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Top Yacht Design magazine has profiled 15 notable mega-tenders (or day cruisers) of the moment, tracing the evolution of this type of boat. Here we are at the final installment, featuring the last 5 superyacht tenders.
Also noteworthy is Cranchi’s entry into the sector with the E 26 Classic, designed by Christian Grande, whose features position it to become the go-to tender for large yachts. Staying in Italy, we must mention Cantieri del Pardo, which has expanded its motorboat lineup with a 50-foot model that also serves as a tender for maxi yachts, and Perini Navi, which has designed the 25-meter Eco Tender. The order came from the owner of a 50-meter sailing yacht—built by the same shipyard—who had expressed the need for a generously sized support vessel equipped with a hybrid propulsion system that would allow it to navigate even in protected zones and areas.
And speaking of innovative projects, the Nauta Tender 48 deserves a place of honor. Built by the Maxi Dolphin shipyard, it was created in response to the owner’s specific requests for a 40-meter megasailer. It is a revolutionary vessel in many respects. “The need was for a chase boat that would serve as a support vessel for the larger boat under all operating conditions,” comments Martino Majno, project manager at Nauta Design. “The most fascinating part of the project was developing a design that combined style and function,” Majno continues. “A versatile boat, yet autonomous enough to undertake short cruises in areas near where the larger vessel is located.” In addition, the Nauta Tender 48 is equipped with oversized fuel tanks to refuel the owner’s 40-meter sailboat.
If necessary, the tender itself provides power for the onboard systems. “We conducted an in-depth study of the waterlines, focusing heavily on hull efficiency and aiming to achieve planing as early as possible,” Majno continues. Efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, and, at the same time, comfort while sailing. These are difficult requirements to balance: on the one hand, the need to plane at the lowest possible speed points toward a hull with a very shallow angle at the stern, while on the other hand, the need to ensure excellent stability in all sea conditions can only be met by adopting a hull with a deep V-shape.
“We met the shipowner’s requests by doing a lot of CFD work and conducting simulations at the Marin ship model tank in Wageningen, the Netherlands,” adds Majno. Among the distinctive features are the inverted windows, a solution that eliminates glare from the onboard instruments during nighttime navigation. The Nauta Tender 48 is powered by a pair of water jets, a solution that helps keep the draft to 0.81 centimeters, allowing the boat to navigate even in shallow waters. To this end, the bow has been reinforced with several layers of Kevlar.
The Wally is the king of megatenders. The Wallytender X is an open-deck version powered by three Mercury Verado engines that propel it up to 60 knots.
Central-control version of the Austin Parker 42, perfect both as a day boat and as a support vessel.
A cross between a tender and a “chase boat,” this vessel was originally designed as a support boat for a Perini sailboat.
This 16-meter vessel, too, was designed—despite its interior cabins—as a support boat for megayachts rather than as a day cruiser.
Born in the wake of the success of the Pardo 43—of which over 30 units were sold in a single year—the Pardo 50 is a 16-meter yacht designed as a day cruiser or a vessel for short family cruises, thanks to its two below-deck cabins. Unveiled in a world premiere at the latest Cannes Film Festival, it immediately proved, however, that it is also the ideal support vessel for many megayachts, both sailing and motor. Its deep-V hull with variable geometry—16° at the stern and over 50° in the forward sections—gives it excellent seakeeping capabilities and, at the same time, perfect maneuverability, allowing it to plane safely and quickly. Convex bottoms also ensure greater structural strength. The lines, designed by Zuccheri Yacht Design, are modern, clean, and eye-catching. Add to this the fact that it can carry up to 20 people, and it becomes clear that the second model in Cantiere del Pardo’s motorboat line is bound to become an exceptional player in the world of megatenders.
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