One of the most interesting aspects of yachting is the variety of custom limo tenders afloat. The creativity of the customers plus the companies that design and build them continues to set the bar high. The owner of Global, a 223-foot (68-meter) Lürssen, along with Vripack and Xtenders certainly all fall into this category. The 26-footer (8-meter) serving as the Global LimoTender, as it’s called by Vripack, reportedly breaks new ground. It’s said to be the first all-carbon fiber tender constructed in an autoclave (a high-pressure chamber with high temperatures).
In brief, carbon fiber craft (as well as components like masts) are “cooked” during construction. It’s a not-inexpensive process, or material for that matter. But the benefits are far more important to those who use it. Carbon fiber is renowned for its strength and weight savings. This in turn means smaller engines, lower fuel consumption, nimble handling, and better speeds. Xtenders, established in 2008 for high-performance projects, solely employs the material.
Vripack handled both styling and naval architecture for the Global LimoTender. The boat’s hull pushes spray away to keep occupants (10 guests and two crew) dry and avoid slamming. It’s said to exceed 40 knots, too, with Volvo Penta propulsion. Vripack took styling cues from Global herself, while keeping the craft’s height to just 5’8” (1.77 meters) for stowage in the tender garage.
The above-mentioned 40-knot speed should be all the more thrilling due to the Global LimoTender having a hull window. Vripack further selected rich-tone woods, off-white leather, and mood lighting inside to complement the 8’8” (2.7-meter) beam. Finally, making boarding all the more enjoyable, there’s a champagne chiller in the cabin, too.
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