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Masters to Watch: Marnix van Rijk & Joost Kempers of Qnautic

MASTERS talks 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 of Quality...
John van Helvert

Timeless

Marnix: "The interest and passion for boat building started at our family shipyard, the Minerva in the Amsterdam Houthavens. After working for many years in the shipping and shipbuilding industry, including the offshore industry, my father developed a love for building high-quality boats. This led him, after first being a broker in fishing vessels and tugs, to found Qnautic, with the Q of Quality. As the fourth generation of boat builders, since 1935, I take it up with him, using all the accumulated knowledge of professional vessels."

Joost: "I am a ship broker and a good friend of Marnix's father: I have known Robbert for about forty years. We are both originally from commercial shipping and were always busy with boats. For years on end, we took our family on summer vacations by boat. After Robbert together with Vripack launched the Q39 super-RIB in 2020 - a fast and safe RIB suitable for offshore use - he got the chance to re-create the Q52 tender together with the design agency. A great project, in which I was happy to lend a helping hand. In the past I have done nothing but build and renovate yachts - I know where to get the fabrics and parts - and with my experience in yacht brokerage I can additionally support in sales. Due to corona, the construction of the boat came to a temporary halt, but now the Qnautic Q52 is finished and ready: a tender with ingenious naval architecture, innovative interior technology and a beautiful design, a timeless model! The boat - with a length of16.10, 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."

Safe

Marnix: "We build on demand, listening to the buyer's wishes: it is in fact a semi-custom product (only our first demos we built without customer requirements). For example, the sunroof or T-top could be omitted, making it a tough open boat. There is also a choice of material types for kitchen worktop, shower wall or cushions, for example. We have now included extreme elements in the design to show what is possible, such as an insane sound system with sixteen speakers, an extreme battery pack, sprung carbon seats and a beautiful lighting plan inside."

Joost: "Most shipyards don't deliver until 2024-'25 at the earliest. This boat is just ready, we can deliver it tomorrow. And we can have another boat ready within a year, because Robbert has two permanent yards in Friesland where he always has capacity available for Qnautic. We build from 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 seats, but with a yacht look due to the carbon backrest and luxury yacht upholstery. The quality is really super in every detail."

Practical

Joost: "In the cabin, with a height of two meters so that almost everyone can stand upright, there is a V-sitting area with a table in the middle. At the push of a button you can lower it to create a double bed. A television is hidden behind the mirror. And in the bedroom there are two single beds, which can be electrically pushed together to make one, if desired."

Marnix: "Everything has been thought of: a rain shower with a shower wall that can be blinded by the push of a button; and the kitchen includes a serious refrigerator, dishwasher and cabinets that are custom-made for the dishes and pots and pans, so that they are really fixed and don't rattle."

Joost: "The design is very practically done. You can sink the table on the deck into the floor, so you have more space when the table is not in use. The fenders are hidden in side pockets, the poles to stretch a sunscreen are in a clamp under the engine bay. Everything is tidy, there's nothing to swing around."

Marnix: "Mechanics and maintenance have also been thought of: the engines - two 600 hp Cummins QSC 600 hp - are very easily accessible through the totally opening hatch, which is different on many a boat. Even if you are two meters tall, you can easily reach everything in the engine room. If necessary, we hoist the engine out in no time."

Joost: "The Q52 is a tender, yacht like no other. You won't easily find a second one with such sailing characteristics and luxurious details. We want people to see it and that's why we are taking it on tour through the Netherlands."

Marnix: "Once the line is running, we can start thinking about a third model. We have lots of ideas and plenty of ambition!"

Qnautic.com