8.5m of beauty
The Whaleboat O28 is a carbon fibre/ foam/ epoxy matrix, vacuum infused ocean rowboat, 8.5m 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. We strongly believe in the pure class principle for the ocean rowing sport. 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. After all, we are part of the rowing family, not the sailing family.
#pureclasspurereward
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.
Get in touch
We help your adventure plans come true
Digitising the Whaleboat O28
It's common to start the production of a new boat by creating the design in 3D software, then build the model - as basis for the moulds - from the CAD drawings.
The model for the Whaleboat O28 ocean rowboat however was originally shaped by hand, similar to the shaping of a surfboard. This creation process provides freedom, allowing full control of the organic shapes. We create a boat like a sculpture.
The digital data from the software however is necessary for many purposes, that's why we're now working on a reversed approach:
A few days back, @oliverdewolf and @viveshogeschool scanned the boat, using a state-of-the-art led @einscan3d scanner.
The dots you see on the boat help with assessing distances and connecting fragments of the scan. Oliver 3D printed the dots (and his daughter had a great time compiling them).
The result of Olivers many hours of careful work, will be a highly accurate 3D model.
We will use this model to optimise future builds, glueing process, aerodynamics, wrapping design, plug and mould making, interior customisation and demoing. Virtual tours for prospects are almost here!
Thank you Oliver and Vives!
#boatbuildingisanart #3Dscanning #3Dprinting #veryvives #virtual #vives #collaboration #whaleboatO28 #whaleboatboatbuilding #whaleboat #shaping #craftmanship #roeiboot #roeien #rowing #ocean #belgium #koendegezelle
Carbon fibre, vacuum pressure gauges, infusion lines, epoxy resin catch pots, tacky tape, curing ovens, etc...
#highend materials needed to build #stateoftheart #oceanrowingboats at #whaleboat. Built to last.
#whaleboat028
#oceanrowingboat
#oceanrowboat
#techstuff #builttolast
#boatbuilding
#boatbuildingisanart
#pureclasspurereward
#carbonfiber
#lightweight
#adventure
Learn more about the new ocean rowboat O28: go to whaleboat.be for specs and details. New site live now!
Link in bio.
#whaleboatO28 #boatbuildingisanart #pureclasspurereward #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboat #boatbuilding #design #carbonfiber #rowing #expedition #adventure #neverstopexloring #high-end #photography #websitelaunch
PROUD libecohome 💙
Sponsor The front row project
Cross the Atlantic Ocean by manpower 3 months in The whale boat
#whaleboat028
#adventure🇧🇪
#believeinlinen
#belgianlinen
#zerowaste
#ikkooplokaal
#jointhefrontrow
Boat wrapping process...
The final result will follow soon.
grafitypselfadhesiveproducts
libecohome
whaleboat_boatbuilding
jelleveyt
#graphicdesign #boatwrapping #wrappingdesign #design #rowingboat #whaleboatO28 #libeco #grafityp #andreleon #andreandleon #graphicdesignduo #belgiumbased #rowingboatwrapping #thefrontrow #jointhefrontrow #frontrow #rowing #oceanrowing
Meet Fritz Buyl, the Front Row weather router. In summer, Fritz eats a few weather charts for breakfast, heads to his daily job at the Oceanographic Meteorologic Station where he forecasts the weather, then goes on to send weather updates to professional competitors at sea, and before he goes to bed, he studies the latest Heavy weather sailing edition. In winter you can find him in Union Glacier Antarctica where he provides all forecasts for South Pole missions and adventurers alike.
His daily briefings will guide us across the ocean following the optimal route. Based on weather system forecasts he will set the course, so we can benefit from wind and currents, and avoid depressions.
Graphics by @andre_and_leon
—- Read about the ocean crossing on www.jointhefrontrow.be —-
#weatherrouting #weatheratsea #weather #weatherforecast #routing #marine #optimalcourse #jointhefrontrow #Libeco #frontrow #whaleboatO28 #whaleboatboatbuilding #roeiboot #roeien #rowing #ocean #oceancrossing #oceanrowing #belgium #fromportugaltomiami #adventure #koendegezelle #jelleveyt #gijsvandenbogaerde #atlanticocean #2021 #andreandleon
Awesome shots from vandurmebrothers in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean •
•
Posted withrepost • vandurmebrothers HOT NEWS: you must have noticed that the last days, Damien and Bernard ARE ON FIRE. They are going faster everyday and do more NM than ever before.
Last week they changed their strategy: instead of 2h on - 2h off, they now row 1h alone (bro 1), 1h together and then 1h alone again (bro 2). Which means less rest but +25% more speed. They really enjoy rowing together and it keeps them going more easily.
The. bro’s. are. crushing. it!
#twac2019 #excited #oceanrowing #rowing
#rowinglife #vandurmebrothers #ultimateadventure #taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge #focus #adrenaline #motivation #aliveandkicking #handicapinternational #hibelgium #charitydonation #supportcharity #rowingbrothers #whaleboatO28 #ghentianbrothers #rowingnotblowing
New O28 hull just popped out of the mold! 8,5 meters of proof of our expertise in high-end boatbuilding techniques.
#carbonfiber #carbonfibre #vacuuminfusion #tech #craft #craftsman #craftsmanship #boatbuilding #boatbuildingisanart #oceanrowboat #oceanrowingboat #optimisation #whaleboatO28
69 NMs! Most NMs covered in 24h of all teams. And that on a day without running downwind. That’s what true rowing is about! Go strong @Vandurmebrothers. #pureclasspurereward
#twac2019 #rowing #oceanrowing #boatbuildingisanart #whaleboatO28 #rowingnotblowing @atlanticcampaigns
Autopilot and tiller systems often cause problems and frustration on ocean rowboats. They break down all the time and crew have to work in a tiny cabin to 'plot' a heading on the tiller arm. That sucks! So, we set out to build our own autopilot system. And this picture of last year's North Sea training says it all: we programmed the word TWAC on our plotter, pressed the button 'go to', sat back and enjoyed the view, while all the rowers had to do was to pull the oars! Magic!
If you want your name 'written' at sea by a rowboat, give us a call...
#autopilot
#twac2019
#atlanticcampaigns
#northsea
#oceanrowing
#oceanrowboat
#oceanrowingboat
#whaleboatO28
#boatbuildingisanart
#boatbuilding
#whaleboat
It's a wrap! Carbon fibre cabins for the oceanrowboat O28 popped out of the mold. Ready to be glued on the hull. Very happy with my design, floating somewhere between a spaceship and a formula one car
#design #boatdesign #boatbuilder #boatbuilding #boatbuildingisanart #spaceship #formula1 #oceanrowboat #sport #oceanrowing #ocean #futuristic #whaleboatO28 #O28
Once a Jedi knight, always a Jedi. Using my laser sword as much as possible in daily life: lasercutting carbon fibre, chopping off heads of unhappy customers, leveling boats, defining waterlines, and in this case, aligning the keel of a new O28!
#lasercutting
#laser
#oceanrowboat
#oceanrowing
#boatbuilding
#boatbuildingisanart
#jedi
#starwars
#lasersword
#whaleboatO28
#magictool