With more and more tenders entering the market each year, the options seem practically endless from type to color to additional features and equipment. It’s not a decision to take lightly, especially as owners spend more time on the water. Here’s our picks for the latest and greatest tenders to hit the water in 2022.
Highfield Sport 760
The Sport 760 from Highfield Boats is both a premium yacht tender and the perfect platform for watersports. This stylish 25-foot RIB also features a rugged, military-grade hull. “We have upgraded our new Sport Series RIBs to our Patrol Series’ professional hull for a smoother ride in rough conditions. We also opened up the layout of the deck so there is more space to carry passengers and to lounge or entertain guests,” says Michael Carroll, marketing and business development, Highfield Boats. The Sport 760 is configured with an aft-cockpit seating area with facing settees and a pedestal table for up to six, shaded by an optional bimini. A refrigerator drawer and sink are standard. The bow seating area accommodates another group of up to four and converts to a two-person sunpad. Aft, swim steps on either side of the outboard can launch a wealth of watersports activities. The Sport 760’s ergonomic helm area offers secure seating for the skipper and a companion. The dash is large enough to hold a 12-inch multifunction display. Inside the console, there is dry-storage space and enough room for a portable potty. The high-performance hull is designed with welded lift strakes and delivers speeds of up to 55 mph when the RIB is equipped with a 300-hp outboard. Minimum recommended power is 250 hp. The high-tensile chromated and powder-coated aluminum hull requires no maintenance by the crew and can stand up to the toughest punishment from grounding or beaching. — LOUISA BECKETT
- LOA: 7.65M/25’
- Draft: .6M/25’’
- Beam: 2.9M/9’ 6”
- Weight (boat only): 2,161 lbs.
- Power (max): 300-hp outboard
- Fuel capacity: 60 gals
- Passengers: 16
Argos Nautic Diesel 15
The latest semi-custom RIB from Argos Nautic brings together comfort and cutting-edge design in the Diesel 15. Each boat is built with its owner in mind, and the color, texture, and finish can be chosen to match the latest styles or complement the mothership. With the versatile and generous interior space, the Diesel 15 is modular in design, allowing it to be optimized for whatever the plans are from watersports and diving to fishing and lounging to chauffeuring guests and running errands. It features premium leather seating and large storage compartments, and the flip-down transom with ladder makes reboarding easy after spending time in the water. Additional options include trim and flooring upgrades, LED underwater lighting, a freshwater shower system, and advanced electronics.
- LOA: 4.72M/15' 6"
- Draft: 0.4M/1' 4"
- Beam: 2M/6' 8"
- Stowed Height: 4' 1"
- Material: Fiberglass and composite, Hypalon tubes
- Engine: Yanmar 4JH3-DTE
- Max Speed: Up to 38 mph
- Passengers: 7
Beiderbeck Designs 3-in-1 Luxury Tender
Living up to the name, beiderbeck designs has combined a limo, SOLAS, and rescue boat into one vessel — 3-in-1 luxury tender. The German-based company even earned itself a BOAT International Design and Innovation Award for the design. The tender features a wetroom, a bar, and comfortable seating throughout the vessel. The two Volvo D4-300 engines make its top speed of 30 knots possible. While two 11-meter limo tenders are currently in build, a 13-meter version for 50 passengers is in the works.
- LOA: 11M/36' 1"
- Beam: 3.25M/10' 8"
- Height: 2.4M/7' 10"
- Passengers: 15 (limo mode); 38 (SOLAS mode)
- Engines: 2x D3-220 Volvo Penta
- Top speed: 30 knots
Castoldi Jet Tender 34 Open Sport Limo
Looking for a luxurious ride on the water? Castoldi’s new open sport limo is sleek and elegant, with performance to match. It’s the newest model from the company and its only rigid model. The limo offers a hydraulic beach landing ramp, which makes beach access for guests easier, plus a recessed four-step swim ladder to make water access just as simple. If you love the wind in your hair, stay cool beneath the recessed or folding bimini top as you enjoy top speeds of up to 50 knots. Castoldi offers two 440 mHP diesel engines with two Castoldi Turbodrive 284 H.C.T waterjets, meaning you can take off quickly and get to cruising speed on the 24-degree deep V Kevlar hull. Maneuvering is made easier with the Castoldi ACES electronic control with joystick for docking, providing more options for maneuverability without requiring a bow thruster. www.castoldijet.it.
- LOA: 10.5M/34' 5"
- Beam: 2.8M/9' 2"
- Height: 1.58M/5' 2"
- Passengers: 16
- Engines: 2 x 250 mHP Yanmar diesel/No. 2 x 440 mHP Yanmar diesel (S version)
- Top speed: 43 to 50 knots (S version)
Chris-Craft Launch 25GT
The customization options for the Chris-Craft Launch 7.6-meter 25GT are endless from a heads compartment to trim tabs for wakeboarding to hull, stitching, and vinyl color options. The vessel is also available as an 8.5-meter model and can be designed with sterndrives or a sleek fold-down hardtop for stowing. To make things even easier, its height can be reduced to just over 1.5 meters at the push of a button. It also features a forward cockpit, bathing ladder, and deck shower.
