6 luxury speedboats with retro flair

By Frances and Michael Howorth, SuperYachtWorld STORY HIGHLIGHTSThese speedboats have a retro look but don't skimp when it comes to high-tech featuresArt of Kinetik Mazokist boat design harks back to the 1920s, but has a 21st-century twistThough Hacker-Craft is a century old, its vessels exploit ultra-modern technologyPrices start at €120,000, or around $170,000RELATED TOPICSSailingTechnologyDesign (SuperYachtWorld) -- As some speedboat builders race to push the bounds of modern style, others are looking to the past for inspiration.

These six powerboats combine nostalgia with a distinctly modern technological twist.

Art of Kinetik Mazokist

Genetically modify a 1920s gentleman's launch, cross it with an early Riva runabout and give the designer a brief to fertilize it with some 21st-century shapes, and you have the 9.75-meter Mazokist, built in African mahogany and capable of 40 knots. Builder Art of Kinetik specializes in bespoke wooden yachts and promises no-compromise customization. The owner has a choice of different cockpit layouts, finishing materials and engine options -- even the bespoke steering wheel will be hand-finished. Each boat takes between six and 10 months to create.

Riva by Marc Newson

Successful industrial product designer Marc Newson has teamed up with Riva and its designers, Officina Italiana Design, to reinterpret the classic Aquariva speedboat. A limited edition of 22 was launched in September last year, available through that most unlikely of yacht suppliers, the Gagosian Gallery. New features include a redesigned transom, a wraparound laminated glass windscreen, split cabin door entry and separate driver's and passenger seats.

Yachtwerft Meyer 7.6 Meter

This 7.6-meter custom design open tender was built for the 60-meter Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R) Elandess, while the standard 10-meter version has been used as the tender for Aviva -- A&R's 69-meter, lauched in 2007. It is a beautiful example of the company's work, though it is not the solid wood that it appears to be: it is built using a lightweight fiberglass sandwich finished with a layer of varnished mahogany veneer. The sterndriven tender can reach a top speed of 34 knots.

Hacker-Craft Sport

For over 100 years, Hacker-Craft boats have been hand-built by craftsmen in America. Contemporary 21st-century versions have all that heritage above water but underneath, are utterly modern in design and materials. The 7.6-meter Sport is built with a cold-molded composite hull and finished with mahogany decks and trim. Every hull comes with a 10-year warranty. Propulsion can be petrol, diesel, hybrid or jet-drive, with many options available.

Scalar-Speedster

The Scalar-Speedster is a classic motor boat in varnished mahogany and teak, hand-built to order by expert craftsmen, with fittings and equipment customized to each owner's specifications. The Henningsen & Steckmest yard has been building boats for over 50 years. In 1973, yard owner Rolf Steckmest established Scalar Yachts as a separate brand and recently designed the Scalar-Speedster.

J-Craft Torpedo

The J-Craft Torpedo is a blend of classic style with modern technology from a yard that boasts a long heritage in building robust boats that suit the rugged and beautiful Swedish coastline. For the hand-built 12.6-meter Torpedo, J-Craft has taken its inspiration from the Riviera of the 1950s: it's relaxed, cool and confident. IPS power delivers over 40 knots.

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