What is the hardest boat to sink?

Outrage over the Boston Whaler 370

Aside from Intrepid, only a few boats are strong enough to serve as a megayacht tender. Outrage over the Boston Whaler 370

Captains adore it because it is built like any other Whaler and will not sink. They also appreciate the portside dive door that opens in from the outside, making it easier for guests to board and disembark without having to climb over gunwales. 

You’ve probably seen them on the highway—huge buses that have been converted into land yachts or motor houses. And frequently they are pulling a “dinghy” behind them. Once the King of the Highway has pulled into a KOA Campground for the night, he needs a big SUV—not a small Kia—to cruise the town in luxury.

Real yachts operate similarly, so there. Their tenders, which are pulled behind, run the risk of slamming you, breaking free, or sinking because they can be longer than 40 feet, weigh 12,000 pounds, and have more than 1,000 horsepower.

You’ve probably seen them on the interstate: giant buses converted into motor homes, or land yachts. And they’re usually towing a “dinghy” behind them. Not a mini Kia, either, but a mega SUV so the King of the Highway can cruise around town in style after stopping at a KOA Campground for the night.

Real yachts, on the other hand, do the same thing. Their tenders can be more than 40 feet long, weigh 12,000 pounds, have more than 1,000 horsepower, and, when towed behind, risk ramming you, breaking free, or sinking.

This is the most difficult task for a boat. At 30 knots in five-foot seas, everything appears to be going smoothly at the helm of the 100-footer. However, out on the tow line, this same tender, which is traditionally a boat in the aspects i.e. that a 99-percenter can afford, is taking a beating. There are no complaints from the crew, and there is no captain back on board to throttle back. As a result, megayacht tenders must be built to the highest standards. Only a few people make the cut. This story investigates why this is the case, as well as how the world’s toughest small boats sustain as yacht tenders.s