Definition
A chase boat is a separately registered, independently capable vessel that travels alongside a superyacht to extend its operational envelope. Where a tender lives in the garage and ferries guests, a chase boat operates at speed over distance, carrying water toys, support crew, dive kit, sport-fishing rigs, or simply the overflow that the mothership cannot stow.
Background and use
The chase-boat concept exists because superyacht garages are finite. A 60m motoryacht can carry one or two tenders, perhaps a few jet skis, and limited dive or fishing equipment. The owner who wants serious sport-fishing tackle, a Seabob fleet, paddleboards for ten guests, a foiling dinghy, and a film-quality camera rig cannot fit it. A chase boat absorbs that overflow, often with its own crew and frequently its own captain.
Sizes range from 9-12m centre-console fishing platforms (Valhalla, Scout, HCB, Yellowfin) up to 25-30m support yachts that read as small motoryachts in their own right. The middle ground, 15-20m, is where the market is most active: boats from yards such as Wajer, Pascoe, Vanquish, Princess, and Sunseeker built or specified for chase duty, with reinforced lifting points, additional fuel capacity, and crew accommodation. Range is the headline spec; a serious chase boat carries 1500-3000 litres of fuel and runs 30-35 knots all day.
The boat is registered separately from the mothership, often under a different flag and with its own classification scope. It clears customs on its own, can charter independently, and is increasingly purchased by owners who want a fast day boat at home as well as a chase function during the cruising season.
Related considerations
- Chase boats are not tenders; they need their own berth, crew, and operational plan.
- Range, fuel capacity, and bunk arrangement matter more than top speed for true chase duty.
- Towing the chase boat at displacement speeds is technically possible but rarely practical; most run alongside under their own power.
- Classification scope often differs from the mothership; check certification when crossing jurisdictions.
- Resale demand for purpose-built chase boats has grown sharply since 2020; specifying for charter compatibility protects values.