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).
Get in touch
We help your adventure plans come true
=== Nederlands in comment ===
Astrid Janse, who participated in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge last year with a team of 4, visited us last weekend to test the WhaleboatO28 for a next challenge with @janse_en_janse. This is her feedback about the boat after a day rowing on the North Sea:
- The inside space of the cabins is much larger than what we’re used to
- Easy to organise and access all my stuff: lots of integrated storage shelves and compartments - in addition to nets and floor hatches
- Foot steering by means of a wheel is easy to use, without strain on leg or knee, and can also be operated by hand
- Switching from auto to manual steering and vice versa doesn't require entering the cabin crawling over your rowing partner, to operate the autopilot. I can simply push a button on deck, accessible from the rowing position.
- Strong, structurally integrated outriggers. No risk here of bending them through intensive use like we did before.
And of course the boat looks fantastic, which is a nice extra for sponsors!
#whaleboatO28 #oceanrowing #northsea #playground #watersport #belgischekust #dekust #atlanticcampaigns #twac #boatbuildingsisanart #oceaanroeien #sloeproeien #coaching
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#bracasport
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Waeterloos
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Coaching a team like @team_migaloo is always a pleasure! First Atlantic Campaigns inspection for their #TWAC21 ocean crossing was a success, as were their training hours on the North Sea. Well done guys!
#northsea #playground #navigation #oceanrowing #coaching #belgiancoast #design #longandlean #whaleboatO28
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#bracasport
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Waeterloos
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@atlanticcampaigns
Congrats to Team Migaloo! These guys just finished a 6-day training session on The North Sea with the O28 ‘Jan Martens’. No cutting corners here! No training on lakes, rivers or protected waters. They went out, full frontal, and experienced the harshness of the open sea. Fierce (spring) tidal currents, pouring rain, and frequent thunderstorms. A typical Belgian summer…
Apart from the actual rowing, they exercised with the para anchor, cleaned the bottom of the hull at sea, they navigated at night, through busy shipping lanes, and they learned to use the autopilot. They even practiced a MOB at night with a +2 knot spring tide! Keep up the good work guys!
@teammigaloo
#Oceanrowing
#northsea
#whaleboatO28
#thunderstorm
#taliskeratlanticchallenge
#atlanticcampaigns
#training
#nature
#raw
@Scurion headlamps were not only great during our atlantic nights, but also very useful for cleaning the bottom of our O28 ocean rowing boat.
Thank you @amyandresdottir for being our little baby seal of the day.
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#bracasport
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Waeterloos
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#babyseal #IceQueen #ColdNeverBotheredMeAnyway #cleaning #byebyebarnacles #byebyeseaweed #boatlife #shiny #Oceanrowingboat #WhaleboatO28 #rowing #Rowingboat #adventure #YachthavenVvwBlankenberge #Oceanrowing #JustAnotherDayAtWhaleboat #OpenWaterSwimming
The fantastic ladies of @blueatlantics on their maiden trip! Lots of laughter and hard work brought them to @royalnorthseayachtclub .
Well done ladies!
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Waeterloos Accountants
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#girlpower
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#oceanrowing
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#ocean
#4womeninaboat
#whaleboatO28
@jachthavenvvwblankenberge
Read about 20 years of designing and building rowing boats, the love for adventure and especially about our recent ocean expedition, this week in Knack magazine. (in Dutch)
Thank you for the article @ingridallaerts!
https://weekend.knack.be/lifestyle/magazine/drie-mannen-en-een-roeiboot/article-normal-1742021.html
#whaleboatO28 #oceanrowing #boatbuildingisanart #presscoverage #magazine
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Ever wondered what the Whaleboat O28 cabin interior looks like? Head over to whaleboat.be/O28 for details.
#whaleboatO28 #oceanrowing #oceanrowingboat #boatbuildingisanart
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The Whale’s back home. Roaming the North Sea.
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#oceanrowing #whaleboatO28 #jointhefrontrow
#northsea
@w.w.s.v @de.kust
Preparing for their ocean crossing later this year, pairs Team Migaloo spent last weekend at the Belgian coast for a first training in a Whaleboat 028. 30 NM on the North Sea are now done and dusted! Tristan and Aidan enjoyed surfing on a 2-knots spring-tide North Sea current. Not so much rowing against it though... nor beating against a 5bft Northeaster, full frontal on the bow. But they made it, smiling, after 10 hours of ocean rowing. Congratulations, and see you soon for more training!
#whaleboatO28 #TWAC2021 #teammigaloo #northsea #oceanrowing #taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge #jachthavenvvwblankenberge
@team_migaloo
Future ocean rowers! We will have a Whaleboat O28 ocean rowing boat on the water for viewing and try outs. Teams are welcome to test the boat on the North Sea in Blankenberge, Belgium, under the professional guidance of boatbuilder and licensed skipper Koen. Please send a PM for info on prices and availability. Book your weekend on the water now!
#whaleboatO28 #northsea #oceanrowing #rowing #adventure
@w.w.s.v @de.kust @visitblankenberge #expedition #explore #adventurerowing #rowtripping
That unique moment when a giant wave crashes on deck and blows you out of your shoes, or when the boat hits 15 knots, surfing down a wall of water, is always the moment someone forgot to turn on the camera, or the battery died just moments before the grand spectacle. And often, conditions were simply too rough and we were holding on for dear life, not thinking about the bloody camera.
So we have to do with less spectacular images from the ocean. Nevertheless they present a good view of the daily conditions we faced on the Atlantic during our row. Portuguese seamen had told us about this very strange year, with a lot of rain, cold and miserable. Frequent low pressure systems, creating winds from directions, abnormal for the time of year. And right they were! We experienced it all from the front row! 😏
#jointhefrontrow #whaleboatO28 #oceanrowing #atlantic #wave #heavyweather #atlanticocean #ocean #gopro #Portugal #oceanrowboat #rowing #surfing #surf
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*** Front Row *** Captain’s log excerpts ***
We set off from Portimaõ, Portugal on the 25th of February at 10.15 am, after careful deliberation with our weather router Fritz. Weather conditions were far from perfect to start, 4m waves from the WNW - remains of a mid-Atlantic storm - and wind from the WNW. Quite a rough start, but not to worry, things should improve the following days.
The goal was to head out as far west as possible, then go south, pushed by the prevailing north winds. Once south of Madeira we would start the crossing west, even as high as the 28th latitude! A cunning plan this was, the standard route is to start the crossing between the Canaries and Cabo Verde, latitude 19th and lower, the easier option because of the more constant trade winds pushing the boat across. But going this far south would make the trip to Miami even longer! And we had an extra 1350 NM / 2500 km to row even as the crow flies, on top of the 2700 NM / 5000 km for the crossing.
Unfortunately, from the first night Jelle got seasick and Gijs and I had to rearrange our shifts, meaning even less sleep. Well, no biggy I figured, seasickness in these conditions is part of the game. In fact I was expecting this to happen. When Jelle and I rowed along Indonesia before, he got seasick often. Besides, I wasn’t feeling too great myself. Building the new boat, setting up the campaign, finding sponsors in these challenging times, all within 1 year, appeared to had influenced my sea-legs! I felt exhausted and nauseous. Even threw up an orange juice, quite the surprise for me! Never had been seasick in my life.
Continue reading in the comments below...
#jointhefrontrow #oceanrowing #captainslog #logs #whaleboatO28 #waves #portimao #captain #rowing #canaryislands #tenerife #navigation #surf