Back to Boat Country: Three Dutch Explorer Yachts, One Filming Frenzy!
From a mysterious trawler at Altena to two steel-hulled brutes from No Limit, I’m heading back to the Netherlands to film three of the most intriguing explorer-style yachts I’ve come across.
Next week, I’m heading back to the Netherlands—and if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that usually means one thing: boats, boats, and more boats. At this point, the Netherlands is becoming my second home. I keep telling myself I should learn Dutch… but every Dutch person I meet speaks better English than I do, so my motivation tends to waver. This trip is shaping up to be a good one. Three very different motor yachts. Three distinct stories. And one camera-toting explorer yacht nerd (me) trying to do them all justice.
First up—and this one’s a bit of a personal favourite—is Blue Moon. Now, if you’ve watched a few of my Altena Yachting walkarounds, you might’ve spotted her in the background once or twice. Trawler-style, flared bow, raked-forward pilothouse windows—basically ticking all the boxes for those of us who like our explorer yachts with a bit of salty character.
Every time I’ve been to Altena Yachting, I’ve found myself drifting toward her, camera in hand, just admiring the lines. I even put up a couple of reels on Instagram ages ago, just panning across the exterior saying, “How fantastic is this boat?”
And then—this is the bit I love—the owners reached out to me. Dropped me a message and said, “If you’re ever back in the Netherlands, come and film her properly.” So that’s exactly what I’m doing. I don’t have a spec sheet. She’s not for sale. But I know how many of you love trawler-style yachts, and I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a proper treat for the channel.
Sometimes, the most memorable stories don’t come from the slick brochures or the latest listings—they come from the boats that have quietly lived a life. The ones that aren’t for sale, that aren’t up for sale, but have been thoughtfully owned, beautifully maintained, and clearly cherished. Don’t get me wrong—I love working with shipyards and brokers, and they play a huge part in what I do—but there’s something really special about shining a light on an explorer yacht that’s not been in the spotlight, but definitely deserves to be…
Now, jumping from something elegant and classic to something with a bit more muscle—the No Limit 15.50. This is day two of filming, and I’m genuinely buzzing for it. If you’ve ever fancied a pilot boat crossed with an expedition yacht, this is it. Steel hull, aluminium superstructure, CE-A certified, and built to take a pounding.
It’s the base model in the No Limit Ships lineup, and it’s got a real workboat vibe with all the comforts tucked inside. The air draft is low enough to cruise under bridges, the draft is shallow enough for canals, and the hull shape—thanks to the integrated tube design—means it can handle a proper blow offshore.
The thing I like most about the 15.50 is that it doesn’t shout about its capabilities. It’s not trying to be flashy. It just is. Built for long passages, for serious conditions, for people who’d rather be out there in all weathers than tied up in port. And yet, it’s still got an interior that’s been thoughtfully laid out for longer stays aboard. I know that’ll strike a chord with a lot of you who respect a boat that’s designed to take on rough seas without rattling itself—or its crew—to bits.
Before we move on, I just want to take a moment to explain why the rest of this blog is for my premium subscribers. These trips are entirely self-funded—I cover the flights, the hire car, the hotel, the lot. The shipyards don’t pay me to visit, and there are no big sponsors pulling the strings. It’s just me, driven by a love of unique boats and a passion for sharing them with the world. If you enjoy these deep dives and want to help support the work that goes into hunting down these kinds of vessels, then I’d love to invite you to become a paying subscriber. It’s thanks to your support that I can keep doing what I do.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to John Johnson - Yacht Buoy to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.