J Craft carries these fine traditions into the 21st century.
Located in the heart of Viking country on the Swedish island of Gotland, the Swedish boatbuilder J Craft andits master craftsmen and women are the cradles of knowledge of ancient local traditions that have defined the region's shipbuilding history. J Craft is rooted in Sweden's rich seafaring heritage, and its people are descendants of the Vikings who settled in Gotland from the 12th century.
The history of J Craft is a long and winding one. It has been driven by a shared passion for creating one of the most exceptional, beautiful, and high-performance boats on the water for more than two decades. J Craftwas bornin 1999 with the first38-foot CabrioCruiser. Ittook awhole year of work, butHull #1, Polaris, was delivered to her new owner, His Majesty Carl XVl Gustaf, King of Sweden, in August of that same year. A striking 1950s and '60s retro vintage-style boat, the Cabrio Cruiser was distinguished by classic design, beautiful materials, exquisite engineering, and state-of-the-art, thoroughly modern technology. Polaris was built around a modern fiberglass hull with mahogany veneer powered by Yanmar engines with straight shaftpropulsion. Based near St. Tropez, Polaris is still being used 20-plus years later and remains the King's favorite boat for Mediterranean cruises. In 2009, J Craft introduced the 42-foot Torpedo. Although retaining the Cabrio Cruiser's elegant and timeless design features, she was a brand new and upgraded interpretation of her older sister's vintage style. Since its introduction, J Craft has built 20 Torpedos, all handcrafted by local craftsmen, each requiring more than 8,000 person-hours (or almost one year) to produce.
The 42-foot Torpedo series is the J Craft’s signature model.
J Craft designed the Torpedo's hull in direct cooperation with Volvo Penta to accommodate the rudderless IPS system that offers effortlessly intuitive and precise handling. The entire construction process is unhurried and characterized by exacting craftsmanship, a key aspect that everyone in the yard takes great pride in maintaining. In its most traditional form, quality takes time, and it is not surprising there is a lengthy waitinglist.
J Craft combines the excellence of classic style with contemporary power and practicality, a finely balanced blend of old and new, where form and function are equally important. All the completed boats are tested in the fierce Nordic waters surrounding Gotland to ensure maximum capability, performance, and safety for owners around the world. The J Craft brand is an experience in Heritage, Craftsmanship, Design, and Luxury. J Craft mixes unique values in a product of unparalleled quality, beauty, strength, and durability. For example, the Torpedo's mahogany decking, which is lacquered and varnished 18 times, the leather trim,and stainless-steel finishes are all built to last thanks to ancient traditions and carefully selected manufacturing processes.
J Craft's stands for great woodworking skills.
The Torpedo's polished woodwork is made from sustainably sourced, rainforest-free West African mahogany. The graceful, curved lines are made of solid wood by usinga steam-bending technique that has not changed since the Vikings built their original longships. The Torpedo is a jewel of the sea, built around spaces designed down to the smallest detail to facilitate a deep connection between the owner and the water. It is a boat with a unique and elegant style, the perfect embodiment of "la dolce vita," which draws on the highest quality wood, fine Italian leathers, and luxury fabrics from top designer brands. The result is a glamorous accessory for a new-life perspective on the water where excellence and innovationare perfectly balanced.
J Craft Torpedos are equipped with the latest generation Volvo Penta IPS engines (Volvo Penta IPS 500, 600-R, or 650-RS) for speeds of close to 50 knots and exceptional maneuverability. They have regularly undertaken long trips, in the South China Sea from Hong Kong to Hainan, in the Baltic Sea between Gotland and Stockholm, and in the Med where they frequently cruise from St. Tropez to Ibiza or Sardinia and back. The open cockpit with two sundecks is designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 adults and a captainfor day cruises. The spacious cabin, when needed, sleeps up to 4 guests in comfort. The Torpedo is much more than a clever collection of lines and curves with her classic, figure-of-eightshape. The unique design results from a long heritage of knowledge of the sea and the most contemporary joie devivre. The J Craft Torpedo is synonymous with good vibes and fun in the most glamorous places worldwide. Its singular style charts its course, attracting admiring glances along the way.