There's a lot to be curious about. The 88 has an enormous 8.1m (26ft 7in) beam, carries nearly 40,000 litres of fuel and is designed to cover thousands of nautical miles without going near a marina. But Bering has managed to keep its load-line length below 24m, and there's a surprisingly luxurious interior tucked away behind that tough exterior.
Having never set foot aboard a Bering before, it was time to find out what all the fuss was about.
Bering 88
- LOA 85' 11"
- Model Year 2026
- Cabins 5
- Crew 5
- Max Speed 10 knots
- Status In Production
- Yacht Type Trawler Yacht
- Use Type Expedition
- Vessel M/Y Sayna
Review Video
The Bering 88 is quite a lot of boat to squeeze into the sub-24m category, especially as she measures 26.2m (85ft 11in) overall. Bering quotes a load-line length of just 23.85m (78ft 3in), which can make a difference to the rules that apply under certain flags. That doesn't mean a boat this size escapes all the usual requirements, but it's a clever bit of design on something that displaces around 225 tonnes and has 233GT of internal volume.
The beam is enormous at 8.1m (26ft 7in). To put that into perspective, the Fleming 85 is almost exactly the same length but measures 6.48m (21ft 3in) across, with 169GT. Take a close look at all the differences between the Fleming 85 vs the Bering 88 using YachtBuyer's head to head tool. The Bering has around 38% more gross tonnage, and there's certainly no shortage of space aboard. The full-beam owner's suite is huge, there's room for four guest cabins below, and a substantial amount of volume is devoted to crew, machinery and storage. The downside is that finding a marina berth wide enough to take her could be quite a headache. The 2.4m (7ft 10in) draft also rules out some shallower anchorages.
Interestingly, the Bering 88 isn't an entirely new design. She started life as the Bering 80, and the yard has kept the same basic platform and architecture while updating the exterior and equipment. Alexei Mikhailov, Bering's founder, compares the approach to the way car manufacturers update an established model. Construction takes place at the yard in Antalya, Turkey, where Bering has developed quite a reputation for these heavy-duty explorers. Sayna, the yacht toured here, was launched in March 2026.
The 88 has a full-displacement hull is steel, the superstructure is aluminium and the propeller shafts sit inside substantial skegs to give them some protection against floating debris and accidental groundings. There are two pairs of stabiliser fins instead of the usual single pair. Bering reckons four smaller fins can control roll with less effect on the steering, though we couldn't put that claim to the test. Steel is also a practical material to repair if the hull suffers damage, although keeping the protective coatings in good condition is an important part of ownership.
Bering's own construction walkthrough gives a pretty interesting view of the work hidden behind the finished interior Bering uses around 70mm (2.8in) of rockwool insulation for sound and heat protection, along with suspended floors to help isolate vibration. The ventilation ducts are zinc-coated steel instead of plastic for better fire resistance, and the openings through decks and watertight bulkheads are carefully sealed. Each cabin also has its own air-handling unit.
Everything's very sold - the stainless steel fittings are enormous, particularly the fairleads, which wouldn't look out of place on a much bigger yacht. There's very little in the way of gimmicks. Bering has spent a great deal of effort on the parts of the boat that have to withstand years of serious cruising, and it's quite impressive to see how much of that thought survives into the finished yacht.
The saloon is a bit of a wow moment on a first visit aboard a Bering. It's light, modern and really quite stylish, with some very smart cabinetry, plenty of glass and beautiful marble. It could quite easily be the interior of a Sunseeker or an Italian motor yacht. A lovely surprise given the tough exterior, and a long way from the traditional, teak-heavy explorer interior you might associate with this type of boat.
There's no disguising the staircase. It's right in the middle of the room and does get in the way, but Bering has made quite a nice feature of it with decorative panelling and glass. It also separates the passageway towards the owner's suite. More discreet is a door concealed within the cabinetry that leads straight into the machinery spaces. It's not often you find internal engine-room access like this.
