T/T Marie interior woodwork hero image

T/T Marie

Herreshoff-inspired Yacht Tender (24 ft)

Desiged by Matthew Smith

A Herreshoff classic reborn in power: T/T MARIE fuses timeless styling with a planing hull and push-button systems, delivering 20 knots of vintage grace for a 1930s motoryacht.

Behind the Build

The Elegant Strength of Tradition Meets Performance

The owner of a 1930s steel motoryacht commissioned a tender that would both honor the aesthetic legacy of Herreshoff launches and perform at the level expected of a modern, functional yacht tender. T/T MARIE had to look as though she could have been built a century ago—low sheer, graceful overhangs, Herreshoff hardware style—yet function as a high-speed launch capable of planing performance. The owner requested 20+ knots under power to ensure swift transfer from mother ship to shore, even when anchoring offshore.

Making it Happen

Engineering, Harmony & Discretion

While the styling cues draw heavily on vintage Herreshoff launches, naval architect Matthew Smith was commissioned to reinterpret those lines for planing performance. He retained key elements—the bow profile, cockpit layout, twin-cockpit massing—but reimagined the underwater sections as a chine hull capable of lift at speed.

To deliver planing with modest power, weight distribution was critical. The 110 hp Yanmar diesel was located to optimize the center of gravity; structural support and sub-frames were reinforced accordingly. A tunnel drive was chosen—not for shallow draft, but to reduce draft and maintain a low deck profile, especially under the surrey top.

Specifications

LOA

~ 24 ft (nominal)

Power

110 hp Yanmar diesel

Top Speed

~ 20 knots over bottom

Construction

Wood core, carefully faired surfaces, epoxy treatments

Roof Mechanism

Linear actuators + computer synchronization

Hardware

Custom bronze fittings

Drive System

Tunnel drive arrangement

Features

Details that embody the intention and spirit of the designer

Planing Herreshoff-Styled Hull

Sculpted for speed yet faithful to vintage form—graceful sheer, classic overhangs, merged with a chine hull concept for lift.

Custom Bronze Traditional Hardware

All visible fittings—cleats, stanchions, handholds—are hand-finished bronze in the understated Herreshoff idiom.

Modern Systems, Hidden Elegance

Sound-insulated compartments, concealed USB ports, LED perimeter lighting, and a whisper-quiet engine compartment deliver function without visual intrusion.

Electronically Adjustable Surrey Top

A push-button roof: the surrey top rises and lowers in ~90 seconds via synchronized linear actuators discreetly integrated into stanchions.

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