A 40-foot utility boat in the service of a superyacht must above all be practical, always ready to load and deliver bulky, heavy stores and equipment. Yet it can become much, much more than that, which is what happened with the X40L, a tender that can serve as a working craft in the morning and a luxury SUV in the afternoon. Invite a crowd of your friends aboard for an afternoon at the beach and later, motor to a secluded inlet for cocktails and al fresco dining.
Designed for a client with a superyacht under construction, the X40L evolved in the imagination of Reliant Yachts’ partners Jim Ewing and Dave MacFarlane in collaboration with their client. The design brief required that the boat function as a landing craft and be able to carry considerable loads, including an automobile.
With a landing-craft-style drop-down bow to accommodate a car or other vehicles rolling on and off, the X40L was equipped for shoal water by fitting Hamilton jet drives rather than conventional shaft propellers. Pop-up hydraulic winches were installed to kedge the boat ashore and then off again. Removable carbon davits can also be mounted to lift heavy cargo on and off the dock.
But the thinking evolved further. Why not turn this vessel into a party platform when its work was done for the day? Most yachts have a “teak beach” as a stern platform; why not give this “Lander” a rugged Flexi-teak deck and take a party of guests to the beach?
