Power
Masters to Watch: Marnix van Rijk & Joost Kempers van Qnautic
MASTERS speaks with prominent figures from the business world, including Marnix van Rijk and Joost Kempers, Sales and Operations at Qnautic. Marnix's father developed a passion for building high-quality boats, which led him to found Qnautic; the capital Q stands for Quality.
MASTERS will talk to prominent figures from the business world, including Marnix van Rijk and Joost Kempers, Sales and Operational at Qnautic. Marnix's father developed a love for building high-quality boats, which is why he founded Qnautic; with the capital Q for Quality…
Timeless
Marnix: “The interest and passion for boat building originated at our family shipyard, the Minerva in the Amsterdam Houthavens. After many years of working in shipping and shipbuilding, including the offshore industry, my father developed a love for building high-quality boats. This led to him, after first being a broker in fishing vessels and tugboats, to found Qnautic, with the Q for Quality. As the fourth generation of boat builders since 1935, I have been doing it together with him, using all the acquired knowledge of professional ships.”
Joost: “I am a ship broker and a good friend of Marnix's father: I have known Robbert for about forty years. We both come from commercial shipping backgrounds and were always busy with boats. Years in a row we have been on holiday with our family by boat in the summer. After Robbert launched the Q39 super-RIB together with Vripack in 2020 - a fast and safe RIB suitable for offshore use - he was given the opportunity to re-create the Q52 tender together with the design agency. A great project, in which I was happy to assist. In the past I have done nothing but build and renovate yachts - I know where to get the materials and parts from - and with my experience in yacht brokerage I can also support sales. Due to corona, the construction of the ship came to a temporary standstill, but the Qnautic Q52 is now finished: a tender with ingenious naval architecture, innovative interior technology and a beautiful design, a timeless model! The boat – with a length of 16,10, a width of 4,50 and a depth of 1,00 meters – is suitable for Dutch waters, but also certainly for the Mediterranean and America.”
Safety
Marnix: “We build on request, where we listen to the buyer's wishes: it is a semi-custom product (we only built our first demos without customer requirements). For example, the sunroof or T-top could be omitted, so that it becomes a sturdy open boat. There is also a choice of material types for, for example, kitchen worktops, shower walls or cushions. We have now included extreme elements in the design to show what is possible, such as an incredible sound system with sixteen speakers, an extreme battery pack, sprung carbon seats and a beautiful lighting plan inside.”
Joost: “Most yards will not deliver until 2024-'25 at the earliest. This boat is ready, we can deliver it tomorrow. And we can have the next boat ready within a year, because Robbert has two permanent yards in Friesland where he always has capacity available for Qnautic. We build based on a certain philosophy: aesthetic, high quality, practical and safe. For example, the boat has steering seats that are used in the offshore and military. These are really safe, comfortable, well-sprung chairs, but with a yacht look due to the carbon backrest and luxurious yacht upholstery. The quality is really great in every detail.”
Practical
Joost: “In the cabin, which is two meters high so that almost everyone can stand upright, there is a V-shaped seating area with a table in the middle. You can lower it at the touch of a button, creating a double bed. A television is hidden behind the mirror. And in the bedroom there are two single beds, which can be pushed together electrically to form one whole, if desired.”
Marnix: “Everything has been thought of: a rain shower with a shower wall that can be blinded at the push of a button; and the kitchen includes a serious refrigerator, dishwasher and cupboards that are custom-made for the crockery and pots and pans, so that they really fit and do not rattle.”
Joost: “The design is done very practically. You can sink the table on the deck into the floor, so that you have more space when the table is not in use. The fenders are hidden in side pockets, the poles for tensioning a sun sail are in a clamp under the engine compartment. Everything is tidy, nothing needs to be left lying around.”
Marnix: “The mechanics and maintenance have also been taken into account: the engines – two 600 hp Cummins QSC 600 hp – are very easily accessible due to the fully opening hatch, which is different on many boats. Even if you are two meters tall, you can easily reach everything in the engine room. If necessary, we can remove the engine straight away.”
Joost: “The Q52 is a tender, yacht like no other. You will not easily find another one with such sailing characteristics and luxurious details. We want people to see it and that is why we are going on tour through the Netherlands.”
Marnix: “Once the line is running, we can start thinking about a third model. We have a lot of ideas and plenty of ambition!”
