prosthetic technician to reduce those backside pains.
Recessed solution to lock the dagger board, keeping the deck area flush and clean. No more injuries to toes and feet caused by protruding dagger boards.
More tech talk
Revolutionary foot steering system using a wheel instead of a rotating footplate. Wave goodbye to knee inflammation and strained ankles.
A look at the stern
The extended cabin surface has space for optional extra solar panels, in case you crave that extra long shower!
We flattened the aft section slightly to optimise the surf hydrodynamics. Adding more initial stability and reducing the risk of broaching when surfing down a wave.
The Captain’s quarters
The largest cabin, situated aft of the vessel, houses the navigation and communication center, and provides a large sleeping compartment.
Most of the ship’s electronics for navigation – chart plotter and AIS – and the communication equipment – VHF (both portable and fixed versions) and satellite phones – are located here. The battery management system with LED screen and waterproof switch panels completes the list.
All electronics are housed in waterproof IP68 boxes. In case of flooding all electronics keep working! A unique feature in ocean rowing.
The Captain, a giant in both wisdom and size, and a second equally sizable crew member can comfortably sleep side by side, fully stretched out, as the mattress in this cabin is more than 2.1m long.
All steering components and the auto pilot are located under the floor, not in the back of the cabin, thus guaranteeing full use of the cabin space. Another unique feature.
Custom made, sturdy storage nets are easily accessible. They provide plenty of space for everything you want to keep close at hand, while ample compartments under the floor can hold all other gear.
The forecastle – front cabin
As in the old days, the less fortunate sleep in the bow of the boat. In fact, in the O28 also this cabin is spacious, and can house 2 crew members with ease.
The same custom made, sturdy storage nets are available here as well, for easy access to the most frequently used items.
Under the floor is more room for extra batteries, and alternative energy solutions (like hydrogen).
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Had a great time coaching these rascals during the world beach sprint finals in Barletta! Well done guys , more to come for sure! #2023wrccbsf #WRBSF #beachsprintfinals #teambelgium #belgium #madeinbelgium #world @rowingmag #rowing #barletta #italy #vlaamseroeiliga
#sportvlaanderen #WK
#crockeroars
1990. First boat built. She was ready to conquer the oceans and seas of this world and so were we! Made it as far as the source of our local river, the Leie,and we had the time of our lives! #Oceanrowing #Vikings #woodenboat #adventure #history #traditional #wooden #beginning #Leie #justababy
Tom, Koen`s rock-climbing buddy in the late eighties, and since long living in France running an outdoor activities business, is always in for an adventure. A new adventure started with a question about a year ago "You think Sophie and I can row around Corsica in a C23 by the end of this summer? And we`ll bring the dog too!" Yes, that`s possible! If you both start learning how to row straight away! #whaleboatC23 #rowtripping #adventure #rowing #island #corsica #keeplearning #challenge #med #dogaboard #circumnavigate #safetyfirst
By the end of the summer they pushed off from a Corsican beach and started their adventure.
Tom, being a professional mountain guide, understands the importance of communication and back-up, so he asked his mom Lien, an avid, life-long sailor herself, to function as safety officer, following along on land by car.
Rowing around any island, big or small, is a serious business, demanding a profound knowledge of the local currents, rock formations, hazardous winds and specific, unusual weather patterns. Painfully demonstrated by the hurricane that hit Corsica only days before they set off!
Prepared for the worse, they loved every bit of the adventure, and so did mom and the dog!
Gold! Whaleboat O28 ocean rowing boat won gold at the Henry van de Velde Design Awards earlier this week. The jury was especially impressed by the `craft pushed to its limits`, and as innovation is one of the main criteria we`re even more proud to see our efforts rewarded. Our thanks to the jury, @flandersdcfordesign and all partners for the organisation! Visit the exposition at Bozar until 2 April. Learn more about the ocean rowing boats on https://whaleboat.be @bokrijk_vakmanschap #vaklab
#innovation #design #boatbuildingisanart #whaleboatO28 #hvdv23 #henryvandeveldeawards23 #bozar #productdesign
Preparing the infusions of the next ocean rowing boat! ...
