ankerbart
Veteran
First Impressions & First Shave (SN#01, Prototype)
A brief technical post on my latest acquisition: the Rocnel Alu-Sailor with serial number #01, a (pre-)production prototype directly from Murat Bey. Before you read the specs, this is a pure first impressions post after a single shave. Another test series is currently underway, so for now this remains a single impression. But that is already enough to understand why this razor stands out from the crowd.
Material – two alloys, one razor
A brief note that may be relevant to some of you. All Alu-Sailors currently sold through Rocnel's website are produced in series with an alloy the manufacturer describes as "marine-grade" according to the product description, an aluminium alloy that forms a more stable oxide layer compared to standard aluminium, offering better protection against corrosion, moisture, and environmental influences. This points toward the 5xxx family (magnesium-based, classic marine alloys such as 5052/5083), even though Rocnel does not disclose the exact designation.
My example, SN#01, is still a prototype, manufactured in 7075 alloy. I was confirmed that it is otherwise absolutely identical in geometry, weight, feel, and shaving behaviour to the production version. The only difference lies in the patina behaviour. My 7075 prototype is noticeably more prone to the "ugly" black aluminium patina than the marine-grade production model. Without additional corrosion protection, 7075 has a weaker native oxide layer than a magnesium-rich 5xxx alloy. And since Rocnel does not anodise, this is most likely the reason they switched to the marine-grade alloy for the production run. Anyone purchasing a current Alu-Sailor from the shop will receive a version without patina tendency, unless they have explicitely asked for a prototype..
The locking mechanism and spring are steel, the adjustment ring polished brass. A deliberate material choice by Rocnel. Steel provides structural stability and long-term precision in the mechanism.
Technical Specifications
Specification Value
Total length 95 mm
Head 42 × 26 × 10 mm
Handle 80 mm / Ø 14.5 mm
Weight 78 g
Head/Handle material Aluminium (production: marine-grade)
Mechanism Steel
Adjustment ring Polished brass
Weight comparison with my other lighter Sailors
To put the weight in context:
Aluminium Sailor: 78 g
Titanium MC 2024: 86 g
2023 Hybrid (316L head, titanium handle): 100 g
At 78g, the Alu-Sailor is actually the lightest in my collection. 8g lighter than the titanium.
First Shave
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp, first use
Settings: 4 (WTG) → 3 (XTG) → 2 (ATG)
Result: BBS 2.0
On aggressiveness:
The head geometry is closer to the 2021/2022 MC, which is why I could start at setting 4. With my all-titanium model featuring the 2023 geometry, I typically start at setting 3, sometimes even 2.5. The Alu-Sailor is noticeably milder than its titanium counterpart, which is the most aggressive Sailor in my collection. But by no means less efficient or less thorough, quite the contrary.
On feel:
You notice immediately, both in hand and on skin, that this is aluminium. Not meant negatively, but it is different from titanium, steel, or copper. Whether this is due to thermal conductivity or surface structure, I cannot say conclusively. Most likely a combination of both. But the perception itself is unmistakable to me: aluminium.
The mass inertia is naturally different as well, given the material density. But here comes the key point: the larger head of the Sailor noticeably compensates for the typical aluminium disadvantage, that for me certain feedback deficit and unfamiliar shaving momentum familiar from lighter aluminium razors.
Conclusion
Absolutely brilliant. Absolutely recommended if you can get along with aluminium.
A brief technical post on my latest acquisition: the Rocnel Alu-Sailor with serial number #01, a (pre-)production prototype directly from Murat Bey. Before you read the specs, this is a pure first impressions post after a single shave. Another test series is currently underway, so for now this remains a single impression. But that is already enough to understand why this razor stands out from the crowd.
Material – two alloys, one razor
A brief note that may be relevant to some of you. All Alu-Sailors currently sold through Rocnel's website are produced in series with an alloy the manufacturer describes as "marine-grade" according to the product description, an aluminium alloy that forms a more stable oxide layer compared to standard aluminium, offering better protection against corrosion, moisture, and environmental influences. This points toward the 5xxx family (magnesium-based, classic marine alloys such as 5052/5083), even though Rocnel does not disclose the exact designation.
My example, SN#01, is still a prototype, manufactured in 7075 alloy. I was confirmed that it is otherwise absolutely identical in geometry, weight, feel, and shaving behaviour to the production version. The only difference lies in the patina behaviour. My 7075 prototype is noticeably more prone to the "ugly" black aluminium patina than the marine-grade production model. Without additional corrosion protection, 7075 has a weaker native oxide layer than a magnesium-rich 5xxx alloy. And since Rocnel does not anodise, this is most likely the reason they switched to the marine-grade alloy for the production run. Anyone purchasing a current Alu-Sailor from the shop will receive a version without patina tendency, unless they have explicitely asked for a prototype..
The locking mechanism and spring are steel, the adjustment ring polished brass. A deliberate material choice by Rocnel. Steel provides structural stability and long-term precision in the mechanism.
Technical Specifications
Specification Value
Total length 95 mm
Head 42 × 26 × 10 mm
Handle 80 mm / Ø 14.5 mm
Weight 78 g
Head/Handle material Aluminium (production: marine-grade)
Mechanism Steel
Adjustment ring Polished brass
Weight comparison with my other lighter Sailors
To put the weight in context:
Aluminium Sailor: 78 g
Titanium MC 2024: 86 g
2023 Hybrid (316L head, titanium handle): 100 g
At 78g, the Alu-Sailor is actually the lightest in my collection. 8g lighter than the titanium.
First Shave
Blade: Gillette Perma-Sharp, first use
Settings: 4 (WTG) → 3 (XTG) → 2 (ATG)
Result: BBS 2.0
On aggressiveness:
The head geometry is closer to the 2021/2022 MC, which is why I could start at setting 4. With my all-titanium model featuring the 2023 geometry, I typically start at setting 3, sometimes even 2.5. The Alu-Sailor is noticeably milder than its titanium counterpart, which is the most aggressive Sailor in my collection. But by no means less efficient or less thorough, quite the contrary.
On feel:
You notice immediately, both in hand and on skin, that this is aluminium. Not meant negatively, but it is different from titanium, steel, or copper. Whether this is due to thermal conductivity or surface structure, I cannot say conclusively. Most likely a combination of both. But the perception itself is unmistakable to me: aluminium.
The mass inertia is naturally different as well, given the material density. But here comes the key point: the larger head of the Sailor noticeably compensates for the typical aluminium disadvantage, that for me certain feedback deficit and unfamiliar shaving momentum familiar from lighter aluminium razors.
Conclusion
Absolutely brilliant. Absolutely recommended if you can get along with aluminium.
