The design process for the GlobeMaster 50 LRX was a meticulous journey for founder Erik Leander. Raised by the sea on Sweden’s Falsterbo Peninsula, Leander’s lifelong connection to the ocean inspired him to create a vessel that could support long-range exploration and sustainable living.

Leander worked on this boat with Netherlands-based Willem Nieland Design, the same naval architecture firm that drew the Deep Water Korvet50CLR that appeared in the May/June 2024 Passagemaker article “Style and Substance.” Similar to that boat, the GlobeMaster 50 LRX (which stands for “long-range explorer”) meets the CE Class A standard, with 7-mm aluminum for the hull and superstructure. There are three watertight bulkheads, double emergency crash pumps and the ability to carry two tenders (on the boat deck and on chocks) as well as a life raft. Warping winches allow a cruising couple to handle a range of mooring setups.

Influenced by seasoned liveaboard cruisers, Leander envisioned the 50 LRX as a semi-custom yacht that would incorporate a host of sustainable solutions. Her exterior decks are from the Dutch outfit Stazo, whose Marinedeck nonskid surface resembles teak but is made from cork. Below the waterline, the Ecospeed is a nontoxic, biocide-free coating that reportedly will never have to be replaced.

The decks resemble teak but are nonskid cork.

There’s also a solar array that produces 1.2 kW of energy. Combined with a pair of Silentwind turbines, it allows the boat to be self-sufficient for extended periods. The system is backed by a 7-kW Onan genset.

A pair of helm chairs in the raised pilothouse ensures the captain has company.

While the GlobeMaster has a warship-style exterior, her interior radiates warmth. Environmentally friendly Scandinavian oak is used throughout the salon, which has generous light from superstructure windows and a trio of hatches above the helm. The same oak is used in the three staterooms—all accessed via private companionways, and all en suite.

Environmentally friendly Scandinavian oak is used throughout the salon, which has generous light from her many windows and a trio of hatches above the helm.

Leander himself has used Yeti, which is Hull No. 4, for coastal and long-range cruising. He cites a recent trip in rough conditions on the North Sea and notes that the vessel is intended for all-season boating. It has air conditioning and radiant-heat soles with a 13.5-kW Kabola system. The pilothouse and flybridge have Simrad electronics. Options include a 400-gallon-per day watermaker, high-efficiency insulation and a ventilation system inspired by laboratories and hospitals. For inland waters, the radar mast can be retracted from the flybridge to reduce air draft to just over 11 feet.

Her master stateroom is forward and includes a workstation, with another in the salon.

Engine options are the buyer’s choice. Yeti is powered by a single 340-hp Volvo Penta D6. According to the builder, she has a fast cruise of 9 knots and will top out at 12 knots. At just under 9 knots, the 50 LRX has a range of more than 2,200 nautical miles. At 5.5 knots, she can go 6,000 nm without refueling.

Used as a family cruiser, a mobile office or a liveaboard, this boat allows for endless possibilities.

Specifications

LOA: 50ft. 2in.

Beam: 16ft. 3in.

Draft: 3ft. 11in.

Displacement: 42,990 lbs.

Fuel: 818 gal.

Water: 290 gal.

Power: 1x 340-hp Volvo Penta D6

Info: globemasteryachts.com

This article was originally published in the October 2024 issue.