Vanguard — XPM 78 Explorer Yacht for Sale
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Vanguard is for sale. 7,450 nautical miles proven. Florida to Greenland and back. Above 70°N. Hurricane Erin survived. Documented in real time, not in a brochure.
Sale notice — Vanguard is not for sale in US waters. Transfer of ownership is arranged via the Bahamas. Buyers should consult Northrop & Johnson for the procedure.
At a Glance
Type: Explorer yacht — XPM 78
Designer: Artnautica
Builder: Naval Yachts (2023)
Hull: Aluminium, ice-reinforced
Length overall: 23.86 m / 78 ft 4 in
Beam: 7.41 m
Draft: 1.22 m
Displacement: 66 GT
Propulsion: Hybrid diesel-electric, no standalone generators
Engines: John Deere 4045
Cruising / Max speed: 9 / 11 knots
Range: 3,000 NM at displacement speed
Classification: MCA Category 2
Cabins: 3
Lying: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sale terms: Transfer via Bahamas — not for sale in US waters
Asking price: On application — contact Mike Finnegan at Northrop & Johnson
Why This Boat Is Different
Most explorer yachts in this size class are theoretical. They were drawn for high latitudes, fitted out for them, and then taken to the Bahamas. Vanguard wasn't.
She was built around three commitments and they have all been tested.
Hybrid diesel-electric propulsion, no standalone generators. A single integrated power architecture means fewer prime movers, fewer maintenance hours, and fewer single points of failure. Hotel loads run from the same lithium battery bank that supports propulsion. The Praxis Automation system manages it all. After 7,450 NM in 2025 the architecture earned its design choices — the simplification is a working asset, not a marketing line.
Aluminium hull, ice-reinforced. Coatings are sacrificial. Structure is not. We have grounded intentionally on remote anchorages, navigated brash ice and growlers in Disko Bay, and held position in winds approaching 100 mph during Hurricane Erin. The hull came home unmarked where it mattered.
MCA Category 2 classification. Built and maintained to a commercial standard at the owner's decision to provide an improved level of safety and protection given the cruising grounds. Not a survey-truck arrangement — a genuine compliance position.
Proven, Not Theoretical
The 2024–2025 seasons were the proof:
2,000 NM logged 2024 — Turkey to Spain
7,450 NM logged 2025 — Florida to Greenland and back
Above 70°N sustained operations
Hurricane Erin weathered at sea
Greenland — Disko Bay ice navigation, three months of a five-month voyage
Intentional groundings in remote anchorages, recovered without damage
No mechanical failures that prevented passage
Every mile is documented on ExplorerYacht.com. The blog isn't a marketing afterthought — it's the operational record. A buyer can read what worked, what didn't, and what was changed afterwards. This is rare. Most listings ask you to take the brochure on trust.
Systems Summary
Each system has its own technical post on ExplorerYacht.com. The summaries are short on purpose.
Propulsion: John Deere 4045 main engines paired with electric drive. Single integrated power system. No generator-set complexity.
Electrical: Victron components, lithium battery bank, redundant DC architecture. Hotel and propulsion share a managed bus.
Navigation: Furuno suite, redundant plotters, Starlink for connectivity, Iridium for backup.
HVAC: Webasto, optimised in 2025 for 50% power reduction without comfort loss.
Watermaking and tanks: 4,000 litres capacity, fitted and proven across the 2025 season.
Refit and maintenance log: Documented continuously since launch.
Refit History — Honest
She's a two-year-old explorer yacht with a heavy operating profile. The refit history reflects that. These are not repairs in the conventional sense. Extended heavy loading exposes design truths quickly, and we have addressed them as they emerged.
The 2025 post-season refit covered HVAC optimisation, electrical and control refinements, new commercial deck hatches, tender repairs post ice exploration, hull cosmetic restoration after ice impact, propeller replacement to improve efficiency, engine and driveline service, engine electrical starter system upgrade, watermaker servicing, and a full systems audit. The work is documented post by post — a buyer takes on a yacht with a known maintenance footprint, not a hidden one.
Photography
Full photography gallery available on the Northrop & Johnson listing — 47 high-resolution images including aerial drone shots, interior, helm, engine room, and exterior detail.
Enquire
All enquiries handled by Mike Finnegan at Northrop & Johnson. Captain Chris Leigh-Jones is available to discuss operational specifics with serious buyers via the broker.
She is a working tool, not an idea. She has been everywhere this page says she has — and the blog has the receipts.
If you want a yacht that has done it, not one drawn to do it, that is the difference.
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