What are illustrations of a 32-footer doing on a Web site about megayachts, you wonder? These are two versions of the tenders that represent the return of Shannon to the megayacht world.
Walt Schulz, who began designing Shannons in 1975 and has created both power and sailing craft, has been selling his Downeast-style boats to traditional boaters for the past several years. But given the desire among megayacht owners to have classic-looking cruisers as tenders, Schulz has decided to launch semicustom 28- and 32-footers at his facility in Rhode Island. They’re intended to serve two purposes: ten-person-capacity launches, complete with a cabin and hardtop sheltering the cockpit; or “cocktail cruisers,” meaning boats that owners themselves can take out for day or overnight trips.
Either way, the tenders will be built of fiberglass, will be detailed to match the owner’s megayacht, and can be stored in a toy/tender garage or on deck. Shannon will also offer owners the ability to custom-design the cabin layout or select from a few set options. In addition, one-off versions of the tenders, up to 50 feet LOA, are available, which Shannon says it will build with an owner’s choice of naval architects. Speeds should be more than 30 knots with various power options.
If the boats he’s been designing and building recently are any indication (see here), Schulz’s tenders should work out just fine.
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