This particular owner has gone for a central seating area, with a television hidden inside a marble counter. The dining table sits beside a sliding door and isn't enormous. It's unlikely to see all that much use, to be honest, but that's the beauty of the semi-custom layout. A larger table and cosier seating would be easy enough to accommodate. There's also some lovely storage for glassware, neatly tucked into the cabinetry.
The galley is a really good size, with plenty of worktop and fiddles around the edges to stop everything sliding off when the boat starts to roll. It's well kitted out, too. There's a big fridge, a separate wine cooler, induction hob, dishwasher, icemaker and built-in coffee machine. The wine cooler is a nice touch because it stops bottles gobbling up valuable fridge space. The oven is a little small, though, given how many people can stay aboard.
The other drawback is the lack of natural light. There's just one small square window in the door to the crew passageway, so the galley relies quite heavily on artificial light. It's a shame because the space itself is very practical, with plenty of cupboards and dedicated storage for crockery. The crew access works nicely as well. A sliding door closes off the galley from the saloon, while a separate door leads directly into the crew passageway, so there's no need for the crew to traipse through the guest areas every time they need to get in or out.
Owner's Cabin
The owner's suite starts well before the bedroom itself. Normally there would be a study in the entrance passage, but this owner wanted a sofa opposite a vast bank of glass-fronted wardrobes instead. There's still a desk in the bedroom, and if the entrance area is used as a study, a pocket door can separate it from the rest of the suite. It's quite an unusual arrangement, with a huge amount of clothes storage.
The bedroom itself is enormous, with lovely high deckheads and a big, wide bed. The windows are set quite high in the hull sides, but there's still decent natural light, and the finish is really nicely done. There's a little dinette on one side, a desk on the other and a television mounted on the wall. Bering makes quite a lot of the sound insulation and suspended floors, and quotes less than 50dB at cruise. That would be very quiet indeed, though we couldn't put the claim to the test.
The bathroom is just as impressive, with beautiful marble that extends right into the enormous shower. There's a separate toilet and bidet, plenty of floor space and a good-sized vanity unit. Owners can change the arrangement, too, with an option for twin basins and a central shower accessed from either side. The shower on this particular boat is lovely, though, and there's no shortage of room.
Guest Accommodation
Downstairs, the four guest cabins are arranged as two twins forward and a pair of VIP doubles amidships. One of the twins has an additional Pullman berth that folds neatly against the wall when it's not needed. With that out of the way, it's a decent-sized cabin, with enough room to walk around one of the beds. The other twin has a little bureau instead of the extra berth. Both have their own bathrooms, finished to much the same standard as the owner's suite. The doors are a bit strange, though. They open out into the passageway and gobble up quite a lot of space, although that's probably preferable to having them swing into the cabins.
There's a clever option with one of these forward twins. For owners who plan to spend weeks away from port, Bering can sacrifice the cabin and connect it directly to the crew quarters. It could become extra crew accommodation, a walk-in fridge or freezer, or a pantry with additional galley equipment. This boat keeps the guest cabin, which makes sense for charter, but the alternative is a pretty useful one for serious long-distance cruising.
The two VIP doubles are very similar, and really quite lovely. There's plenty of storage, a soft, elegant finish and a couple of square windows for natural light, although the ports don't open. The bathrooms have separate toilet and shower compartments, and the sliding pocket doors are a nice touch because they don't take up valuable cabin space. The marble and fittings are every bit as smart as those upstairs.
One of the more unusual spaces on the bridge deck is the gym. This boat has a treadmill and room for free weights, but it could just as easily be fitted out as a sauna. There's also scope to extend the room into the adjoining lobby and create another VIP cabin, with views through roughly 270°. That could be quite a special cabin, particularly this high up on the boat.
Crew Space
The crew have their own entrance from the port side deck, as well as direct access from the main-deck galley. Stairs lead down to the crew mess and two cabins with four bunks between them. The captain gets a separate cabin beside the wheelhouse, so there's accommodation for five crew altogether.
