It’s been just over 12 months since Linx Tenders showcased its first completed vessel, the LINX 30, at the Palma International Boat Show. A year on, we caught up with the team to find out how things are going and what we can expect next from Mallorca’s finest in custom tender construction.
When Linx Tenders launched itself into the international superyacht marketplace in 2022, it was the first offering in the custom tender sector to have been designed and built in Mallorca, “And that remains the case,” comments Luke Hendy, Commercial Director at BMComposites. “Linx Tenders are designed by Bravo Yacht Design and built by our team here at BMComposities.”
The LINX 30 has been hailed, by both its mothership superyacht crew and those who’ve had the opportunity to sea trial it, as offering exceptional stability and performance at high speed. “It’s constructed in lightweight carbon composites and has a state-of-the-art foil-assisted catamaran hull configuration that improves fuel efficiency by 30-40 percent,” explains Mark Branagh, Managing Director at BMComposites. “The first LINX 30 was commissioned to accompany an expedition yacht. There was a strict weight limit to adhere to, and the client wanted a beach landing system as well as a folding hard-top so it could be stowed in the existing garage space,” concludes Branagh.
The tender’s innovative beach landing ability allows it to be driven onto the sand and ‘beached’, with guests then able to disembark safely via the bow door and step straight onto the sand.
Linx Tenders is keen to highlight that its tenders are full custom, “Yes, someone could order another LINX 30 and configure the deck as they desire, choose a hull colour, etc, but these aren’t production boats simply with ‘options’ – each is built to a client’s exacting specifications,” comments Hendy.
“With the LINX 30 that we delivered in 2022, for example, a key requirement was integration of WASSP sonar. The explorer yacht that the LINX 30 accompanies often navigates in uncharted waters and in this way, the LINX serves as a scout to transmit topographic data on the seabed back to the mothership,” adds Branagh.
The LINX 30 has a cruising speed of 25 knots, giving a range of 230 nautical miles and a top speed of 42 knots. With a forward sun pad, an electric WC, seating for 12, and options for a dining area or even a cabin, the LINX 30 is also a fantastic day boat and provides the kind of versatility that is becoming all the more important for a superyacht tender.
Linx Tenders are constructed using the Prime 37 Infusion Resin system with Corecell Marine Foam that is then CNC machined for a perfect fit. “This construction method gives superior strength and stiffness. It also means we can produce the structure in a one-shot process, eliminating any potential issues with core bonding or voids,” explains Branagh.
BMComposites has been approved as a CE-certified shipyard, and the LINX 30 was certified CE C-Class. “A large proportion of the design time was spent on fluid dynamic testing of the hull and foil configuration,” comments Branagh. “We wanted to ensure that Linx Tenders can combine speed and longitudinal stability in an optimised fashion, as well as provide an exhilarating ride experience. Add the wave-dampening effect of the foils to the mix, and the result is impressive,” adds Branagh.
The foil induces lift, which in turn works to reduce drag, improve sea-keeping, and thereby increase efficiency with a 40% improvement in fuel consumption. This main foil is fixed between the two hulls but does not extend below them, and twin trim tabs to aft provide the necessary downforce to equalise the lift.
With a second LINX 30 vessel now in build, Linx Tenders have asserted their position in the luxury tender sphere and have big hopes for the future. “We’re working on several enquiries from other clients at the moment, including different length versions such as the LINX 40, a Linx tender that’s solar powered, and we also have a client who’d like an electric version,” says Hendy. “We’re really excited at the prospect of having more Linx tenders on the water.”
roxanne@roxannehughes.com
