Yacht tenders explained: jet, limousine, RIB and rescue tender
The main types of superyacht tender with example models, what the REG Yacht Code requires for rescue boats, and what the CE design category means.
A superyacht's tender ranges from a small RIB of about 4 metres to a limousine tender of over 12 metres with a closed cabin. Jet tenders are the most common on mid-size yachts. Yachts of 500 GT and more under the Red Ensign also need an approved rescue boat, which is often a tender built to SOLAS standard.
Below are the main types with example models from the builders' own specifications, followed by the rules. None of the builders we checked publishes prices.
What types of tender are there?
| Type | What it is | Example (builder's figures) |
|---|---|---|
| Small RIB | inflatable tubes on a rigid hull, light, for short runs | Novurania DL 400: 4.10 m, up to 6 people, max. 50 hp, 390 kg with engine (Novurania) |
| Jet tender | water jet instead of a propeller, safer around swimmers | Williams SportJet 345: 3.45 m, 5 people, for yachts of 16–21 m (Williams); Castoldi Jet Tender 19: 5.98 m, 10 people, up to 39 kn (Castoldi) |
| Larger jet tender | more seats, diesel | Williams EvoJet 70: 7.1 m, 13 seats, for yachts from 40 m, also shown as the electric 70e (Williams), which Williams calls a fully electric technology demonstrator rather than a series model (Williams) |
| Chase / open tender | fast, open, for guests and toys | Novurania Chase 27: 8.30 m, 12 people, CE category B, 38 kn (Novurania) |
| Limousine tender | closed cabin, for guest transfers in any weather | Pascoe Signature Limousine: 9.60 m, 12 guests plus 2 crew, 35 kn (Pascoe); Castoldi Jet Tender 34 LIMO: 10.50 m, air-conditioned cabin with WC, 12 + 2 people (Castoldi) |
| Beach landing tender | hydraulic bow door or step for landing directly on a beach | Pascoe Beachlander: 6.20 to 9.80 m (Pascoe) |
| SOLAS rescue tender | approved as rescue boat, self-righting | Williams SOLAS 505: 5.03 m, 8 + 1 people, typical for yachts from 30 m (Williams); Pascoe DT SOLAS: 6.20 m, 12 seats, Lloyd's Register type approval (Pascoe) |
Electric tenders are arriving too: besides Williams' EvoJet 70e demonstrator, Pascoe has announced a fully electric range, with the first eLimousine under construction (Pascoe).
Does a yacht need a rescue boat?
For commercial yachts of 24 metres and more under the Red Ensign, the REG Yacht Code applies (REG Yacht Code, Part A):
- 500 GT and more: a rescue boat approved under the IMO LSA Code. Its launching appliance must be designed for a full load of at least six people at 82.5 kg each, plus fuel and equipment, and every rescue boat needs its own appliance.
- Under 500 GT: a boat suitable for rescue that does not need LSA approval: rigid, RIB or inflatable, for at least four people, one of them lying down, with at least three buoyancy chambers in the tubes.
- Tender garages that can flood have their own stability criteria in the code (section 11.6).
According to Pascoe, SOLAS type approval of a rescue tender requires tests on the first boat of a series, including 3-metre drop tests, self-righting, swamping, overload lifting and heavy weather tests (Pascoe).
What does the CE category on a tender mean?
Tenders up to 24 metres sold in the EU fall under the Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU. Each boat carries a builder's plate with the CE mark, design category, maximum load and recommended number of people (Directive 2013/53/EU).
| Category | Designed for |
|---|---|
| A | over Beaufort 8 and over 4 m significant wave height |
| B | up to Beaufort 8 and 4 m |
| C | up to Beaufort 6 and 2 m |
| D | up to Beaufort 4 and 0.3 m |
Many tenders are category C, for example the Castoldi JT 19 and the Novurania DL 400. Larger chase tenders such as the Novurania Chase 27 or the Technohull GT7 are category B (Technohull).
What we could not find
No builder we checked publishes prices. Vanquish was not checked, and Compass Tenders only lists its categories (catamaran, limousine, open, utility and D-RIB, Compass).
Sources
REG Yacht Code Part A (July 2024), EU Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU, and the model pages of Williams, Castoldi, Pascoe, Novurania, Technohull and Compass. All checked on 4 October 2026 and linked above.
Sources and image rights
- Images
- Toys & Crew
- Checked
- 4 October 2026 by Andreas Lakeberg
Disclaimer. We research every article carefully and to the best of our knowledge. Salaries, prices, rules and port regulations change, and we cannot guarantee that all information is complete, current or correct. Please check anything important with the original source or the responsible authority before you rely on it. To the extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for errors or omissions.