The mess is a reasonable space, with a small table, sink, microwave, television and room for a coffee machine. There's a bit of worktop as well, although the main galley is only a short distance away. One awkward detail is a box-like projection near the walkway that looks quite capable of catching someone on the shoulder if they come through too quickly.
Both crew cabins are much the same. The headroom is okay and there's a reasonable amount of storage, but the bunks are a little narrow to leave room for the walkway alongside them. The finish is nicer than it might have been, with proper woodwork instead of the wipe-clean plastic that sometimes dominates crew accommodation. There's also a pretty nice separate bathroom.
Up on the bridge deck, the captain's cabin isn't enormous and has no light, but it is a private space away from the crew quarters below. The nearby day head has a shower, so it can serve as the captain's bathroom as well.
There's no wing station on the Bering 88, which is quite a decision on a boat with an 8.1m (26ft 7in) beam. No separate controls in the cockpit, either. Instead, the skipper has a remote control so they can move around the deck while manoeuvring, with bow and stern thrusters and cameras covering the exterior. It's a clever arrangement, though it would have been nice to try it in a tight marina berth.
The wheelhouse itself is pretty businesslike. Four large screens dominate the dash, with another bank of controls above the windscreen. That overhead arrangement works really nicely because everything is easy to see from the helm chair. The windscreen is quite shallow, but the view forward is decent enough. There's a separate rudder control alongside the wheel, and Bering offers independently controlled rudders that can also be linked together. More of that belt-and-braces approach found throughout the boat.
What's quite extraordinary is how far Bering reckons this yacht can travel. With the two Cummins diesels producing around 450hp each, there isn't a huge amount of power for a boat that displaces approximately 225 tonnes. She's designed to cruise at 8.5 knots, with a maximum speed of just 10.5 knots, but with nearly 40,000 litres of fuel aboard, Bering quotes a range of up to 6,500nm.
That headline figure needs a little caution. Trials of another Bering 88 recorded around 60 litres per hour at 8 knots, which works out at approximately 5,300nm before allowing for fuel reserves, generator use and other loads. Still an enormous distance for a 26m yacht, and quite some way beyond what most owners will ever attempt in one passage. The four-fin stabiliser system should help keep things comfortable offshore, although we didn't get the chance to test the boat at sea.
There's also a decent-sized dinette behind the helm, where the crew can sit during a long watch or guests can come up to keep the captain company. It's a nice touch in what is otherwise a very practical wheelhouse.
The tender lives up on the aft bridge deck of the Bering 88, well clear of the waves that could give it a battering if it were left on the transom. It's proper explorer yacht design, with a substantial crane to lift toys in and out of the water. This boat carries an AB jet tender, but there's room for something bigger, or a couple of smaller toys alongside it. There's a little bar with a fridge up here, but no fixed furniture. Once the tender is launched, there's plenty of space for freestanding seats, though for most of the time this is very much a working deck.
The bathing platform has another clever feature. Most of it is fixed, but there's a transformer section that lowers into the water or rises to quay height. It's a useful alternative to the passerelle if that ever gives up, and the crane can also lower smaller toys onto it. For a short hop between anchorages, it might be easier to leave something on the transformer than haul it all the way back onto the bridge deck. There's a shower tucked up above the platform, too.
The cockpit is really quite simple, with a big bench, a substantial table and plenty of shade from the deck overhead. Drop-down screens provide more protection from the sun and a bit of privacy. There's a sink, some storage and a few cup holders, but no elaborate outdoor kitchen. Bering could fit a grill or other facilities if required, though this owner has kept things pretty straightforward. It's still a nice, sociable space, and the lack of fixed equipment leaves plenty of room around the table.
