BOUTIQUE SWEDISH BOAT BUILDER J CRAFT CELEBRATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY
J Craft Boats AB, Europe’s premier luxury yacht builder, proudly announces its 25th anniversary celebrations. With a thriving business in the USA and an order book full until 2026, J Craft is having a busy year. Highlights include participation in the Via Arno Salon at the prestigious Homo Faber exhibition and the Venice Film Festival in September, culminating with the Monaco Yacht Show in late September.
In partnership with Via Arno, J Craft will be the sole boat builder featured at the debut Via Arno Salon at Homo Faber 2024 on San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice. Via Arno is the new company that connects independent artisans with people who want access to the best craftsmanship from around the world.
Entirely built by hand, the J Craft Torpedo offers exquisite design and style, exceptional maneuverability, stability, and performance in any sea state. It boasts an impressive 300-nautical mile range and can reach speeds exceeding 50 mph (47 knots). The convertible open cockpit features two sundecks, accommodating up to 12 adults for day cruises, and a spacious forward cabin that sleeps up to 4 guests in luxurious style.
J Craft’s 25th Anniversary: Celebrating a Legacy and Looking Forward
In 2024, J Craft marks its 25th anniversary, coinciding with 15 years of its celebrated Torpedo model, introduced in 2009. Founded in 1999 by renowned Swedish restaurateur and hospitality entrepreneur Björn Janson, J Craft aimed to blend classic wooden motorboat glamour with modern materials and traditional Gotland craftsmanship. The company’s first chapter featured the Cabrio Cruiser, a luxury vessel known for its elegance, power, and exclusivity.
The second chapter began in 2009 with the debut of the Torpedo, designed to enhance its predecessor’s performance and design. Under the guidance of Johan Hallén, who has built every J Craft since inception, the Torpedo evolved combining modern technology in the form of fully recyclable materials in the GRP hull and deck with refined mahogany, sumptuous teak, custom-built steel finishings, and high-end interiors.
Looking ahead, J Craft plans strategic growth while maintaining its hallmark exclusivity. Production of the Torpedo will increase marginally to 2-3 vessels per year through enhanced efficiency rather than expansion. Additionally, J Craft will introduce a new “lifestyle” range inspired by the Torpedo’s design, featuring luxury home and lifestyle items.
Craftsmanship and Innovation
J Craft handcrafts each Torpedo by blending ancient shipbuilding techniques with cutting-edge technology and modern materials. This meticulous process is carried out by skilled craftsmen and women who have honed their expertise over generations. Each Torpedo requires 8,000 to 10,000 man-hours, making it a unique representation of each owner’s vision and personal requirements. With only a small handful of Torpedoes built each year, each vessel is guaranteed to be rare and unique, featuring bespoke elements reflecting the owner’s exact specifications. As a result, each Torpedo becomes a refined, rare, and multigenerational treasure.
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, J Craft is honored to be recognized for its exceptional craftsmanship and unique approach to boat building. The company is proud to be invited to the Via Arno Salon as part of this year’s Homo Faber exhibition in Venice, Italy. This event will highlight J Craft’s unique position in the world of boat building and celebrate its journey of vision, evolution, dedication, and enduring excellence. Following Venice, the celebrations will continue at the Monaco Yacht Show in late September, where J Craft will further showcase its legacy of excellence.
Johan Hallén and his expert team of craftsmen and women, having mastered the art of building J Craft vessels over the past 25 years, will continue to lead the company into its third decade and beyond, ensuring J Craft’s legacy of exceptional craftsmanship and innovation endures.
Showcasing the Torpedo BaBeBi
Torpedo BaBeBi will be showcased in Venice from August 28 to September 8, 2024, and later at the Monaco Yacht Show from September 25 to 28, 2024, where J Craft will have a dedicated space in the lounge of long-standing partner IYC, presenting Torpedo Amarcor alongside BaBeBi.
Fifteen years after the debut of J Craft’s first Torpedo model, the latest European- spec Torpedo, “BaBeBi,” introduces several exciting innovations. It features the range’s first fully “marinized” silver metallic hull, developed in collaboration with a top automotive brand. BaBeBi’s cockpit showcases a unique set of colors, developed specifically for BaBeBi, blending diamond-stitched upholstery with mahogany cockpit interior and teak wood floors. The rich color set continues inside the high-gloss, mahogany-clad forward cabin, fully outfitted with luxurious Hermes fabrics and custom-designed Rosenthal porcelain, Iittala glassware, and silverware crafted by Prince Carl-Philip Bernadotte of Sweden, son of J Craft’s first client, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
The Torpedo includes a newly designed, hand-built mahogany and teak staircase on the port side, offering an additional access point to the cockpit. This complements the extended gangway hidden in the signature transom, showcasing the blend of artistry and functionality in these custom-built yachts.
The staircase doubles as a hatch, providing access to the fully air-conditioned mid- ship cabin and technical compartment. This space houses the Torpedo’s electronics, Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilization system, and a set of extended-duration lithium- ion batteries, allowing a full day on the water with music, charging, fridges, air conditioning, and Seakeeper operational, all without requiring the use of a generator.
For practicality and versatility, the Torpedo includes additional fridge/freezers, a galley, and a large swim platform with an extra-wide telescopic ladder for easy water access. It also offers an outdoor shower facility with a modular stand-up shower, complementing the indoor shower in the forward cabin.
