MasterCraft has launched a dedicated yacht-tender offering built around its existing towboat platforms and customised for use aboard larger yachts. The programme includes factory-installed lifting points, vessel-specific project support and personalised finishes intended to simplify storage, launch and retrieval.
The company is presenting the tender concept at Monaco Yacht Show 2026, while its dedicated product material highlights the 23-foot X23 among the boats suited to this role. Rather than introducing an entirely separate tender hull, MasterCraft is adapting established recreational boats for yacht operations.
Factory lifting points are the key change
The new option is designed around planned lifting geometry rather than relying on aftermarket modifications after delivery. MasterCraft says its team can work with owners, captains, yacht managers and shipyards to account for storage position, crane operation, deployment and guest use.
That integration matters because a tender’s lifting arrangement must match the actual mother yacht, crane and stowage system. Owners still need an approved lifting plan and to follow the yacht builder’s and equipment manufacturer’s operating limits rather than assuming any lifting point is universally compatible.
The X23 provides a 23-foot platform
MasterCraft reintroduced the redesigned X23 earlier in 2026 as a 23-foot watersports boat combining surf capability, passenger space and modern helm technology. Its compact dimensions place it comfortably within Leisure Boat Guide’s under-12m remit while also making it practical for larger yacht garages and deck storage.
The tender programme broadens the X23’s role from stand-alone recreational boat to support craft. Buyers considering this use should compare total weight, beam, lifting geometry and fuel load against the yacht’s handling equipment before choosing a specification.
Customisation extends beyond lifting hardware
MasterCraft says colours, materials, graphics and functional details can be tailored to complement the parent yacht. The company is also offering personalised delivery and crew training, which addresses the operational side of integrating a tender into a professional yacht programme.
For Leisure Boat Guide, the development is notable because it brings a mainstream premium towboat builder into a specialist tender market. The practical success of the programme will depend on how well individual projects are engineered around real yacht constraints rather than simply applying cosmetic customisation.