What this category covers
Hull and design entries define the geometry, materials, and structural language of a tender or chase boat. That covers hull form (deep-V, stepped, catamaran, RIB), construction method (vacuum-infused composite, cored laminates, aluminium plate), and the dimensional terms (LOA, beam, deadrise, displacement) that appear on every spec sheet and broker listing.
Why it matters
Hull form is the single biggest determinant of how a tender feels at sea. Two boats with identical engines and identical lengths can behave entirely differently if one runs a 22-degree deep-V and the other a 16-degree warped plane. Owners care because it shows up as comfort in chop; captains care because it shows up as deck angle, spray pattern, and the speed they can hold when guests are aboard.
Construction matters for weight, longevity, and resale. A vacuum-infused hull from a serious yard will hold its value differently from an open-mould layup of the same length, and the difference compounds over a refit cycle. Aluminium gets chosen on chase boats and beachlanders for its tolerance of impact and beach landings; composite dominates limousines and sport tenders where weight discipline pays off in fuel and trim.
For project managers, the dimensional terms are the primary interface with the mothership: garage clearances, davit limits, lifting points, and overhang. A boat that is fifty millimetres too tall in the bow eyebrow is a boat that does not fit, regardless of how good the rest of the spec is.
Where it shows up
- The tender garage sizing spoke is built almost entirely from terms in this category.
- The tender specification guide and how to choose a superyacht tender pillars use this vocabulary to compare hull options across the main tender families.
- Product pages for catamaran tenders, RIB tenders, and beachlanders lean on hull form terms to explain why each style suits a particular brief.