Swedish boat builders J Craft celebrate 25th anniversary 

2024 saw Swedish boat builder J Craft pass two notable milestones – the 25th anniversary of the company’s inception and the 15th anniversary of its much-celebrated Torpedo model. Founded in 1999 by Björn Janson, J Craft aimed to blend classic wooden motorboat glamour with modern materials and traditional Swedish boat-building craftsmanship. 

Following the success of the company’s first vessel, the luxurious Cabrio Cruiser, the J Craft Torpedo debuted in 2009. Each craft is entirely handbuilt and couples elegant design and style with exceptional manoeuvrability, stability and performance.  

J Craft Torpedo in shed

The J Craft Torpedo boasts a 300-nautical-mile range and can reach speeds exceeding 50 mph (47 knots). Its convertible open cockpit features two sundecks and can accommodate up to 12 adults for day cruises. The spacious forward cabin sleeps up to 4 guests in luxurious style.

The Torpedo was designed to enhance its predecessor’s performance and design under the expert guidance of Johan Hallén, who has worked on every J Craft vessel the company has produced. The Torpedo combines fully recyclable materials in the GRP hull and deck with refined mahogany and teak, custom-built steel finishings, and high-end interiors.

J Craft Torpedo interior

J Craft has a strategic growth plan for the future but intends to retain its hallmark exclusivity. Torpedo production will remain limited to just two or three vessels per year. A new lifestyle range is planned, extending the brand through luxury home and lifestyle items inspired by the Torpedo’s design. 

Each Torpedo, created using a blend of ancient shipbuilding techniques, cutting-edge technology and modern materials, is meticulously crafted by skilled craftspeople over 8,000 to 10,000 hours. With the small number of vessels crafted each year, each is guaranteed to be rare and unique, featuring bespoke elements reflecting the owner’s exact specifications. 

The latest European-spec Torpedo, “BaBeBi,” features the range’s first fully “marinized” silver metallic hull, developed in collaboration with a top automotive brand. BaBeBi cockpit showcases a unique set of colours, explicitly developed for BaBeBi, blending diamond-stitched upholstery with a mahogany cockpit interior and teak wood floors. Inside the forward cabin, the colour set continues with high-gloss mahogany, fully outfitted with luxurious Hermes fabrics and custom-designed Rosenthal porcelain, Iittala glassware, and silverware crafted by Prince Carl-Philip Bernadotte of Sweden, son of J Craft’s first client, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

This latest iteration of Torpedo, which continues the legacy of opulence and luxury, features a hand-built mahogany and teak staircase which gives additional access to the cockpit, as well as doubling as a hatch which provides access to the fully air-conditioned mid-ship cabin and the all-important technical compartment, which houses the Torpedo’s electronics, Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilization system, and a set of extended-duration lithium-ion batteries, allowing a full day on the water without needing a generator. 

For practicality and versatility, the Torpedo includes additional fridges and freezers, a galley, and a large swim platform with an extra-wide telescopic ladder for easy access to the water. After a dip in the cool salty waters, the Torpedo has an outdoor shower facility with a modular stand-up shower, or for a more private rinse, there is a luxurious indoor shower in the forward cabin.

Sam Huff
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