- LOA: 7.6M/24' 10"
- Beam: 2.55M/8' 4"
- Height: 1.75M/5' 9"
- Passengers: 10
- Engines: Mercury V8 6.2L B3 DTS, plus others
- Top speed: 48 knots
Compass Tenders 9.9M Landing Craft
Looking for a stable ride with style? Compass Tenders launched Hull No. 1 in 2020 and it impresses with its 57-centimeter draft and the fold-down passerelle on the bow that makes for easy boarding and beach access. It’s also offers an affixable swim ladder to make it just a simple to access and exit the water. Boarding is also a breeze from either the aft platform, or via teak steps on either side of the tender — the side access also offers rails for enhanced safety. Guests can lounge on the aft sun pad, central bench seat, or the comfy cushions forward. The tender is no slouch when it comes to speed, either — she delivers a steady ride even at her top speed of 40 knots. The model is customizable, offering Yanmar, Volvo, or Cummins engine packages, and Hamilton or Rolls-Royce water jets.
- LOA: 9.9M/32' 6"
- Beam: 3.35M/11'
- Stowed Height: 2.05M/6' 9"
- Passengers: 12 + 2 crew
- Engines: 2 x Yanmar 8LV 320hp @ 3800RPM
- Top speed: 37 knots
Falcon Tenders Miss Wonderly
The aptly named tender from Falcon shows off a hybrid-drive technology that enables the custom tender to operate in silent electric mode up to nine knots before the twin 270-hp inboards kick in. Up to 14 guests can be ferried in the 10.6-meter limo. Falcon, a Southampton-based startup, equipped Miss Wonderly with chic furniture in the cabin to give off a luxurious lounge atmosphere.
- LOA: 10.6M/34' 9"
- Beam: 2.96M/9' 9"
- Height: 2.12M/6' 11"
- Engine: x Hyundai Seasall S30 270hp V6 diesel; 2 x Huracan Marine 20kW Electric
- Passengers: 16
Highfield Boats Sport 900
Pushing technology and the luxury of its RIB range to the furthest limits yet, Highfield Boats has launched their largest aluminum-hulled rigid inflatable boat to date, the Sport 900, which will debut in the U.S. market in fall 2022. Built to be tough, the Sport 900 will retain its same agile performance in 10 years’ time and provide comfort and performance in rough sea conditions. It’s easy to tow, launch, and recover due to its light weight and integrated davit lifting eyes. To enhance the gathering spaces, it also features an integrated rear seat with cushion, bow and stern sundeck, and rear table. The Sport 900 doesn’t sacrifice luxury either with a Vitrifrigo refrigerator, sunbrella top, kitchenette, shower kit, and swim platform, so the day can be enjoyed to the fullest.
- LOA: 9.12M/29' 11"
- Beam: 3.09M/10' 2"
- Weight: 3,730 lbs
- Material: Aluminum hull, Hypalon tubes
- Passengers: 15
- Engine: 600hp or 2x in-line 300hp
- Max Speed: 60 mph
Nerea NY24 Limo
Imagine being able to ride at a top speed of 32 knots thanks to a 300-hp Volvo D4 putting power into the water via an Aquamatic drive with duoprop. The 7.35-meter Nerea NY24, created by Dario Messina to have sharp lines and tight styling, comes in three variations: GT, Deluxe, and Limo. While the Limo is the best candidate for superyacht-tender use, the Deluxe version offers enough room for a convertible sofa berth and heads below (as well as stylish pilot chairs by ideaeITALIA), as well as numerous add-ons like audio visual, fridges, and more. Its Oltremateria (a recyclable finishing material) gives it an impresive sustainable feature that you can feel good about too.
- LOA: 7.35M/24' 1"
- Beam: 2.5M/8' 2"
- Engine: 1 x Diesel Volvo Penta D3 220/DPS HP + Aquamatic DP-H duoprop
- Passengers: 12
RIBCRAFT 9.0
RIBCRAFT, which manufactures professional-grade RIBs for military agencies, safety professionals, and recreational boaters alike, has redesigned their RIBCRAFT 9.0. The brand is designed for offshore, and with performance in mind, the new model has a deep V hull, deep forefoot, and full-length lifting strakes. The new model has a new deck arrangement with a large wraparound bow seating area with an optional teak
table that converts into a sun platform, improved comfortable helm, aft seating, an optional oversized T-Top with hard top or antenna arch, and an onboard head. Powered by twin 300-hp Yamaha outboards, the boat reaches speeds in excess of 60 mph. Built in the U.S., users are able to customize their RIB to their needs.
- LOA: 9M/29' 7"
- Beam: 3.12M/10' 3"
- Passengers: 18
- Engines: Max 700 hp
- Top Speed: 60mph+
Yachtwerft Meyer Solaris tender
German Yachtwerft Meyer is known for its beautiful tenders — it claimed the win for Tender of the Year in the BOAT Design and Innovation Awards in 2021 for its tender to Radiant. Tender options include offering from limo to catamaran tenders, and it was the catamaran tender to 139.7-meter Solaris that caused waves when it launched in 2021. Engineers modeled the tender shape and styling to the mothership, with a frameless curved windscreen, a drop-down beach landing platform, plus a hydraulic hardtop attached. Also tucked below was ample hidden storage, a plus on any size superyacht. Its two Hamilton jets are powered by two 480-hp Volvo Penta D6s.
- LOA: 12.6M/41' 4"
- Beam: 4.35M/14' 3"
- Height: 2.9M/9' 6"
- Passengers: 20
- Engines: : 2x Volvo Penta D-6 480WJ
- Top speed: 34 knots