UP UP AND AWAY
Along with larger superyachts come larger tenders and a myriad of toys, but how do you decide on the right davit or crane used to move these on and off the yacht? Frances and Michael Howorth take a look at the leading manufacturers and suppliers in the market
T
he excitement of boarding a superyacht by tender or from ashore often overshadows the magnificence and quality engineering of the equipment that makes such actions possible. In fact, it is probably fair to say that, when it comes to guests boarding superyachts, they probably never give such equipment even a single thought. But for those of us in the industry who know of such matters, the choice of the right crane, passerelle, boarding ladder or set of davits is of paramount importance.
Passerelles need to be, safe and offer those using them, quick, worry-free access when boarding a superyacht. Good examples are designed to work well and look good, providing elegant and timeless entrances for guests and crew alike.
Cranes and davits that lift boats, tenders, jet skis and other water toys on board need to do so unobtrusively, quickly and quietly so that guests are seldom aware of their existence. Bathing platforms that raise and lower into the sea must be faultless and stunningly beautiful when they allow guests easy, safe access to the water, while deckhead mounted cranes that service the yacht’s garage need to work seamlessly when loading or discharging water toys.
There was a time when, to ferry guests ashore, all a yacht needed was a roll up inflatable tender and a portable outboard engine stowed inside the lazarette. Now not only has the roll up tender morphed into a large, inboard-engined, multi passenger carrying RIB, but the lazarette has been forgotten on most yachts and has been fully replaced by a garage. But these advances in size technology and carrying capacity have meant that instead of a single deckhand heaving a roll away dinghy up and onto the deck before inflating it to the point that it can be thrown single-handedly over the side, superyacht crews now rely on custom built equipment to help them in their tasks.
Fortunately, as demand increased, so too, did the realisation that specialist companies needed to design and build this equipment. Products were brought to market and have for the most part found favour with the yacht captain and their crew. Today’s market allows them to select from a wide range of standard modular solutions or fully-customised boarding equipment to meet their wishes and demands.
92 | TENDERS & TOYS | ONBOARD
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