Foredeck
The foredeck is surprisingly luxurious for a boat with such serious cruising ambitions. There's a large seating area beneath a canvas shade, with plenty of room to stretch out and some useful little details, including cup holders that double as somewhere to put a phone. The table makes it quite a sociable spot, although some of the seats are a long way from it. Trying to eat a meal from the far end could give you a bit of backache. The serious deck gear is just as impressive. The fairleads are absolutely enormous, and there's a locker big enough to swallow the entire set of fenders without deflating them - good for the crew.
Sundeck
Right at the top, the sundeck has a huge bar with a grill and plenty of stools around it. It's a really nice arrangement, with a more relaxed seating area near the bar and a separate space forward where everyone can sit around a table for a meal. There's room for sunloungers, too, and the breeze up here was lovely during our visit. Bering allows quite a lot of freedom with the layout, although a hot tub isn't an option on this deck. One can be fitted on the foredeck instead. An upper helm is also available, which would be a lovely way to drive the boat on a warm day in the Mediterranean.
Engine Room
The Bering 88's engine room has a pretty commercial feel, with a lot of exposed pipework. It isn't quite as neat and tidy as something like a Horizon, but the engineering is really impressive. Every pipe is clearly labelled, complete with arrows to show the direction of flow, so it's easy to work out what goes where. There's a proper emphasis on being able to see and get at the equipment.
Redundancy is a big part of the Bering formula, and there's plenty of it down here. Alongside the twin Cummins QSM11 diesels, which produce around 450hp each, there are two generators, two hot water tanks and twin freshwater pumps. The fire pump can also be linked to the bilge pump if there's a serious amount of water to shift in a hurry. There's even a built-in fuel-polishing system to help keep the roughly 40,000 litres of diesel clean. It's an impressive amount of backup equipment for a boat this size.
Access is particularly good, with three separate ways into the machinery spaces. There's the concealed entrance from the saloon, another from the port side deck and a route through the lazaret, with a watertight door between it and the engine room. The exterior access is especially useful if conditions at sea make the other routes awkward.
The lazarette itself is another space that Bering can tailor to the owner. It could be set up for scuba equipment, fishing gear or other toys, but this particular boat has quite a lot of machinery in here, including additional cooling equipment and steering gear. It's a substantial space, and one that has clearly been put to work.
Our Verdict
Perhaps, it's easy to understand why Bering has such a loyal following. The engineering is really impressive, particularly the amount of redundancy and the thought that's gone into making everything accessible. Three separate ways into the machinery spaces, properly labelled pipework and a tender tucked safely up on the bridge deck. This is a boat with serious long-distance cruising ambitions, and the equipment looks up to the job.
The lovely surprise is the interior. It's light, modern and beautifully finished, with a huge owner's suite and some really smart guest cabins. There are a few awkward bits - the staircase gets in the way, the galley is quite dark and that enormous beam could make finding a berth interesting. We didn't get to test the range or stability at sea, either. But Bering has managed to combine a tough, practical explorer with the sort of style and comfort you'd expect from a luxury motor yacht. That's quite an achievement, and I think I get what the fuss is about.
Reasons to Buy
- Steel explorer construction
- Enormous beam for its length
- Lovely, modern interior finish
Things to Consider
- Just 10.5 knots flat out
- Staircase intrudes on saloon space
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Rivals to Consider
The 26.39m (87ft) Nordhavn 86 has something the Bering 88 is still building up - a long track record. One example, Pirate Radio, has covered more than 30,000nm under five different owners. Built from heavy-duty fibreglass, the Nordhavn displaces around 181 tonnes at full load, with a 7.32m (24ft) beam and 26,498 litres of fuel. The yard quotes roughly 4,000nm at 9 knots, so it can't quite match the Bering's claimed range or enormous internal volume. What it does have is a very well-proven offshore layout, with an aft wheelhouse, a full-beam owner's suite and a long foredeck capable of carrying a 6.1m (20ft) tender. The standard equipment is pretty extraordinary, too, with 50hp bow and stern thrusters, substantial stabiliser fins, a 7,570-litre-per-day watermaker and a 1,588kg (3,500lb) davit. Even the deck jacuzzi is included. There's less guest accommodation than on the Bering, and its 2.49m (8ft) draft isn't going to help in shallow anchorages, but Nordhavn has been building these big ocean-crossing motor yachts for years. That experience counts for quite a lot.
