Public Discussion Forum

Bon temps! My wife Terry and I are now in the process of our second build of a Selene. We built maybe the first Fountaine Pajot Cumberland 44 power catamaran to come to the USA from France and enjoyed her, Advokat, for nine years. Selene 5388, Shangri-La, was started in 2006 and completed in 2010 (slowed down during market downturn). We have had a wonderful 15 years on board, visiting 25 plus countries, and just completed a total refit to make her our “forever” boat; then decided to build a new Ocean Explorer 60 which will be completed Spring 2026.

The process is frightening, exhilarating, demanding, rewarding, exhausting, frustrating, and truly an adventure. When we built 5388 we visited China in 2008 and toured the country for a month. What a wonderful cultural eye opener! It was the Beijing Olympics and the country was very proud, clean and bustling. We will never forget the “Birds Nest” stadium in Beijing, or moonlike Tibet, or the charming Village of Shangri-La, our vessel’s origin of name. Dozens of changes and decisions for the boat were made at the factory visit and we ended up with a wonderful yacht.

We visited the factory in July of this year for the build of 6047. Experienced our first Typhoon “Wipha” while in Zhuhai and watched 105 mph winds blow from the 22nd floor of our hotel over the city. Since beginning the build we have made over 75 and are nearing 100 decisions/changes on the new girl. The customization permitted and even encouraged makes a new Selene truly a “custom” yacht. The folks at the factory, at Selene Americas and in the owners’ community are very valuable resources that should be utilized heavily. Howard Chen (The Man), who is now my friend, and I exchange photos, drawings and emails frequently. Howard is a Renaissance Man who will help with the creation of your personalized yacht.

If you start the process, and live to finish it, you will have experienced a life changing odyssey to always remember. And that will be just the commencement of a new and great adventure!

Jack

Jack Burgess, Shangri-La 5388 (and soon 6047)

Hello Richard,

That is very exciting! My wife, Elisabeth and I are in the process of building a Selene Classic Explorer. We are about 3-4 months out from delivery so we are very excited as well. It is a big decision and a fun process albeit challenging too but that is the adventure. I think you will find the Selene community very helpful and informative. In fact, when I was in my 'search' process I did just what you did and posted on the forum and that's when the adventure really began with lots of support and input. We just came back from the East Coast Selene Owners Rendezvous in Baltimore and it was amazing. So even though our boat has yet to arrive we are all in with the owners groups and learning valuable lessens. Joe and Corrin are great resources and were gracious enough to let me captain their boat at the rendezvous and I know Dave responded and will take delivery of his boat before mine arrives - both were at the Rendezvous! So we are more than happy to connect and share our experience and process with you. Our email for all things boat is crew@fullcircleexplorers.com or feel free to text. We can set up a Zoom if it would help or just answer questions. Here is our boat in the brand new Selene facility (grand opening in December).

Enjoy the process!

Chris and Elisabeth

Selene 6050 - Full Circle

Hello,, We currently own 60-23 and are in the process of building a new 60. Happy to share our experiences and those changes we have planned for the new build.

Joe & Corrin

Josephccrowley@yahoo.com

508-878-3630

60-23 “Coffee Break”

Hi Richard, greetings from the Philippines. I have been involved with building Selene's since 1998, with well over 100 builds. I have seen dealers do great and poor jobs of managing builds for owners. I will definitely say, the new Selene America team is doing a fantastic job, boots on the ground, of managing their new builds. I cannot over state how important direct dealer involvement is to producing a top quality boat. We at Selene Philippines are working with SA for the adventure seeking and cost saving delivery in Asia. If I were to offer any advice, keep it simple and as standard a boat as possible. Howard has made the 60 layout and design as perfect as a boat can get.

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN
BRIAN CALVERT
SELENE PHILIPPINES

Happy to share our experiences over the past year as ours nears completion if you want to reach out.

David
daviddurham714@gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

We are considering ordering a new Selene and am interested in others experiences who have recently completed or are in process of having a new Selene built. In particular of interest would be anything that you would would have done differently or changed with hindsight. Thanks, Richard