YOU ONLY HAVE to glance at the brokerage ads for 10-year plus old superyachts to see how the market for tenders has evolved in recent years. The once humble ship to shore vessel has spawned one of the most dynamic markets in the leisure marine business as motherships get bigger and owners get increasingly adventurous and forensic with what they want and need to complement their leisure experience. Key trends shaping the tender landscape today include the rise in electric propulsion; the desire among owners of larger superyachts over 40m of having numerous, specialist craft rather than a solitary workhorse; increased customisation; and the often overlooked, but most critical component – value.

“Superyacht owners and crews seem better informed and well-researched,” says Dave Cockwell at UK tender specialist Cockwells.

“They are coming to us with increasingly specific requests. Some are looking for simple, low-tech working boats whilst others are looking for more automation, but whatever the specification, tenders must seamlessly mirror the aesthetics of the mothership.” Superyacht tenders are also getting bigger and faster, he says, with more and more intricate customisations required. “Owners and crews seem to have a much clearer idea about what they want to use their boats for and with the increasing size of motherships, there is more flexibility for them to house multiple crafts for differing purposes.”

The yard is currently working on a number of projects, including high-speed multihulls, 13m-high comfort limousine tenders, as well as its new semicustom beach lander and Air-Sport 7.0. Customisation, or rather, innovation is king for Dutch tender and motoryacht specialist Steeler. It’s currently working directly with a superyacht owner on a new project that encapsulates a multitude of design challenges, such as an innovative folding roof with rollable canvas, dropping windows and flip-out beach ladder.

“This is what Steeler owners are all about,” says director Hans Webbink. “They want to build a boat their way. For them, the purchase of a yacht or tender is not an impulse, but the realisation of a project that they have spent themselves an awful lot of time on and they know what they want. “Up to now, we have been able to deliver 101 boats and we are proud of a 100% customer loyalty score. No client has left us to date for another yard. They keep their Steeler, order a new one… they don’t leave the Steeler nest.” Its new line – the custom-built Bronson 50 – is also selling well, says Webbink, with one boat on order for St Tropez, another destined for Ibiza, and a third on its way to Mexico.

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