A superyacht is all well and good, but what happens when you want to go exploring, or racing, or navigate a smaller port or harbour — from the inlets of the Caribbean to the islands of Greece? That’s where your trusty tender comes in. To fuel your nautical adventures, we’ve rounded up seven of the best…
If you're looking for high-tech tender, Wajer 55
Wajer 55
From Wajer Yachts, a family-owned Dutch boatyard, the 55 is its new flagship tender. Elegant, sophisticated and stylish, it is 16 metres long and features such innovations as a fully automated spray hood, movable cockpit floor and a swim platform that doubles as a gangway.
It was designed for maximum comfort in the water and excellent manoeuvrability and, as one of the very few tenders to feature three powerful 435 hp IPS600 Volvo Penta engines, you won’t be short of speed either. Our favourite feature? The way the hydraulically operated anchor concealed in the bow can be conveniently operated from the steering console.
For a safe, accomplished support boat, Scorpion Silurian 1080
Scorpion Silurian 1080
Scorpion Ribs may be small, but they pack one hell of a punch. As a chase boat, their Silurian excels, providing the mothership with a beautiful, safe and accomplished support vessel.
Luxurious, fast, safe, dry and comfortable, the Silurian makes use of Scorpion’s class-leading unique hull design that has been evolved over 20 years to deliver a soft, comfortable and safe ride with outstanding performance and fuel efficiency. It’s that total capability that has given Scorpion more long-distance offshore records and race wins than any other RIB manufacturer. Impressive.
For avant-garde design and thrilling performance, the 48 Wallytender
48 Wallytender
And we mean thrilling. For the first model of the Wally-Ferretti Group alliance, the brand could have played it safe. They didn’t — and we couldn’t be happier. Providing a breakneck ride of up to 38 knots, the 48 Wallytender is optimised for twin Volvo IPS 650s engines, totalling 960 horsepower.
But that’s only half the story. The design is the real draw with this one — and it’ll likely look better than your yacht itself. That vertical bow is practical and stylish, the carbon fibre deck and hardtop keep things looking suitably chic and the retractable passarelle even doubles as a 5-step swim ladder.
For the perfect small socialising vessel, Mazu 42 Walk-Around
Mazu 42 Walk Around
Launched at the end of last year, Mazu’s new 42 Walk-Around makes the cut for one reason and one reason alone: that impressive bathing platform, which is about as long as it gets for a 42ft boat — and perfect for socialising.
With a cruising speed of 36 knots, Mazu has masterfully brought together style and substance, and the centre console allows the vessel to be walkaround, allowing for ease while maintaining a requisite level of safety thanks to deep bulwarks.
For the option to make your tender your own, Fjord 36 Open
Fjord 36 Open
The appeal of the Fjord 36 Open comes from its customisability. Sumptuous materials, finishes and colour palettes allow you to build a boat as unique as you are – inside and out.
But our favourite feature comes as standard — deck and underwater lighting, which can be combined and controlled to keep the celebrations going well into the night. It may be a tender, but with an enviable 40 knot maximum speed, this is where the party’s at.
If you want a practical, but beautiful tender, the Windy SR52 Blackbird
Windy SR52 Blackbird
Back in 2010, when the flagship of the custom-built Windy Yacht Projects fleet was launched, it caused a stir at the Cannes Yachting Festival. And it’s a stir that hasn’t quite settled even now. In 2015, Superyacht magazine named her the best chase boat in the world — and it’s an accolade the SR52 Blackbird has earned several times over.
Boasting triple IPS 600 Volvo Penta diesel engines, the Blackbird has a top speed of 46 knots — but the cockpit is surprisingly spacious, with three separate racing seats to deal with the speed. And it’s incredibly ergonomic; with the teak deck providing open walk-around access, and the sun lounger, hydraulic bathing ladder and raised foredeck affording you one of the most practical vessels on this list.
For luxury paired with adventure, Xtenders 16M Day Cruiser
Xtenders 16M Day Cruiser
This Day Cruiser vessel, designed to be a long-range exploration boat, is the perfect tender for those who long for adventure on the high seas, an exhilarating life on the ocean. Super clean and slick, it’s not only good looking, but incredibly capable — just what you want when embarking on an exciting expedition.
And you don’t have to jettison your creature comforts, either. Underneath the exquisite teak deck, across the full width of the bow deck, lies a cabin with a luxuriously finished interior that can accommodate up to four people. Now that’s what we call the best of both worlds.
Need a yacht to go with that tender? Here’s our pick of the best…
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