The Swedish shipyard creates pleasure boats to superyacht standards, entirely by hand, offering an alternative to traditional runabouts, with a fleet of highly bespoke, in each case custom built, unique motorboats, synonymous with quality, elegance and performance

Aficionados of boat shows will definitely have heard of J Craft and the Torpedo, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The brand’s Torpedo model, which is hand built to the highest specifications, only ever built to order, highly limited in production, boasts soft and elegant lines with a retro touch that evoke the good times of the Dolce Vita of the 50s and 60s.

But few perhaps know that the shipyard was founded on the Swedish island of Gotland, where for centuries local craftworkers have been building sturdy, easy-to-handle watercraft in keeping with the ancient Viking and later Hanseatic, then Swedish sea-faring traditions: experts in building sturdy boats capable of brilliantly withstanding the often capricious seas of the far north.

Here, in 1999, the entrepreneur Björn Jansson had the idea of building the boat of his dreams, with a fiberglass hull and mahogany veneer inspired by the lines and style of the wooden sports boats of the 50s and 60s.

The first boat was intended for the Swedish royal family. After a year of careful work, in the summer of 2000, the 11.6-metre (38-foot) Cabrio Cruiser Polaris was delivered to His Majesty Carl Gustav XVl, King of Sweden.

Another 6 followed, after which the original hull design was revised to create a new line, the Torpedo, incorporating a series of new technological features in the skillful design, such as the Volvo IPS propulsion and Garmin navigation systems, matched with slightly larger dimensions, from 38 to 42 feet.

The beautiful original classic lines remain and, if anything, has been amplified into the beautiful hourglass shape, featuring a very pronounced tumblehome. In 2008, the company’s ownership changed, but not the dedication and care lavished on the construction of these hulls set by the founder. The J Crafts became increasingly exclusive and coveted boats, a perfect combination of mastery, power and performance.

Today, 29 J Craft vessels make up the J Craft sailing fleet with AQUILA III, delivered to its owner in Florida on the occasion of the Palm Beach International Boat Show in March 2024. AQUILA III is the first Torpedo built to US specifications. 2023 was a year of growth and records for J Craft. Three Torpedos were delivered, and the firm announced its commitment to sustainable production.

In the wake of 2023, 2024 promises to be just as positive and full of new projects, with order books full for both 2024 and 2025, and the next delivery slot available for the summer of 2026.

This is due to the decision to offer an exclusive product, right down to the equipment: the “Nardisteering wheel, in hand-carved wood, the same used in the 1960’s Ferrari 250 GTO. The interior and outdoor spaces are furnished with Loro Piana fabrics.

Then there is an exclusive picnic set, a fine collection of silver cutlery designed by Prince Carl Phillip of Sweden, and Rosenthal porcelain, as well as a Global knife set.
Boat lovers can admire the beautiful lines of the J Craft runabouts at the Monaco Yacht Show from 25 to 28 September.