Watertight compartments are an essential part of our ocean rowing boats. It`s easy to say `watertight` but how is this tested? Filling each compartment with water would be one way, but the faster and more precise - although possibly very confronting! - solution is to check for airflow. Air can be sucked out of the compartment using a vacuum pump or air can be pumped into each compartment. The result is the same: at least 2 ton/square meter of pressure is applied to the structure, and will hold if there are no leaks. Test succeeded. #oceanrowingboat #whaleboat028 #oceanrowing #test #underpressure #airpressure #noleaks #boatbuilding #safety
Whaleboat ocean rowing boat wins a Henry van de Velde design Award! You can also vote for Whaleboat for the Public Gold Award until 20 December, go to henryvandevelde.be #hvdv23 #design #crafts #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboat #designcompetition #outofthebox #Award #winner
@flandersdcfordesign @libecohome
Successfully completed the self-righting test for our brand new ocean rowing boat model: a long, lean ocean rowing machine, with 3 seats and loaded with lots of new features! This one is called Alexia and she’s an important member of the NYR team. NewYorkRotterdam #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboat #selfrighting #yachthavenvvwblankenberge #blankenberge
@atlanticcampaigns
Still sure about those instructions...??
#oceanrowing #boatbuilding #disaster #secondthoughts #massacre #breakup #catamaran #fixit
@julesdebie_ ...
Heavy machinery, light boat. Thanks @harbourtownemarinafl for putting our newest #whaleboatO28 in the water. @neilblackeby @jakup.jacobsen.3 #florida #daniabeach #sunshinestate #gulfstream #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboat #faroeislands #forklift #usa #everythingisbiggerinamerica
In the picture: the Whaleboat C23 adventure rowboat and O28 ocean rowboat, a perfect pair. www.whaleboat.be/C23
While preparing for your ocean adventure, the C23 is a great choice for training and getting your sea legs It’s a fully seaworthy boat, easily transportable, less dependent on wind directions than an ocean rowing boat and can take 1 to 4 crew, lots of gear and a serious beating. And when you get back home after your ocean crossing and long for the freedom on the water, the C23 is again at hand to take the family (and dog!) camping along the coast of your choice.
Get in touch for our combination plans for the C23 and O28 and we also have rental options available for both.
www.whaleboat.be/O28
#whaleboatC23 #whaleboatO28 #oceanrowing #adventure #outdoor #sports #extremesports #ocean #challenge #endurance #rowing #training #sealegs #madeinbelgium #expedition #oceanlife #rowinglife #rowtripping #twac23 #twac24 #twac25
New boat, new adventures. Ready for shipping to Miami, feeling 🔆🔆! A world’s first, epic trip in the making, details to follow soon. #whaleboato28 #boatbuilding #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboat #miami #adventure #travel
#ovinto @atelierpinus
Update from the workshop:
Hull + deck = boat
If only boatbuilding and our hands were this fast in real life!
#fasthands #silentmovie #whaleboatO28 #oceanrowingboat #boatbuildingisanart #boatbuilding #carbonfibre #carbonfiber #oceanrowing #lightweight #composites #workshop ...
Workshop update: The Whaleboat O28 contains 120 meter of fillets and carbon tape. #quality #hardwork #nocuttingcorners #oceanrowingboat #boatbuildingisanart #whaleboatO28 #boatbuilding #vacuuminfusing #carbonfibre #carbonfiber #oceanrowing #safety #innovation #engineering
The various steps of building a safe ocean rowing boat are intensely laborious, but the only way to create absolutely watertight compartments that guarantee your boat stays afloat in case of puncture.
Precision fit carbon frames (cut with a water jet) are glued in the vacuum infused hull.
All intersections between these frames, the hull and the keelsons (the parts running the length of the boat) have to be sealed to create the watertight compartments. This is called the `taping` process, often neglected because of the labour intensive process and cost implications. It involves first creating a `fillet` - a smoother transition of the 90° angle - these are the white lines in the photos. After the fillets, a strip of carbon with epoxy resin is applied. You can see this carbon on the first frame in the first photo.
