Okean 50X: A Versatile Explorer Yacht Finding Its Stride in the U.S. Market

Now in its fourth year on an increasingly competitive U.S. stage, Okean’s family of shapeshifting yachts is maturing into a coherent design language. The latest addition, the 50X, continues the brand’s mission to deliver open, functional boats that broaden the typical brief for owner-operators. Italian designer Paolo Ferragni and Okean founder Nercio Fernandes have refined the 50-foot concept, and while the 50X shares a hull lineage with the company’s earlier 50-footer, this new model establishes its own identity through proportion, layout and a purposeful aft-deck arrangement.

Hull and Propulsion: The Duo Mode Hull Philosophy

Ferragni’s semi-displacement “Duo Mode Hull” was conceived to offer efficient, economical performance at trawler-like speeds while still allowing comfortable cruising in the mid-20-knot range. According to Okean, the design’s top end is close to 28 knots. The 50X pairs naturally with Volvo Penta IPS systems, and the initial hull shown was fitted with twin 550-hp D8 units. For buyers who prefer a conventional drive layout, V-drives are available using the same 7.7-liter Volvo Penta D8 powerplant. That combination of hull geometry and propulsion choices gives owners flexibility to prioritize range, efficiency or speed depending on how they intend to use the yacht.

Exterior Styling and the Open Aft Deck

The 50X preserves the flybridge and deckhouse silhouette of its predecessor but shortens and moves that volume forward by nearly four feet, producing a more assertive profile. The result is a clean, contemporary look—accented by a gunmetal-gray hull and a jet-black, slightly reverse-raked deckhouse with carbon-fiber detailing—that draws attention at boat shows and marinas.

Most notable is the large, unobstructed aft deck, which reinforces the “X” for explorer intent. With no hardtop over the flybridge on the standard layout, the helmsman and guests on deck are open to the elements; an optional folding bimini is offered and can be stowed when not needed (option price listed at $9,450). The aft area can be configured in many ways: a true beach-club setup for lounging and swimming, dedicated water-toy and tender stowage (a davit can be fitted to the transom), or practical dive-tank lockers for scuba use. That versatility is central to the 50X’s appeal—owners can adapt the space to suit cruising, entertaining, or active-water pursuits.

Interior Layout, Helm Position and Onboard Living

Okean continues to employ innovative touches from prior models. The 50X was shown with hydraulic gunwales deployed, which increase beam by exactly 6 feet to a full 20 feet, 7 inches—expanding usable deck area when at rest or at anchor. The interior flow reads as single-level living: teak decking stretches from stern to stem, with a small step leading into an enclosed salon and an aft galley whose darker teak complement defines the space.

The salon is bright and modern, with large windows flooding the space with natural light. Leather and stainless accents give a contemporary feel without overstating the decor. Forward and centerline sits a simple, functional single-seat helm that places the captain in line with the boat’s center plane. Sightlines from the helm are generally excellent forward and to either side. However, the ladder to the flybridge and the wet bar under the bridge overhang can partially obstruct direct aft visibility, so a wing station is a practical necessity for close-quarters maneuvering when the flybridge position is not in use.

Practical details—like a wet bar with stool seating beneath the flybridge overhang and the option to expand deck space via the hydraulic gunwales—underscore the 50X’s focus on adaptable, social living. A companionway adjacent to the helm leads below to three staterooms, making the yacht suitable for multi-day cruising with family or guests.

Where Okean Is Headed

Okean appears intent on pushing this flexible approach further, with additional models planned in the months ahead. The brand has hinted at larger launches, including an 80-foot model, which would carry the same philosophy of open, capable layouts scaled for longer-range cruising and more extensive onboard amenities. For buyers seeking a modern, adaptable explorer-style boat that balances efficient hull design with usable, social deck areas, the 50X makes a persuasive case.

This article originally appeared in the July 2020 issue.