J Craft: How handmade runabouts from Gotland are conquering the luxury boating scene
Today is one of those windy days on the Côte d'Azur. Since the early hours of the morning, it has been blowing from the south-west at up to 25 knots, the sun is shining from the sky and a considerable wind swell has built up. Steep waves up to one metre high are rolling across the Golfe de la Napoule, whipping up spray and driving away most of the large yacht fleet anchored off the Croisette. However, Radenko Milakovic, owner of the Swedish J-Craft shipyard, is delighted with the weather and literally urges us to take his 12.80 metre J Craft Torpedo R out for a sail.
As soon as you leave the wind cover of the harbour wall of the Vieux Port in Cannes, it's clear: it's rough! But J-Craft captain and connoisseur Tibor Krocker remains relaxed and pushes the commanding officers forwards.
Rarely has a boat impressed me faster. At speeds of up to 42 knots, we speed across the large bay off Cannes in the direction of Théoule-sur-Mer, going right into the wind. That adds up to over 60 knots of wind - i.e. wind force ten - from the front, and we're flying over the waves! Much to my surprise, we can still talk comfortably and at a normal volume in the guest cockpit behind the windscreen. Boat design at its best. What's more, the eleven-year-old GRP hull of our test boat "Natalia" is impressively robust. My reaction is one of shock and awe when Tibor - kindly with advance notice - turns the delicate-looking Nardi steering wheel all the way in and we turn into the bend with what feels like a 20-degree heel, as if on rails. We are at such an angle that the guests sitting below can put their hands in the water - like a surfer in a tube. I realise the fascination of these boats, which are built in Sweden for a starting price of 1.3 million euros and take 8,000 hours of manual work exactly according to the customer's wishes. Back in Cannes harbour, Radenko Milakovic tells us the story of the shipyard and how he discovered J Craft.
J Craft realised a robust Nordic version of the Riva runabouts
"My mother was a cleaner and my father a carpenter," says the likeable Swabian as we sit in the cosy guest cockpit. "Our family emigrated from the former Yugoslavia to Germany when I was still a little boy, but my father didn't encourage me to follow in his footsteps. He even said I had two left hands when it came to carpentry."
Following his father's advice, Milakovic used his left brain instead of his two left hands and made a successful career in finance. And although numbers seem to be his vocation, he still appreciates a beautiful piece of woodwork and craftsmanship, like the mahogany piece of jewellery we are chatting on. J Craft was founded in 1999 on the Swedish island of Gotland by Björn Jansson, who wanted to build a robust Nordic version of the Riva runabouts. His 11.60 metre long retro-style convertible cruiser was made from GRP and mahogany wood. King Carl Gustaf of Sweden took delivery of the first hull and the shipyard went into full production mode - one carefully built boat per year.
"My approach to J Craft was typical, as for so many other owners: I saw this beautiful boat and started talking to the man who drove it," recalls Radenko. His enthusiasm for the brand was aroused and, together with his American wife, he decided to charter a convertible cruiser for a summer in the Mediterranean. However, although the couple loved the retro look, they soon realised that the small size of the Weekender was a limitation. In addition, the driving behaviour did not meet Radenko's expectations. "I had the feeling that I needed a bit more boat and the rudders were too small," he explains. "The convertible cruiser first has to move before it responds well to steering commands - that wasn't a pleasant feeling for me as a boat layman."
From the development of the hull to the acquisition of the shipyard
After hearing about Volvo Penta's IPS system, which can be controlled intuitively using a joystick and promises top performance, Milakovic approached the Swedes to discuss a boat of his own. He met with Johan Hallén, J Craft's master boat builder, and discussed the installation of an IPS system in a convertible cruiser. Hallén was convinced that the best results could be achieved with a specially developed hull. Radenko Milakovic was soon in talks with Jansson not only about a new hull, but also about acquiring the shipyard and the J Craft brand. After Björn Jansson passed away in 2007, Milakovic honoured his promise to buy J Craft. Two years later, the first unit of the 12.80 metre J Craft model Torpedo with IPS propulsion was launched.
While the convertible cruiser is stylish, sexy and striking, the Torpedo is feminine through and through, with a strongly curved deep-V hull including a beautifully shaped tumblehome that ends narrowly at the stern with side fins and a bathing platform. The shape of the windscreen, the highly polished mahogany and the sparkling chrome details evoke images of the Dolce Vita at its most glamorous, yet thanks to its Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system, the Torpedo can accelerate efficiently to over 40 knots with gently gurgling engines, while also being intuitive to manoeuvre.
Take the helm of the J Craft Torpedo R yourself
While several Torpedos have been sold as tenders or chase boats for superyachts, many owners prefer to take the Nardi helm themselves, just as they do when driving their classic cars. In fact, it is the thrill of steering such a beauty and the easy and responsive handling that makes runabouts such a favourite with owners. "The Torpedo R 'Natalia', which we are currently using as a demonstration boat, was a tender for an 87-metre Lürssen," says Radenko, lifting a cockpit cushion to reveal the cargo hook hidden underneath. "It was probably more of a toy for short coffee trips and guest transfers, but it can easily sail from the south of France to Sardinia in an afternoon." There is a slip cabin under the cockpit for weekend trips, and the space below deck can be converted into another cabin with a double bed by hydraulically lowering the table. A compact bathroom completes the interior.
Although the model is predefined, there are variations that go beyond the surface aspects: For example, the shipyard has recently started offering the installation of a Seakeeper gyro stabiliser, making the tender easier to board from the mother ship. Owners also have a choice of engines: the Torpedo RS is powered by the new Volvo Penta IPS 650 propulsion system, which offers 30 kilowatts more power and lower fuel consumption than the previously installed IPS 600 package. There are currently only 28 boats from J-Craft halls, and the fleet is only growing slowly. The small shipyard team led by master boatbuilder Johan Hallén cannot - and does not want to - build more than two to three boats per year.
Outstanding resale values
Together with the beauty of the torpedoes, this type of scarcity ensures excellent resale values - a fact that makes shipyard owner Radenko Milakovic proud. The former investment banker's passion for his shipyard is clear to see; he knows the strengths of the brand, which is hardly ever present at boat shows.
Most of our customers come to us by word of mouth, or they see a torpedo in the harbour, are enthusiastic and keep asking around until they finally end up with us."
J Craft relies on innovative technology and dresses it in an analogue guise, as a glance at the dashboard confirms. The Swedish boat builders are also an outlier in today's world in this respect. The vintage look of the Torpedo will never bore, and with 8000 hours of manual labour going into every aspect of the build, the shipyard will never sell large numbers. Nor does it want to.
The Gotlanders eschew globalisation and instead rely on a local concept that extends from the employees to the Volvo Penta drive and the Zipwake trim systems. Above all, however, J Craft ignores modern demands for diversification and produces just one model: the Torpedo.
"We don't want to be everything to everyone," says shipyard owner Radenko Milakovic. He does this with the charisma of a man who has found the love of his life and is not looking for more.
