Tender size is set by three numbers: how many divers you carry per run, what your davits or dock can handle, and how far you range from base. A 7 m tender suits homestays and small resorts, 8 m is the liveaboard workhorse, 10 m handles split groups and camera-heavy trips, and 12 m earns its keep as a dual-role tender and supply craft.
Which tender size fits your operation?
The table below gives indicative planning figures for the four most-requested sizes. Every real project shifts these numbers — material choice, engine selection and fit-out level all move weight and capacity — but they are honest starting points for matching a hull to an operation.
| LOA | Typical divers + crew | Typical engines | Indicative lightship weight | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 m | 6–8 + 2 | 1× 115–150 hp or 2× 60–70 hp | 1.2–1.8 t | Homestay & compact resort tender |
| 8 m | 8–10 + 2 | 2× 90–115 hp | 1.6–2.4 t | Liveaboard primary tender |
| 10 m | 12–14 + 3 | 2× 150–200 hp | 2.8–4.0 t | Split groups, camera operations |
| 12 m | 14–18 + 3 | 2× 200–300 hp | 4.5–7.0 t | Dual-role tender / supply craft |
7 m — compact resort and homestay tender
At 7 m you get a boat one experienced boatman can run alone, light enough to beach carefully, economical enough to fuel daily, and small enough for the shallow approaches that homestays and small eco-resorts in Raja Ampat actually work from. The trade-off is range and weather margin: a 7 m tender is a house-reef and near-sites boat, not a Dampier Strait crosser in a blow. Gear staging is tighter, so racks and benches must be planned precisely — there is no spare deck to waste.
8 m — the liveaboard workhorse
Eight metres is the sweet spot for most liveaboard operations: a full guest group with kit, honest performance from twin mid-range outboards, and a weight that mainstream davit systems can still lift. It is large enough for a proper ladder, full-length shade and a camera table, while remaining nimble enough for pick-ups in current. If we had to name one configuration that suits the widest slice of Raja Ampat operators, it is a well-sorted 8 m aluminium tender with twin outboards — the reasoning behind that material call is in our aluminium vs fiberglass comparison.
10 m — split-group and camera-heavy operations
At 10 m you can run two dive groups with separate guides from one hull, or one group with the deck space that serious photo and video operations demand — rinse tanks, camera tables, and room to move without knocking a dome port. Twin 150–200 hp engines give the reserve power to hold station in strong current with a full load. This size usually operates from a mooring or dock rather than davits, which frees the designer from lifting-weight limits and allows heavier, more comfortable construction.
12 m — dual-role tender and supply craft
Twelve metres is where a tender becomes infrastructure. A 12 m hull can run guests in the morning and freight in the afternoon: fuel drums, provisioning, building materials, staff rotations. For remote operations around Misool or the far north, that dual role often justifies the boat on logistics savings alone. Deck layout is designed for fast conversion — removable benches, tie-down points, and a cargo-rated sole. Our workboat page covers the heavier end of this spectrum.
Davit and crane limits: matching tender weight to the mothership
For liveaboard owners, the davit is the hardest constraint in the whole specification. Safe working load must cover the tender’s lightship weight plus engines, fuel, and water trapped in the bilge on recovery — a margin many published tender weights quietly ignore. We work from your davit or crane documentation at the start of design, not the end, and where documentation is missing we measure and calculate before committing to a hull. Stowed dimensions, lifting-point geometry and sling angles are all confirmed against the mothership, and test lifts are part of handover on liveaboard tender projects.
Specifying your size with us
Bring us your guest numbers, your davit rating if you have one, and your typical routes, and we will recommend a size honestly — including telling you when the smaller, lower-cost boat is genuinely the better choice. The commissioning path from brief to delivery in Raja Ampat is described in our process guide, and indicative USD budgets by size are in the cost guide. Message the desk on WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a sensible size for a primary dive tender for a 16-guest liveaboard in Raja Ampat?
A practical tender size depends on your dive scheduling (single vs split groups), but many operators favour a boat that comfortably handles 8–16 divers plus crew at once. We can model your dive routine, gear loads, and mother ship crane/davit limits, then recommend a length and beam range to brief the yard with.
Can you help coordinate a tender build that matches the davits on my expedition yacht?
Yes, matching weight, lifting points, and hull geometry to your yacht’s davits is a key part of the design brief. We gather your davit specs, liaise with designers and the yard to ensure structural reinforcement and correct lifting hardware, then oversee construction and test lifts before the tender is delivered for Papua operations.
How do I choose between twin outboards and a single larger engine for a Raja Ampat tender?
Twin outboards offer redundancy and potentially better manoeuvrability, while a single engine can be simpler and sometimes lower-cost to run. We help you evaluate safety preferences, typical loading, fuel costs, and mechanic skills available locally, then specify a propulsion setup that best suits your operations and risk tolerance.
How long does it take to build a custom dive tender in Indonesia for Raja Ampat?
Timelines vary with size, complexity, and yard workload, but a straightforward open dive tender might be in the range of several months from final design approval to delivery. We help you lock in a realistic schedule with the yard, monitor milestones, and plan for sea trials and logistics into Raja Ampat.
Raja Ampat Boat Builder Desk — a specialist maritime brand under Juara Holding Group. Construction contracts issued by PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara. WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 · sales@komodoluxury.com