Spot a megayacht anywhere in the world, and chances are you'll see a variety of toys stowed on deck or in the water around it. Whether the yacht in question is a 100–footer or 400–footer, most owners want to maximize their fun – and what better way than to have a handful (or, in some cases, a small armada) of tenders.

But it's not enough to "just" have toys onboard. Similar to the special design features they add to their yachts, owners these days crave something different when it comes to their launches, too. Some want to turn heads as the tender takes them to shore. Others simply want special accessories. Either way, boat builders are paying attention.

DIANE M. BYRNENovurania RIBs can tow a variety of toys and platforms, making them even more versatile as megayacht tenders.

There are literally dozens of launches to choose from in the high–end market, from wooden classics to thoroughly modern machines. At the Monaco Boat Show last month, an entire section was devoted to secondary craft. And while buyers and sellers refer to them as tenders, many boaters might stand agog at what the megayacht world calls "the small boat" – and the features and prices that come with it.

RIB WITH A TWIST

While most people think of RIBs as the bop–around–the–harbor toys tied to the transoms of 40– and 50–footers, they also hold great appeal for megayacht owners. Not only are RIBs easy to stow and tow, but also they're handy for shuttling guests around. In fact, they come in a variety of sizes that are capable of holding a small crowd, so they're ideal for many megayachts.

Megayachts are generally self–sufficient, so the best – or, in anchoring–out cases, the only – way to get guests back and forth from shore is via a tender. And in areas like the Bahamas, where the water is shallow, a RIB can take the owners and guests literally right up to the beach. Crewmembers also appreciate the space RIBs provide when they need to take groceries back to the boat.

CHRIS–CRAFTThe Heritage Edition package on the Chris-Craft Sun Tender includes the teak trim seen here.

But just because RIBs are a traditional choice doesn't mean owners have to settle for the same inflatable as everyone else in the marina. Novurania, for example, showcased several models, including the EQ 540 LP, at the Monaco show. Fitted with a swim platform and retractable swim ladder, the EQ 540 LP measures just shy of 18 feet and can handily hold 10 people.

The extra room is due to the RIB's D–shaped collar, which differs from the traditional full–circle collar. Hank Brady, a sales representative for Novurania, says the different shape raises freeboard and allows for more space. It also permits different types of seating, he adds, such as models with bolster backs instead of simple bench seats. Twin Volvo Penta D series stern–drive diesels make megayacht crews happy, because they can fuel the boat from the bigger yacht.

While the standard under–seat storage is ideal for crew to transport provisions or even dock lines, Brady says there are a few options that owners tend to request frequently. These include teak decking, which can run along the swim platform and even underfoot within the RIB; hull and trim colors; and embroidery on the sunpads, to replicate the yacht's name or logo.

There's also tow package with port and starboard tow eyes, bridle and 150 feet of line – so the RIB itself can tow things. Talk with any owner or captain, and he'll likely tell you how guests like to waterski or be pulled on inflatable tubes and banana boats. While manufacturers other than Novurania make the skis and other towable accessories, the company likes to extend the RIB's use.

CHRIS–CRAFTThe Chris–Craft Catalina 29 Sun Tender is ideal for megayacht owners who like classic-style runabouts.

Pricing for the EQ 540 LP was $77,000 with 160–horsepower Volvo Pentas and $80,000 for 190–horsepower engines.

THE CLASSIC CRUISER

When it comes to classic runabouts, most people agree that there's something undeniably romantic about them. The mahogany beauties put out by builders decades ago certainly fall into this category. But all of that wood can be a chore to maintain, so builders wanting to capitalize on the desire for wooden launches have embraced modern materials.

Chris–Craft is among them, and its cruisers are used as tenders aboard several megayachts worldwide. The Catalina 29 Sun Tender, introduced this past July, features throwback styling sure to tug at heartstrings. The Sun Tender uses the same hull as Chris–Craft's Catalina 29, a boat that has been well received for more than a year, according to Meghan Stout, a marketing representative for the company. The Sun Tender was created with two purposes in mind: to be a European–inspired sun boat, or a yacht tender. Because at least 15 have been sold as megayacht tenders in recent years, Stout says, Chris–Craft is confident the Sun Tender will follow suit. "It has a more sophisticated design and can easily be matched to the yachts they're based on," she adds.

XSMG MARINEThe XSR48 appeals to megayacht owners with a need for speed. The boat can travel 70 knots.

Owners can also customize the standard Sun Tender, with two option packages. The Heritage Edition, pictured here, adds teak decking and trim to the boat. The Luxury Edition color–matches the deck (normally white) to the hull color for boats offered in steel blue, Riviera red, or willow green. Base price for the standard Sun Tender is $170,000; the Heritage Edition adds another $5,000, and the Luxury Edition adds $8,000 to the price.

THE SLICK SPEEDSTER

Partner a U.K.–based racing team boasting 12 world records and five championships with a New Zealand company skilled in composite technology and structural engineering. Then throw in a renowned Italian hull designer and a British exterior and interior design firm known for styling some of the world's most famous megayachts. The result is the XSR48, claimed to be the world's fastest diesel production boat – "combining the DNA and performance of a supercar with superyacht detailing," its builder likes to say.

XSMG Marine, based in England and whose founders have a strong racing heritage, has built two of these 48–footers so far, and four more are under construction. It tapped Fabio Buzzi to design the hull and the company High Modulus for technical assistance in building and engineering the boat. If you're not familiar with Buzzi, consider this: His designs have won 42 world offshore championships and set 56 world speed records, among other things. As for High Modulus, the New Zealand firm has been involved in the America's Cup Class since the 1980s and collaborated on the creation of the 247–foot Mirabella V, the world's largest sloop. And because XSMG Marine wanted the interior to be as high quality as that of a megayacht, it approached the designers at Redman Whiteley Dixon. Their handiwork has garnered them half a dozen awards from the International Superyacht Society.

XSMG MARINEThe XSR48 is as sleek inside as it is outside.

Even though it's marketed as a primary boat, the XSR48 is also promoted to superyacht owners who want something sleek and speedy. In fact, its low profile is particularly well suited to yachts being commissioned from Italian shipyards like Benetti, Codecasa, Baglietto, and others. Thanks to Kevlar and carbon fiber, the boat is lightweight. That, in combination with 1,600–horsepower Isotta Fraschini engines, permits a reported top end of 70 knots.

Inside, owners and their guests can enjoy what XSMG Marine says is 40 percent more room than similar–sized boats, due to the XSR48's "monocoque" construction. Sometimes called unibody construction, this means the skin supports some of the structure's weight, eliminating the need for traditional stringers, which in turn occupy space. Light tones and materials combine with glass overhead panels for an airy feel.

Of course, all of this comes at a price: about $2.3 million. But then again, where superyacht owners are concerned, what's another two million or so?