Multi-purpose shadow vessels

Noticing a gap in the market for aluminium superyacht tender that could go anywhere, SYTT – Superyacht Tenders and Toys had the idea for Roam Boats: a fleet of vessels built on an unrelenting desire to explore, which also includes a 24m and a 35m shadow vessels.

Roam Boats is the brainchild of Superyacht Tenders and Toys, multidisciplinary superyacht specialist. Since the launch in 2011, SYTT has become a go-to name in the industry of tenders: over a decade, they sold and built more than one hundred tenders.

Roam Boats’ aim is to offer a unique, turnkey, package providing robust, all-weather, tenders and a support vessel that can take all toys and tenders together.

Following SYTT’s debut of the Roam 8 Adventure RIB at the 2022 Monaco Boat Show, the company has seen a phenomenal trajectory in their sales as their new, multi-purpose tenders sparked an interest in those with a hunger for adventure, and a desire for practicality.

Shadow 24 & Shadow 35

Support vessels, otherwise known as ‘shadow vessels’, are specialised ships built to provide support for superyachts. Shadows extend the experience of luxury travel, acting as the middleman between the superyacht and the rest of the world, as well as storing everything else that the main ship doesn’t have space for.

Roam Boats currently offers two support vessels: the 24m-long Shadow 24 and the larger 35m-long Shadow 35.

• The Shadow 24 can reach speeds of up to 22 knots and accommodate up to 6 people on board. It is a multi-purpose toy, vehicle, and submersible carrier that can be outfitted as a stand-alone adventure boat – making it more than just a support vessel.
• The Shadow 35 is a luxury yacht toy carrier with transatlantic range, again offering accommodation for up to 6 crew members. It is a high spec, go-anywhere, shadow vessel boasting a generous 223 sq.m of deck area, complete with a Palfinger hydraulic crane.

This 35m support vessel was designed as a consequence of a customer request for a toy carrier able to accommodate a 50 ft cigarette boat.

“Roam has inverted the question to once again challenge owners: how far can your boat push you?” a spokesperson for SYTT commented. “It offers a set of vessels designed for the adventurous owner who wishes to go off the beaten track and explore. Whatever the weather, wherever it is being used, these tenders and yacht support vessels deliver adventure”.

Partnership for the aluminium works

In recent years, there has been a shift in the demographic of superyacht owners, who are now younger than ever before. Many of them view their luxury superyachts as a vessel that allows them to indulge in unique experiences, exploring remote locations and ultimately creating unforgettable memories. As a result, owners are now significantly more engaged in the selection of tenders and toys.

Roam’s aluminium hull construction is not only tough and infinitely customisable, but also carefully crafted to reduce the carbon footprint of both production and afterlife. Something which this new generation of owners are particularly in support of.

Vahali shipyard has been selected by Roam for the aluminium works on vessels over 24m, specifically handling the Roam Shadow builds. With an impressive track record spanning over 96 years, the shipyard holds a strong reputation in the commercial and cruise sector for its quality and values. Vahali’s operations span across facilities in Holland and Serbia, supported by a workforce of over 350 employees. Notably, they have successfully completed the construction of 48 vessels, extending up to 135m in size.

The estimated delivery time of the Roam Shadow vessels is three years.

Aluminium-built tenders

Roam range of robust and no-fuss aluminium tenders are designed specifically for superyacht use. Built with aluminium, the Roam 8, is undeniably tough and customisable. A tender that has been designed and crafted carefully to reduce its carbon footprint during both the construction process, and its end-of-life.

“Aluminium is a tough material, and it can be fixed easily. If you run it up a beach somewhere, you’re not that worried about it: it’s a very robust material” Richard Booth, Senior Project Manager at SYTT, said. “But what we love about it is its natural elements. Glass reinforced plastic and fibreglass are man-made, and you just can’t get rid of that stuff. It stays around forever. Whereas with aluminium, you can reuse every element of it”.

Roam Dive Boats

Despite being a niche market, the idea behind Roam’s Dive Boats came from a very specific client request, and a number of SYTT’s team members have an extensive knowledge of diving. It was decided early on in the process that the Dive Boat had to be robust and resilient enough to cope with the most severe of weather, and the harshest conditions at sea. Other specific criteria included its safety, reliability, and comfort level.

It had to be simple, but at the same time luxurious. And, most importantly, it had to be built to engage with its guests, allowing for an up-close and personal relationship with the environment around them.

Without having to compromise the comfort of its guests, Roam Dive Boats offer a platform for adventurers. Both the fittings and layout are completely customisable, adapted seamlessly to suit the individual requirements of the owner – whether they are a professional diver, or someone merely wishing to use the vessel as a luxury limousine transfer. The Roam Dive Boat also features a large aft platform designed for swimming, which can be set up with two dive ladders for the most efficient access into the water.

A pratical, balanced solution that pushes boundaries

When asked about the key to their recent success, Richard Booth described it as being “a combination of providing a practical balance between support and adventure whilst simultaneously pushing the boundaries with new models, custom options, and the latest in manufacturing and sustainability technology. We strive to deliver exactly what our customers need whilst continuously developing the Roam brand with innovative new concepts.”

Alongside orders for the standard platform Roam Adventure RIBs and Beachlanders, the Roam SOLAS 450 rescue RIB and several Inflatable Landing Craft, the team is manufacturing a semi-custom, 7m Adventure RIB tender for a new build Sanlorenzo, a 10m catamaran Landing Craft and an 11m custom Beachland to upgrade ship-to-shore transfer for the owner and guests of a large explorer vessel.

Rising interest in toys and tenders

With the demographic of yacht owners now including a much younger generation, there is an increased appetite for adventure. Toys and tenders complement the experience of adventurers, allowing them to fulfil their desire of exploring even the most remote areas safely and comfortably, while carrying aboard anything from a paddleboard to a car, or even a submarine.

Renowned for their competencies in providing high-quality toys and tenders, SYTT have contributed to a number of vessels over the years, including:

• the 89m Superyacht Here Comes The Sun launched by Amels, for which SYTT provided a full toy, tender, and inflatable dock set up;
• the 116m expedition superyacht Ulysses, for which SYTT was able to quickly deliver an exceptional toy package to the owner, complete with J70 sailboats, wave runners and stands for motorcycles.

Identifying the most suitable tender

Superyacht tenders are often custom-made to suit the vessel’s garage, the requirements of the owner, and the preferences of both the captain and the crew. Superyacht Tender and Toys explained to us the process they follow to come up with the most suitable tender.

The first job is to gather the size and lifting parameters, before deciphering on the type of tender needed. Client preferences span a wide spectrum, ranging from classic-designed tenders to Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs), Limousine tenders, Open boats, and many other types of boats.

It’s also important for the yacht owner to connect directly with the captain and crew to discuss operational needs. This ensures that all essential requirements are met effectively.

SYTT is regularly involved also with new concept yachts, projects that are still in the early design phase for which the Tender specialist company assists in the design of a practical garage able to meet the future yacht owner’s requirement. Some of the key elements taken into consideration are the ease of operations, cleaning and maintenance.

Of course, one of the challenges is to propose the most suitable boats for purpose and garage dimensions play a pivotal role in this process.

When it comes to storing tenders with robust sea-keeping capabilities and deep V hulls, the garage’s height is an important data. If the selected tender is designed for fast and dry navigation, then the length of the garage becomes a crucial determinant. Last but certainly not least, the width of the garage significantly impacts the maximum beam of the tender, which subsequently influences the tender’s loading capacity for both equipment and guests.