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Luxury yacht tenders are vessels that are used for private or chartered use, servicing and delivering support and entertainment to those who love the idea of taking to the waters. It’s commonly known as the ‘yacht’s tender’, and there are various types to consider: custom (unique, perhaps specific design), chase boats (that follows the yacht), classic boats, and rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RIBs) that are shielded to protect the yacht in close quarters, by inflatable rubber inner tubes surrounded by a toughened hull. The latter type is largely popular due to its light weight, versatility and agility.

Yacht tenders have started to include multifunction dinghies, as they can be rowed, motored, or sailed. They can also run as proactive lifeboats. Tenders run on either petrol or diesel, commonly motor powered by outboard or inboard motor engines. Propellers are used, but recently impellers have become significantly more popular.

Small personal hovercrafts are a new type of luxury yacht tenders, such as the Hov Pod, or the amphibious craft, such as Iguana Yachts boats which are drivable onto beaches or ramps.

Understanding yacht tenders

Tenders of all kinds, that are used to transport supplies and personnel, can also used for the fun and enjoyment of the yacht’s passengers. This is why in stunning locations such as Mallorca, the tenders are often used as pleasure crafts or speed boats; for watersports; and also to assist in service leisure scuba diving.

In the past few years, there has been a surge in popularity in the luxury yacht tender market. A large significance is given to a yacht depending on whether it includes a large tender that carries all the newest features. People are building private yachts to include stern garages that can hold the tender as well as other ‘water toys’. The yacht’s decks have big davits installed to lift heavier tenders.

Customised yacht tenders

Large custom tenders, such as limousines, chase boats and landing craft, are getting more and more attention due to increased support from classic boatbuilders like Hacker-Craft and smaller companies like Argos Nautic. By building one-off, unique, high-end limousine tenders and specialised multi-use tenders, long established custom builders such as Hogdon Yachts and Vikal International have created their own niche, spanning decades.

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