There's a flybridge on the 26.97m (88ft) Numarine 27XP that's so enormous the skipper can't see much of the boat from the upper helm. It's quite a remarkable use of space, with dining for eight, a huge wet bar, freestanding furniture and sunpads that stretch almost to the foredeck. The lower-deck owner's cabin is just as impressive, with vast hull windows and a deckhead so high a six-footer can barely touch it. There's even the option of a fifth cabin on the main deck, although that means sacrificing the main helm and some galley space. At 92 tonnes full load, the GRP Numarine is much lighter than the Bering, and its 11,000-litre fuel capacity gives it a very different cruising brief. A sea trial with twin 850hp MANs produced just over 15 knots and approximately 3,000nm at 7 knots, based on measured fuel consumption. Bering offers considerably more range, but the Numarine has some lovely advantages for shorter cruising. Its Mk2 Super Silent Pack uses lithium batteries and solar power to reduce generator use at anchor, while that huge flybridge makes a pretty compelling argument for spending the summer in the Mediterranean.
The 27.4m (90ft) Arksen 85 is probably the most interesting alternative because its fuel economy makes the Bering look rather thirsty. During a sea trial, the aluminium Arksen burned just 12 litres per hour at 6.4 knots. With 17,500 litres aboard and a 20% fuel reserve, that gives a calculated range of 7,446nm. The Bering's own trials recorded around 60 litres per hour at 8 knots, although these aren't directly comparable speeds. Humphreys Yacht Design gave the Arksen a long, relatively light hull with a shallow stern, and the tested boat displaced just 82.5 tonnes. There's some properly serious engineering aboard, too. The hull uses 70% recycled aluminium, the fuel passes through duplicated filtration systems and the rudders can even be operated with a handheld tiller if the electronics fail. Sound levels were just 51dB at 6 knots and 53dB flat out, which is extraordinary. The 1.55m (5ft) draft also opens up shallow anchorages that the Bering's 2.4m (8ft) draft puts out of reach. There are compromises, of course. The smaller hull windows don't open, guest and crew areas are less separate, and the tested owner gave up part of the full-beam suite for a captain's cabin. The Bering feels much more like a big luxury yacht; the Arksen is a remarkably efficient and capable cruising machine that happens to have some lovely accommodation.
Considering a new yacht? Explore Bering's entire current range to find the model that best suits your needs, and compare it with alternatives from competitors to ensure you make the perfect choice.
Specifications
- Builder Bering Yachts
- Range Explorer Yachts
- Model Bering 88
- Length Overall 85' 11"
- Beam 26' 7"
- Draft 7' 10"
- Hull Steel
- Cabins 5
- Berths 11
- Crew 5
- Yacht Type (Primary) Trawler Yacht
- Use Type (Primary) Expedition
- Cruising Speed
- Max Speed
- Fuel Capacity 10,423 Gallons
- Fresh Water Capacity 782 Gallons
- Engine Model 2x Cummins QSM11 455mhp
- Engine HP 455
- Engine max range (speed type) 6000 (nm)
Bering 88 Layout
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Flybridge
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Standard beach club version
![Flybridge Bering 88]()
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Optional swim platform version
![Flybridge Bering 88]()
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Upper Deck
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Standard beach club version
![Upper Deck Bering 88]()
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Optional swim platform version
![Upper Deck Bering 88]()
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Main Deck
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Standard beach club version
![Main Deck Bering 88]()
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Optional swim platform version
![Main Deck Bering 88]()
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Lower Deck
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Standard beach club version
![Lower Deck Bering 88]()
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Optional swim platform version
![Lower Deck Bering 88]()
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