Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where did the name "Selene" come from?

In 1970, a prominent Taiwanese architect named Da-Hong Wang was commissioned by the government of Taiwan ROC to design a memorial as a gift to the United States to commemorate the successful Apollo 11 moon landing. Since the NASA project was called Apollo, after the Greek God of the sun, and the project's goal was moon exploration, Mr. Wang decided it would be appropriate to name the memorial "Selene" after the mythical Greek goddess of the moon.

Unfortunately, the memorial project was designed but never completed. However, years later, Howard Chen became a student of Da-Hong Wang at the Graduate School of Architecture, Tunghai University, Taiwan. When Chen learned about the memorial project he decided to call his new line of yachts "Selene," so his mentor's dream could, in name at least, finally make it to the United States. The first Selene yacht arrived in the U.S. in 1999. Today, there are more than 200 Selene yachts cruising both coasts of the United States and around the world.

What are your views about full displacement vs. semi-displacement trawlers?

If you're a sailor, 9 knots in any direction, let alone straight into the wind or into zero wind, is just fine. If you're a power boater accustomed to double-digit cruising, some adjustment is needed. It is interesting to note, however, that there is a consistent theme when we talk with other cruisers who have trawlers capable of 15+ knots because of the semi-displacement hull and engines 2-3 times the power of ours. It's that they elect to cruise at 10 knots or less because the fuel consumption curve starts to go vertical as the boat moves up the speed scale.

We want to do a trans-Atlantic crossing: Will the Selene handle it?

The Selene will handle it. Will you? Respectfully, ocean crossing is a tougher test of crew than of vessel, assuming the boat is well found. We know that Selenes have been delivered on their own bottom non-stop from Hong Kong to Australia and Japan, so there is little doubt about their ocean going capability. But spending hours, and sometimes days, in even 6-8' seas is grueling. It is a romantic notion to make a crossing, but too many people have begun a crossing and made a 180 degree turnabout less than a day out of port.