Kiwi boaties will already be familiar with AST and its lightweight carbon tenders, with the brand represented in New Zealand by Lowe Yachts, acting on behalf of Carbon Yachts, the formal local representative. Based on Auckland’s North Shore, the team supports superyacht owners and crews operating in New Zealand and the wider Pacific.
AST has now added a new 3.1-metre model to its ASTender range and introduced a folding transom option designed to address one of the most common constraints onboard larger yachts: limited tender garage space.
A new size aimed at real-world use
The ASTender 310 sits between the existing 280 and 340 models and is intended to suit yachts that need a compact, lightweight tender without giving up performance or seating flexibility.
Buyers can choose between tiller steering, a jockey seat layout, or a side console arrangement. Each option suits a different style of use, from short harbour transfers to faster guest runs, and reflects how tenders are increasingly tailored to specific roles rather than treated as generic accessories.
Folding transom targets tight garages
Alongside the new model, AST has introduced a folding transom for the 280, 310 and 340. The system reduces overall length for storage and simplifies launch and recovery where garage clearances are tight.
For crews working with restricted access or limited lifting angles, this is a practical change rather than a cosmetic one, and it addresses a problem commonly encountered on modern yachts where tender spaces are designed to the millimetre.
Carbon construction and electric compatibility
ASTenders are built around a rigid carbon fibre hull, with starting weights from just 44kg. That low weight improves handling and efficiency and makes the boats well suited to electric outboards, which are becoming increasingly common aboard superyachts.
The range is CE Category C certified and uses multiple sealed buoyancy compartments to deliver an unsinkable hull design. The emphasis here is on strength and simplicity rather than complexity, with carbon construction used to reduce mass rather than add unnecessary systems.
A familiar brand with growing reach
Founded in 2017, the German builder has developed a strong following in the superyacht tender market in under a decade, driven by its focus on weight reduction, clean design, and customisation.
The updated ASTender lineup, including the new 310 and folding transom option, will be shown at Boot Düsseldorf in January 2026.
