Megayacht Tenders: Let the Fun Begin

by Kim Kavin

Megayachts available for charter are impressive. There’s no arguing about that. The huge hot tubs, the sprawling sunpads, the chandeliers above the dining room tables—all of it is super-glamorous.

The motoryacht Exuma's many water toys include a Hov Pod hovercraft tender.

Once your charter begins, though, the real fun of actual boating is in the tenders. If you book one of these megayachts for charter, then you, too, can enjoy this fun the same way that the owners do.

Take the owner of the 163-foot Picchiotti Exuma, who shares his taste for unique tenders with charter guests through Fraser Yachts Worldwide. Among Exuma’s offerings is a Hov Pod hovercraft. It’s an amphibious vehicle designed to go as fast as 45 mph over surfaces including water, sand, and ice—the three primary surfaces you’re likely to encounter whether you charter in Antigua or Antarctica.

127-foot Hakvoort Snowbird has a 36 foot Fjord tender with a space-age look.

Another example is the owner of the 145-foot Pendennis Hemisphere, which is for charter through Burgess Yachts. He’s not content merely to cruise aboard the world’s largest luxury sailing catamaran; he also wants to do some serious fishing, which is why one of Hemisphere’s tenders is a brand-new, 54-foot sportfishing boat. The F&S Boatworks design is a custom-built beauty, one that turns nearly as many heads as her massive mothership.

Sex appeal also counts with top tenders. The 127-foot Hakvoort Snowbird, which charters through Edmiston and Co., positively oozes the good stuff with her 36-foot tender. It’s built by Fjord to look darn-near space age, with a tall profile, sleek deck plan, and contemporary vibe.

Christina O has two varnished mahogany launches from Hacker-Craft.

More traditional sex appeal can be found in the tenders that come with the 324-foot Christina O, a classic megayacht built in 1943 by Canadian Vickers. Charter guests who book through Camper and Nicholsons International can enjoy day trips aboard not one, but two varnished mahogany launches from Hacker-Craft.

Last but certainly not least, check out the 34-foot Stancraft tender that guests can enjoy when they book a charter aboard the 205-foot Oceanco Lady Lola through International Yacht Collection. The Stancraft actually is called a “classic mahogany limousine,” and each one is custom-built, so no two in the world are alike.

Lady Lola's tender is a Stancraft, a “classic mahogany limousine.”