Greek-based Onda Tenders has delivered the new fully customisable chase boat following its debut at the Monaco Yacht Show.
“We had requests for a larger version of the 331GT, which we launched a couple of years ago,” says George Riginos, CEO of Onda Tenders based in Athens, Greece. “The smaller boat was quite beamy for its length, so it was quite a simple task to extend the hull to provide more onboard space and the 371GT has since replaced the original model.”
Whether designed to offer sunbathing space or to maximise seating capacity, the generous beam coupled with high bulwarks make the GT a comfortable and practical boat to be used both as a day cruiser or chase tender.
As for all its fleet, Onda turned to the Mannerfelt Design Team in Sweden for the distinctive exterior styling of the 371GT and its deep-V hull with two ventilated steps to reduce friction, while the shipyard’s in-house engineers ensured the innovative modular design was paired with reliability and ease of service.
The hull is built of vinylester GRP, but the hard top that offers protection from the sun is of multi-axial carbon fibre for strength combined with low weight. Like the other two models in the Onda range, the 341P (Patrol) and 321L (Limousine), the 371GT (Grand Turismo) carries the brand’s signature wrap-around protective fender supplied by Fender Innovations in the Netherlands.
Versatile and fast with ample seating fore and aft, the new model is fitted with twin Oxe 300hp outboards, the world’s first high-performance diesel outboard engines (although clients can choose their preferred propulsion system, inboard or outboard). In this case, the owner has a 56-metre Turquoise superyacht and wanted to be able to tow the chase boat behind the mothership as well as refuel from its diesel tanks.
“Moreover, they were looking for an extra crew berth on the tender when in full charter mode, which ruled out inboard engines that would have taken up too much room,” adds George Riginos. “With the Oxe outboards we were able to design the aft sunbed so that it lifts up to reveal a crew berth underneath with headroom of 1.7 metres, so it doesn’t feel claustrophobic.”
Onda Tenders serves the superyacht tender market with fully customised solutions to guarantee that both the owner’s and crew’s requirements and expectations are fully met. The 371GT is currently the largest model in the Onda fleet, but it is also working on a 14-metre hull and other custom projects.