@viveshogeschool
@team_migaloo did it! Emotional moments for us today when they reached Antigua, after rowing every mile across the Atlantic. Posted @withregram • @team_migaloo Bekijk de aankomst van @aidanscherpbier en @tristansimmo hier nog een keer terug! #TWAC2021 #OneForTheSea @libecohome #ovinto #boatbuildingisanart #whaleboatO28 #atlanticocean
🔥🎉 🤙
📷@atlanticcampaigns @the_ocean_movement
@intotheunknown.now #twac2021 @talisker
@Team_migaloo is now less than 400 NM away from the finish in Antigua, after 7 weeks rowing the Atlantic Ocean! It`s been a tough week mentally and physically, with a low pressure system pushing the guys South, while they need to get more North for a good approach into Antigua. But at least the sun is shining on the Atlantic so cheer up guys and enjoy what the journey throws at you! #squall #northsea #oceanrowing #atlanticocean #rowboat @atlanticcampaigns #vvwblankenberge #summer #niceweather #team #keepsmiling #coast #rain
As a reminder here`s a video of a training session on the North Sea in Belgium last SUMMER.. smilies etc
Work health and safety manager: "Optimise the ergonomics for all workers!" Boatbuilder aka the boss: "Sure, not a problem." #whaleboatO28 #boatbuildingisanart #handcrafted #craftmanship #technology #glue #messingaroundinboats #intheboatshop #intheworkshop #boatbuilding #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboats @gusengineering #ergonomics
Gijs Vanden Bogaerde at work.
We`re keeping busy in the workshop, with design and production from start to finish as always. Just finished another mould to build more Whaleboat O28 ocean rowing boats. Each mould lasts at least 50 hulls. Bring on 2022! #whaleboatO28 #boatbuildingisanart #handcrafted #craftmanship #technology #mould #mouldmaking #tooling #intheworkshop #boatbuilding #inhouseproduction #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboats #2022
So good to see the boys doing well and happy! Posted @withregram • @team_migaloo Nieuw Migaloo-beeld! En nog maar 2000 NM te gaan. 😎 Verder weinig nieuws, wat een goed teken is. Het roeischema is nog hetzelfde. Gisteren hebben de mannen de kiel schoongemaakt, daar zat veel aangroei op. Ook hebben ze de boot iets anders ingedeeld: het gewicht wat meer naar achter verplaatst, wat gunstiger is met de huidige passaatwind. Voor de rest: still going strong! 💪🌊🚣♂️ @atlanticcampaigns /// New Migaloo-pictures! And only 2000 NM to go. 😎 Not much news today, which is a good sign. The rowing schedule is still the same. Yesterday they cleaned the keel, because there was a lot of fouling on it. They also have shifted the weight in the boat a bit more to the rear which is more favorable with the current trade wind. They are still going strong! 💪🌊🚣♂️ #whaleboatO28 @libecohome #oceanrowingboat #ocean #atlanticocean
@the_ocean_movement
#TWAC2021 #madebythesea #oneforthesea #cleanoceans #plasticwaste #plasticfree #oceanrowing #oceaanroeien
Coaching ocean rowing pairs Team Migaloo has been a pleasure, for many reasons but especially since we share the same love and concern for the ocean. No surprise that Team Migaloo is selected - as one of 3 #twac21 teams - as @Parley.tv ambassadors. Well deserved! Whatever the race outcome is, Team Migaloo already won our and many more hearts! If you feel the same, please support the campaign here https://team-migaloo.kentaa.nl #oceanrowing #twac21 #oneforthesea
As part of the campaign leading up to their Atlantic crossing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (starting this Sunday, 12 Dec!) Team Migaloo has taken a huge effort to create awareness about the ocean pollution.
Aidan and Tristan spoke with about 3500 kids and young adults, educating the next generation with huge determination to spread the word and walk the the talk.
#whaleboatO28 #taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge
@teammigaloo @talisker @atlanticcampaigns
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