Vanquish Yachts re-wrote day-boating rules with the 50. Instead of squeezing a tender onto the swim platform, the Dutch builder designed a starboard midsection garage where the master suite usually is. The opening, which is the perfect size for a Williams 325 Turbojet RIB, measures 4 feet 1 inch by 6 feet 10 inches.
Vanquish builds custom aluminum boats with attitudes, and they were able to accommodate the owner’s request for a day boat with no compromises aft. Designed by Guido de Groot, the 50 is completely open from the helm station to the swim platform.
Moving the tender stowage amidships meant designing a smart garage. Its frame is welded to the hull to retain structural integrity, sealing tight when the door is closed. When it’s open, the tender slides down tracks and into the ocean. For retrieval, a hydraulic winch lifts the vessel on board. Because the tender is lighter than a cabin, the boat’s balance remains undisturbed.
“We did all the engineering because there were no other boats like this with amidships garages,” says Tom Steentjes, Vanquish’s founder.
The garage hasn’t caused significant concessions either. A forepeak master stateroom features a full head just forward of the salon and galley. The yacht’s standard power, twin 600 hp Cummins diesels with Zeus pods, produces a respectable top end of 38 knots.
Look for Hull No. 2, and her tender, cruising Florida soon.
