None other than James Bond himself declared he could envision arriving at an exclusive Riviera party onboard, along with a bevy of his Bond girls. Sir Roger Moore shared the sentiment with a crowd in Monaco for the introduction of the newest mahogany tender from J Craft. The tender is the Torpedo. The Sweden-based builder chose the Monaco Yacht Show to premiere the boat, measuring 12.63 meters (about 41 feet).
According to J Craft’s CEO, Johan Attvik, the Torpedo is for a “discerning and demanding clientele.” It features details other tender and runabout builders don’t offer. For example, there’s a hand-carved Nardi steering wheel, similar to the one found on the Ferrari 250 GTO. Care is also taken to ensure the mahogany planking (lacquered 18 times, by the way) doesn’t come from rainforests. Owners can additionally choose from what J Craft calls “legacy” hull colors, including lemon, Kelly green, Grand Prix (white), midnight, and of course mahogany, with coordinating sunpad fabrics.
As for performance, twin Volvo Penta IPS 500 engines should permit a 44-knot top speed. They should further provide easy maneuverability, thanks to quick response to the joystick control.
The 11-year-old J Craft, whose first boat was bought by and remains in the hands of the King of Sweden, considers itself “the Bentley of the seas,” says Johan Hallén, J Craft’s chief technical officer. The builder anticipates retaining that air of exclusivity. Only eight Torpedos will be available for purchase through early 2010. Thereafter, just one tender will see construction each month.
Enjoy the Torpedo in action.
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