O N B O A R D

30
O N
B O A R D
NO PROPS NECESSARY
Buehler Turbocraft, a 1960s iconic boat brand, is back in the news.
It was one of the first American boating companies to turn to inboard
engines and jets to propel its fiberglass boats and the first to
collaborate with Hamilton Jet of New Zealand.
The early boats owed their looks to one of America’s leading
automobile designers of the time, Virgil Exner (above, center). The
Indiana-based company was very good at marketing. In ads that
appeared throughout the U.S., it touted its abilities as the builder of
the only boat to make it up and down the Colorado River rapids (a
story that even appeared in National Geographic in 1962).
The Buehler Colorado River expedition launched a veritable craze
for jet propulsion around North American lakes and rivers. The brand’s
association with famous names added a patina of glamour to the sheer
practicality of shallow-draft boats. A 19-foot Buehler Turbocraft had a
cameo role in the 1965 James Bond flick “Thunderball” as the boat of
007’s love interest Domino. The Secret Service used a 35-foot jet boat to
keep up with the First Family on the water. Nevertheless after a decade
of success, Buehler Turbocraft floundered and virtually disappeared,
except for the odd classics in the hands of die-hard enthusiasts.
But if John Clapot, a former brand manager for Ralph Lauren in
Switzerland, has his way, Buehler Turbocraft will soon be back in
favor among connoisseurs. Clapot first noticed Buehler Turbocraft
in “Thunderball.”
“I thought, ‘That’s a really nice boat,’ ” he says. As he uncovered
facts, he became such a fan of the 1960s icon that he tracked down
the brand’s owners and bought the name three years ago. Wellconnected to a number of experienced yacht designers, he has
embarked on the now full-time adventure of funding and then building
the first modern-day Turbocraft as a powerful retro-modern tender to
a superyacht or a luxurious dayboat.
The first project, which he’s dubbed the Thunderclap 38 (pictured),
is fully engineered for cold-molded construction. “It has a central
cabinet for the bar, grill and fridge, a retractable screen, large sunbed
and a large swim platform with a step ladder for access to the water,
plus a beautifully designed cabin with a queen berth and a small
dayhead with shower. Everything has been conceived around the idea
of ‘the best day on the water,’ ” Clapot says.
Depending on selected power options, the boat will have a cruising
speed of around 32 knots and top speed in the low 40s.
www.buehler-turbocraft.com
S h o w B o a t s I n t e r n a t i o n a l | J u n e 2 0 1 5