Press release from Feadship, the Dutch megayacht builder: Feadship designs custom tender for custom megayachts Feadship has designed a fully customized tender to complement its brand-new series of semi-production motor yachts, the F45 Vantage. Some seven meters in length, the stern-drive catamaran tender has been specially designed by Feadship De Voogt Naval Architects for parking onboard the F45. Serving as an exclusive water limousine for up to ten passengers, the tender will be built in the Netherlands under the supervision of one of the two Feadship yards, Royal van Lent. The custom tender concept was a response to the design of a giant stern hatch/swimming platform for the F45 that extends right up to the cap rail. This smart water recreation solution presented a new challenge - no crane would be able to haul a tender over such a deep hatch for storage in the lazarette. The answer was to design a new tender that could be pulled in via a winch, a process that is facilitated by enabling the platform to pivot over 90 degrees and descend into the water. After the initial engineering and technical design concept for the tender was developed by De Voogt Naval architects, Sinot Design Associates (a Dutch company that was also responsible for the F45's four interior styling options) added some restyling touches. The result is an extremely cool and elegant design with many innovative features. Multi-functional Once the decision had been taken to create an entirely new tender blueprint, the designers opted to raise the bar in terms of multi-functionality. In addition to being a luxury mode of transport to and from the mother ship, the tender has a hydraulic landing platform for alighting guests on a beach. This platform can also be used for easy entry into the water for swimming and diving. A shower on the tender foredeck ensures people can freshen up before returning to the yacht. The F45 tender is a synergy of a speedboat and a limousine. A propeller engine coupled to a duo-prop stern drive offers powerful acceleration and a top speed of around 33 knots, even when the full complement of guests is onboard. This will ensure ample power for water skiing and the towing of other recreational toys. Steering is facilitated by hydraulically moving the stern drive, which can itself be hydraulically retracted for storage purposes. The catamaran shape of the tender combines a large deck surface with excellent stability in a low profile. The hull is built as a vacuumed bagged sandwich construction of PVC core and vinyl ester, with a foam fender collar on the sides and front. A Bimini top and a spray hood lead the optional extras package. The F45 The semi-custom F45 Vantage range is designed for clients who wish to enjoy Feadship standards of quality and brand image status without paying the higher costs associated with a one-off custom build. It offers a choice of four interior styles within a highly flexible layout design that ensures the different spaces are used in ways that reflect 21st century onboard cruising experiences. The first of the limited edition F45 Vantage will be launched in mid-2007 and two more are already under construction. Specifications for tender LOA: 7.00 m Beam max: 2.50 m Weight: approx. 1,500 kg Maximum sailing speed: approx. 33 knots Persons: ten and driver Power: 184 kW / 250 hp Fuel capacity: 200 liter Fresh water capacity: 40 liter Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 June 2006 ) http://www.feadship.nl/news.php?id=56 -- By the by, when I pass along press releases that I cross my desk, I post them for what they are, publicity releases from power catamaran builders, designers, dealers and others which represent the viewpoint of those same builders, designers, dealers and others. The discerning reader may need to apply a grain of salt. I post the releases for general information purposes, without any verification or endorsement. --Georgs Georgs Kolesnikovs Power Catamaran World http://www.powercatamaranworld.com PS Members of the trade are encouraged to ensure I'm on their media contact lists.