Espen Øino is behind some of the best and biggest superyachts on the water—like Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s 414-foot Octopus and Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan’s 312-foot Kismet, for example—but he has now set his sights on something smaller. The renowned Norwegian designer and his eponymous studio have joined forces with Hodgdon to create two new limousine tenders.
Founded in Boothbay, Maine in 1816, Hodgdon has delivered more than 440 vessels over the past two centuries. The family owned outfit, which has become a leader in high-quality, advanced composite construction, offers a range of limousine, beachlander, and open style boats for darting around the seas. It also builds fully custom runabouts that cater to owners’ specific wants and needs.
As for the latest limousines, the two models measure from 29.5 to 36 feet and showcase sleek, contemporary silhouettes. Both feature the same streamlined hull design and can be fitted with either a forward or aft helm. The positioning of the helm obviously comes down to personal preference but does impact the overall layout. The forward helm allows for a spacious aft deck, while the aft helm frees up space in the bow for a plush lounge and a ramp for beach access and boarding.
The cabin is topped with a retracting glass roof and fitted with giant integrated windows, ensuring plenty of natural light and 360-degree views. The luxurious interior features elegant, upholstered seating for four up to seafarers, with another four seats in the bow lounge on one model and two captain’s chairs at the helm on both.
In terms of propulsion, the limos can be equipped with either single or twin engines. Hodgdon didn’t share any further details regarding propulsion options, speed, or range, but the yard’s lineup suggests the two newcomers will offer a decent amount of grunt. To give you an idea, Hodgdon’s Mini Venetian Limousine sports a Volvo D3-220 diesel engine that allows the 21-footer to cruise for 135 nautical miles at 32.5 knots or hit 35 knots at full tilt.
“We are excited to have developed a tender with modern styling to go alongside our time-tested classic Venetian line,” Audrey Hodgdon, managing director of Hodgdon Tenders, said in a statement. “In addition to designing a beautiful boat, Espen and his team understand how the tender gets used by owners, guests, and crew and a lot of thought went into functionality and practicality.”
Sometimes it pays to collaborate with the best in the biz.
Click here to see all the photos of the Hodgdon x Espen Øino tenders.