From water to land: the GT Tender

For most owners, finding the best tender for your yacht is left to the captain or owners representative. With such a wide selection available on the market — from classic-looking Riva limo tenders to the modern aesthetics of RIB and pure fibreglass models such as the C-Boat series — there are plenty of options. However, there are very few tenders capable of driving on land such as the GT Tender, which was completed by NZ Tenders after the insolvency of New Zealand-based Vaudrey Miller.


Amphibious vehicles are nothing new; in fact one of the first, if not the first, self-propelled amphibious vehicle — the Orukter Amphibolos — was designed and built by US inventor Oliver Evans, as early as 1805. However, the GT Tender is the first boat that we’ve seen that completely conceals its wheels within the body of the hull. Designed by Dobroserdov Design in Monaco, the bespoke 8.5-metre boat, which was inspired by modern-day sports cars, looks just like any other tender when in water. However, when desired, the wheels can be deployed from their chambers and the boat can be driven onto a 15-degree ramp or beach at a speed of six mph. “The client's request was not to have an amphibious boat, as he does not like how they look, but for the boat to have the ability to go ashore,” reveals Dobroserdov. “It would mean he could go anywhere such as Monaco, Saint Tropez or say Como Lake without any special help to get the boat out of the water.”


Capable of accommodating up to six passengers including the driver, the carbon composite and epoxy resin structure was designed to achieve a maximum speed of 35 knots. This is thanks to a single D6 Volvo engine, producing 370ph, which is connected to a Volvo DPH duoprop. At 28 knots, the boat has a range of 200nm, and is powered by an air-cooled Kohler DKW 2204T engine when on land.


The boat also includes a mini fridge, basin, marine audio entertainment system, bow thruster, trim control, a three-stage carbon telescopic wheelchair-boarding ramp, and side windows that incorporate car components. A deck shower, removable ski pole and a carbon fibre swim ladder have also been included aft of the boat.


Although the cost of the tender has not been revealed, Dobroserdov has revealed that a similar project would cost in the region of euro 700,000.
To see the GT Tender in person, make sure you look out for it at the 2012 Monaco Yacht Show in September, where it is due to be exhibited.

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