Belgium

B-Craft Boats

As tenders become more specialised and owner expectations shift, a new generation of builders is bringing user-driven perspectives to the market. One such example is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a>, a Belgian company founded in 2019 by father-and-son duo Roeland and Joris Van Aelst, who set out to design a boat that matched their vision and, in doing so, identified a niche in the market that would evolve into a business.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378767/image/large-3dc3c8ea4d3da6f71495df4193feae45.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378767">From personal search to professional venture<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a>’s origins lie not in legacy boatbuilding or institutional investment, but in a long-standing family tradition of watersports. Roeland Van Aelst, a former pharmaceutical executive, spent decades boating with his family across Italy, Croatia and Spain. His son Joris, exposed to life on the water from a young age, went on to study architecture and later specialised in naval architecture, building a career in the superyacht sector with firms such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/55" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Omega Architects (Company)">Omega Architects</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>.“We’ve been on the water for decades with a simple lake boat,” recalls Roeland. “In the mornings we admired the performance of the pure ski boats, and in the afternoons we envied the elegance of the Italian Riviera launches.”As they began searching for a new pleasure craft, Roeland explains, “What we really wanted was a boat that combined sporty performance with refined style, quality and seaworthiness. But it didn’t exist.” Drawing on Joris’s background in naval architecture and engineering, the duo decided to build their ideal vessel.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378769/image/large-681d66b9da5c63580c4d7a39b2338c3b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378769">For Joris, the challenge was to capture not only functionality but also lifestyle. “It’s not just about water sports,” he explains. “Imagine waking up at Lake Como or the Côte d’Azur, going out for a morning ski, mooring for coffee, then spending the afternoon reading or entertaining friends onboard before heading to a restaurant in the evening. The boat should feel welcoming in each of those settings. It should be something you are proud to look back at from shore.”“Once the idea became real, it felt like a waste to build the boat only for ourselves,” adds Roeland. “It would have been a pity not to take it further. So we asked ourselves, why not turn it into a business?” He shares that the name ‘<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a>’ stands for bespoke craftsmanship and also serves as an homage to their Belgian roots.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a> was officially founded in 2019. “Although Joris had experience as a designer and engineer, building a boat is a very different challenge,” Roeland notes. “We had to find the right partners, rethink the drawings, adjust the plans, and take the time to learn the process properly. We knew we couldn’t do this halfway. If we were going to do it at all, we had to do it properly.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378770/image/large-a5c0a15f57ea117f255491537669490f.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378770">Designing and building their first modelThe first model, named Akoya and launched earlier this year, began as a personal project but now serves as the prototype for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a>’s future production. “It started as a personal project”, explains Joris, “but we believe it represents the kind of model that will appeal to likeminded owners.”The build will be carried out by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4972" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VMG Yachtbuilders (Company)">VMG</a>, a Dutch shipyard chosen for its technical precision and flexibility. “Even though we were familiar with the protocols of yacht construction,” says Joris, “developing a vessel from scratch meant learning which suppliers and builders were the right fit. Working with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4972" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VMG Yachtbuilders (Company)">VMG</a> as a subcontractor gives us the freedom to refine every element and ensure the boat meets our standards.”That process laid the foundation for Akoya’s final design, which places equal emphasis on sport, comfort and integration. “We wanted to avoid the compromises we saw elsewhere,” Joris continues. “An A-frame might be practical for towing, but it disrupts the elegance of the lines and complicates transport and storage. We wanted a solution that was both functional and beautiful.” The result was a patented foldable towing system, known as the rig, which fully retracts when not in use, preserving the yacht’s clean profile and making her compatible with superyacht garages.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378772/image/large-7455458099bdd33d422efdb3cb90d6bb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378772">“We started with an idea,” adds Roeland, “but what we ended up with went far beyond what we originally imagined.” Measuring 8.6-metres, Akoya extends to 9.2-metres with its foldable aft platform, offering the presence of a larger vessel while remaining compact enough for storage and towing.At the stern, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a> introduced what they call the Surf Club – a dedicated watersports area inspired by beach clubs on larger yachts. “It is our connection to the water,” says Joris. “There is storage for wakeboards, surfboards and other gear, along with a hot and cold shower and an integrated air pump. It keeps all the wet equipment outside the guest area, helping the rest of the boat remain clean and comfortable.”Moving forward, guests enter the VIP Lounge, Akoya’s central social space. Designed for comfort and versatility, it includes integrated seating, space for a grill or cocktail bar, and dedicated storage for glasses and tableware. One key feature is the electronically controlled sunbeds, which rise and lower to provide clear sightlines to the water for guests observing the action astern.This layout allows Akoya to function as both a luxury day cruiser and a high-performance watersports platform. “From my experience in the superyacht sector,” notes Joris, “I saw how much space was taken up by separate ski boats and luxury tenders. With Akoya, you only need one. You gain valuable space without compromising on performance or experience.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/378773/image/large-0c3d0c2d518601498d4bf5acd73eab27.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378773">Future plans and developmentsLooking ahead, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a> is developing new models that carry forward the same hybrid DNA of sportiness and elegance as the Akoya, but with greater scale and capability. “Think of what you are used to in a chase boat,” says Joris. “But more versatile, and executed in a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a> way. You will find all the expected amenities, including shelter, a day head, a shower and sleeping space. At the same time, we will remain true to our ethos: play the waves, arrive in style.”That guiding ethos continues to shape their design thinking. “We are also using the Akoya platform to test new features,” Joris explains. “For instance, we are exploring different boarding aids. It is important that we can trial solutions, see what works, and refine our approach based on real experience.”Roeland echoes this commitment to hands-on development. “We want to keep a version of the boat for ourselves that we can experiment with,” he notes. “That way, when we introduce something new, whether it is a boarding solution or a layout feature, we can experience it directly before bringing it to clients.”The company is now entering the American market, having finalised a broker partnership for the Americas with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6883" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Troyer Yachts (Company)">Troyer Yachts</a>. “The Americas are a key region for this type of product,” Roeland notes, “and it was essential to find someone who shares our long-term vision.” <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8553" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="B-Craft Boats (Company)">B-Craft</a> will present the Akoya at the upcoming <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/306" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Boot Düsseldorf - 2026">Boot Düsseldorf</a>.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/378768/image/large-d84f844b4025763049621ab25d30ac0b.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20251121%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20251121T123433Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=90c531e02c618bc1bd9f469e5590e37623b9af1081b1b642094d033b4bc199b4" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/378768">

B-Craft: The Belgian father and son duo building bespoke tenders

The founders of B-Craft on their company, the niche they aim to occupy within the tender sector, their construction approach and future plans.