Swedish J Craft’s New Torpedo Boat: M/Y Acheron

Each J Craft Torpedo heritage boat takes over 8000 hours to hand-build and now the latest design has been revealed as the elegant M/Y Acheron.

For over 20 years, Swedish-based J Craft has created some of the world’s most beautifully crafted classic wooden boats and have now revealed their latest hand-built Torpedo model, the 42′ M/Y Acheron.

Described as a “runabout fit for a king, with the style of Brigitte Bardot and the technological sophistication of James Bond,” J Craft’s latest Torpedo features a rich lacquered wood exterior with contrasting white leather upholstery. It is also the first Torpedo to boast the new generation twin Volvo Punta IPS 650 engines, marking the introduction of the first-ever Torpedo RS.

Built on Sweden’s island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, J Craft draws on the island’s strong seafaring heritage spanning over 1,000 years and leans on the presence of skilled artisans to construct robust, maneuverable boats like M/Y Acheron that can withstand the extreme elements of the far north.

A favorite amongst billionaires (they own 5 of the 26 J Craft’s built to date), the Torpedo’s are equipped with the most up-to-date technology, but design-wise harken back to the stylish wooden boats of the 50’s and 60’s, each built by hand and requiring over 8000 work hours each to complete over approximately one year.

With a range of 350 nautical miles (648 kilometers) and a top speed of 50 knots (90 km/h), the J Craft Torpedo is designed to handle the high-seas and rough conditions of Europe’s northernmost waters and is just as much at home bracing the Baltic seas during extensive sea-trials as it is on the lakes and inshore waters of the Hamptons or cruising the coastal waters of the Amalfi coast.

It is also said to be one of the most stable boats on the market, ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride for passengers. Much of this can be attributed to the Volvo IPS drives. Designed in conjunction with the Torpedo, the pod-mounted, forward-facing propellers can move through 360 degrees, making cornering easy, safe, and comfortable.

At low speed, when maneuvering in tighter spaces, the Torpedo is controlled by the IPS joystick, allowing the boat to move backwards, forwards, sideways, and even turn in its own length, all with delicate, finger-tip control.

In terms of entertaining, M/Y Acheron is well equipped with a fridge, ice-maker, sink, and induction hob while below deck, an internal lounge area, wet room, and sleeping quarters for four guests + the captain means guests can stay overnight in comfort.

As bespoke builds with no two J Craft’s the same, the options are almost limitless when it comes to designing a new boat, whether it be adding an extended Bimini over the aft for more shade over the sunpad, an additional sprayhood and full cabrio for bad weather or opting for the cutlery package designed by His Majesty Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte of Sweden himself.

For those looking to order their own J Craft Torpedo boat, prices start at €1.2 million (depending on customization requests), although J Craft have revealed their order book is already filled for 2021, so you might have to put your “la dolce vita” plans on hold for at least another year or so until you can call one your own.