The Turkish shipyard Tufan & Brothers has decided the world needs another explorer yacht and teamed up with renowned designer Riza Tansu to deliver just that. Enter Mako Shark  – a 26.5-meter vessel that’s compact, stylish, and ready for adventure, all while looking like it just stepped off the cover of a luxury magazine.



Part of Tansu’s Tiger Shark series, Mako Shark is the poster child for the “small but mighty” trend in explorer yachts. Its design stays true to Tansu’s signature style: sleek, functional, and with a military-inspired edge that practically dares the ocean to mess with it. If you’ve seen the 39.3-meter S7 or the 43.7-meter Cyclone, you’ll recognize the lineage. 



Riza Tansu admits that designing mid-sized explorer yachts is no walk in the park. The challenge? Cramming superyacht-level comfort into a smaller frame without making it look like the “baby sister” of larger models. To tackle this, Mako Shark offers two layout options: one for a full crew and another for owners who prefer to take the helm themselves (and enjoy a bit more lounging space while they’re at it).



In the owner-operated version, the captain’s cabin on the upper deck transforms into a lounge, and the crew quarters shrink from two cabins to one. The naval architecture was handled in-house by Tufan & Brothers. 



Onboard, the yacht boasts five cabins, including a master suite in the bow that comes with its own office and sofa – because even explorers need a place to check emails. The main deck offers a spacious salon with two sofas, an alfresco dining area at the aft, and a forward lounge for soaking up the ocean breeze. 



The upper deck is where the party happens, with a dining area next to a bar and open galley – perfect for mixing cocktails and plotting your next adventure. Meanwhile, the sun deck features an additional helm station and a lounge at the aft, offering views so stunning you might forget why you even left port.
 
As for performance, Mako Shark isn’t just a pretty face. It hits a top speed of 13.5 knots and cruises comfortably at 11 knots. With a beam of 7.5 meters and a draft of 1.8 meters, it’s compact, capable, and ready to impress.

Join us in social media