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There is a deft art to creating bespoke one-of-a-kind tenders, especially as they come in such a variety of shapes and sizes. The demands placed on these smaller vessels are just
as high as those of the motherships – in some instances, even more. Versatility is fed directly into their DNA and no builder knows this better than the Australia-based Vikal
International.
Vikal International was founded in 1982 and has delivered more than 75 fully custom tenders to world’s largest motor yachts. SuperYacht Times takes a closer look at some of its
custom-built projects. 11m Topaz Convertible
Speed and comfort are two attributes notoriously difficult to marry together – but a task Vikal didn’t shy away from when the owner of the 147.25-metre Lürssen A+ (ex. Topaz)
pitched the project. The 11.25-metre Open Sports limousine tender elegantly skims across the water with grace and comfort, thanks to her ingeniously engineered hull and two punchy
Volvo D6 400 horsepower diesel engines.
Vikal furnished the custom Topaz Convertible with a cream, rounded settee that wraps a heavily varnished coffee table. Befit for a tender belonging to such an outstanding
mothership, the Topaz Convertible is suave, sophisticated and a point of pride for owner and guests to embark from when perusing the treasures onland. Her crowning feature though
is undoubtedly her hardtop convertible roof – a world’s first for a tender of this size – which allows for usage in any weather condition. 19m Octopus Dive Tender
At 18.8-metres the custom-built Octopus Dive Tender is one of the largest power boats to complement a superyacht. With a penchant for speed and a requirement to reach some of the
most remote and daring dive locations in the world, Vikal had a challenge. A challenge that a ready-made solution could never cater to. The marketplace for ready-made solutions
might be thriving, but it’s not perfect.
Australia’s resident designer Sam Sorgiovanni oversaw her design – and most definitely delivered. The Octopus Dive Tender is refined, lavish and brimming with amenities expected on
a yacht, not a tender. She can carry as many as 10 guests, who can kick back in utmost comfort in her plush saloon, and she has a generous aft deck for seamless access to the
water. Thanks to twin MTU engines, the Octopus Dive Tender can reach speeds in excess of 40 knots.
10m Secret Limousine
Many superyachts have a low tender transom garage, which is typically used to store a RIB or water toys. But the space can also be utilised for a more luxurious limousine tender –
you just have to be clever. Vikal had to keep the tender’s height under two metres, which makes an enclosed aft normally impossible. To counter this, an electronically operated
hardtop was fitted so once out the garage the shell roof can be opened to welcome the owner and guests onboard.
The 9.8-metre Secret Limousine tender is fitted with twin D4 Volvo diesel engines that deliver a top speed of 48 knots. She’s also been fitted with bright red leather for the large
settees that replicate the colour scheme of the owner’s Ferrari. 12m Topaz Catamaran
Sitting alongside the Topaz Convertible onboard the 147.25-metre Lürssen A+ (ex. Topaz), is a 12-metre custom-built Cargo Catamaran. This tender was commissioned to serve the
yacht, acting as a private taxi, a dive platform and the vessel to supply fuel and cargo to and from shore. To facilitate dive expeditions, the Topaz Catamaran is equipped with a
modular unit fitted to the front deck with an 18+ dive bottle capacity. Her bow was also customised to aid guests with seamless sea access.
The 12-metre Topaz Catamaran is equipped with a pair of D6 Volvo Diesels coupled to Hamilton HJ 292 water jets that deliver a top speed of 35 knots. She’s incredibly versatile and
is handy for fishing excursions, equipped with all necessary paraphernalia. Being fitted with a 400-kilo capacity hydraulic davit crane, she’s ideal for crew use when they need to
haul heavier cargo or retrieve Jet Skis and water toys. Vikal also designed her with a retractable bimini and linear activated helm hardtop, so she can snuggly fit into smaller
garages. Vikal SP Range – 8M RIB
The 8-metre custom SP RIB features a hard ‘D’ collar fender and has a very generous deck area that can accommodate as many as 12 guests. Vikal typically equips the 8-metre RIB with
a single Volvo D4 320 horsepower turbo diesel engine, coupled to a Hamilton HJ 274 waterjet, which delivers a top speed of 35 knots. A key feature of the RIB is the bespoke folding
canopy that allows for great flexibility.
Latest Update Mon 13 Feb 2023 | 15:45
