Technicraft Design
Technicraft Design is a New Zealand-based naval architecture firm designing custom hydrofoil-assisted power catamarans for tourism operators, government agencies, research institutions, and offshore industries worldwide, delivered through a global partner-shipyard network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersBeachlands, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Technicraft Design does
Technicraft Design Limited (operating as Teknicraft) is a privately held naval architecture firm headquartered at Pine Harbour marina in Auckland, New Zealand. Founded by Nic de Waal, a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, after relocating from South Africa in the late 1990s and formally incorporated in 2002, the firm specializes in custom design of commercial and recreational power catamarans. Its core technology is a proprietary hydrofoil-assisted catamaran hull platform refined over approximately 25 years, complemented by adjustable hydrofoil systems, an asymmetrical hull with integrated wave piercer, the Sickle Bow design, ultra-low-wake hulls developed using CFD, and a dynamically controlled composite hydrofoil system with interceptors. Over 130 Teknicraft-designed vessels operate commercially worldwide, achieving speeds up to 50 knots and fuel consumption as low as 5 litres per nautical mile.
The firm operates an asset-light professional services model, charging negotiated per-project design fees for each commission and relying on a global network of partner shipyards for construction. Its client base spans tourism operators (whale watching, harbor tours, glacier cruises), government agencies (transit authorities, law enforcement, coast guard, customs), research institutions (NOAA, US Army Corps of Engineers, Duke University, University of New Hampshire), oil and gas offshore support operators, mining companies, and private yacht owners across Africa, the Middle East, North America, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, and Europe. Core shipyard partners include Q-West Boat Builders (New Zealand), All American Marine (United States), Buckie Shipyard (Scotland), and Nico International (UAE), with HamiltonJet as the preferred waterjet propulsion supplier. Notable recent deliveries include the Rich Passage ultra-low-wake ferries for Kitsap Transit and the Enhydra, the largest lithium-ion battery plug-in hybrid passenger vessel built in the USA, for Red & White Fleet. The company remains founder-owned and operated with 1-10 employees and no disclosed external funding.
Technicraft Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Technicraft Design
- Legal name
- Teknicraft Design Limited
- Website
- https://teknicraft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Technicraft Design is a New Zealand-based naval architecture firm designing custom hydrofoil-assisted power catamarans for tourism operators, government agencies, research institutions, and offshore industries worldwide, delivered through a global partner-shipyard network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Technicraft Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Vessel Design Services
- NAICS
- Boat Building (336612), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Catamaran & Multihull Leisure Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Passenger Ferries & Water Taxis (Fast Ferries, RoPax, Catamarans) (IMAJADAC), Patrol, Interceptor & Law-Enforcement Craft (Coast Guard, Customs) (IMAJADAD), Search & Rescue (SAR) & Lifeboats (IMAJADAI), Luxury Catamaran (Power & Sail) Manufacturing (IMAJAMAF)
Keywords
Where Technicraft Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beachlands
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Technicraft Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Vessel Design Services: Teknicraft provides complete design services for commercial and recreational power catamarans, commissioned by individual clients or operators. Design fees are negotiated per project based on vessel specifications and complexity.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Technicraft Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Teknicraft Design provides complete custom design services for innovative, high-performance commercial and recreational power catamarans across four categories: Passenger Vessels (whale watching, ferry services, harbor tours, event charters from 11.9m to 38m), Patrol Craft (law enforcement, customs, police, search and rescue), Survey Vessels (hydrographic and oceanographic research), and Other Vessels (motor yachts, fishing boats, rescue craft, pilot boats, crew boats, offshore supply vessels, split-hopper barges). The firm specializes in proprietary hydrofoil-assisted catamaran technology, with more than 130 vessel designs operating in commercial service worldwide.
Product overview
Technicraft Design is a boat design company offering a complete design service for innovative and functional high-performance commercial and recreational power catamarans. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the company provides vessel designs across four main categories: Passenger Vessels (whale watching, ferries, harbor tours ranging from 11.9m to 38m), Patrol Craft (law enforcement and security vessels), Survey Vessels (research and hydrographic survey platforms), and Other Vessels (motor yachts, fishing boats, rescue craft, pilot boats, offshore support vessels). The company specializes in proprietary hydrofoil-assisted catamaran technology including adjustable hydrofoil systems, low-wake hull designs for environmental compliance, and Sickle Bow design features. Notable products include the award-winning Enhydra, the largest lithium-ion battery plug-in hybrid passenger vessel built in the USA. With over 130 hydrofoil-equipped vessel designs in commercial operation globally, Technicraft serves clients in Africa, Middle-East, America, Australia, Pacific, and Europe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Passenger Vessel Design Service Custom design of commercial and recreational power catamarans for passenger transport, including whale watching tours, ferry services, harbor tours, and event charters, with vessel lengths from 11.9m to 38m and capacities from 24 to 600 passengers. Built for commercial tour operators and government transit authorities globally.
- Patrol Craft Design Service Custom design of high-speed aluminium catamarans for law enforcement, customs, police, coast guard, and maritime security agencies, with capabilities for patrol duties, search and rescue, customs enforcement, and fast transport. Built for government maritime agencies in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
- Survey Vessel Design Service Custom design of research and hydrographic survey catamarans equipped with scientific instrumentation, multi-beam transducers, A-frames, winches, and laboratories for seabed mapping and ocean research operations. Built for NOAA, US Army Corps of Engineers, and university marine research programs.
- Other Vessel Design Service Custom design of specialized vessels including luxury motor yachts, sport fishing vessels, rescue craft, pilot boats, crew boats, offshore supply vessels, and split-hopper barges. Built for high-net-worth individuals and offshore operators in the North Sea, Middle East, Alaska, and other global markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 130 vessels operating successfully with hydrofoils in commercial operations worldwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Technicraft Design
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Technicraft Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Technicraft Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Q-West Boat BuilderscorePrimary New Zealand shipyard partner constructing Teknicraft-designed vessels including whale watching catamarans for Whale Watch Kaikoura, patrol vessels for Victoria Police, and survey vessels. Builds vessels in Sealium Aluminium and standard marine grade aluminium.
- All American MarinecoreKey US shipyard partner constructing Teknicraft designs including Enhydra (largest lithium-ion battery plug-in hybrid passenger vessel in USA), Saratoga, Sally Fox & Doc Maynard, Salish Explorer, and numerous US government research vessels.
- HamiltonJetcorePreferred waterjet propulsion supplier. Teknicraft vessels feature HamiltonJet units (HJ292 through HJ521) across their fleet. Partnership enables integrated hydrofoil and jet control systems including BlueArrow control system.
- Buckie Shipyard LtdminorScottish shipyard that built MO1 offshore supply vessels for Mainprize Offshore Ltd operating in the North Sea.
- Nico InternationalminorUAE-based shipyard that built Nemo crewboat and Kanoo 40 crewboats for Middle East operations.
- Fitzroy YachtsminorNew Zealand shipyard that built Yellow Cat II motor yacht for Alaska cruising.
- Mavrik MarineminorWestern Australian shipyard that built SP32 stern picker fishing vessels for Bristol Bay, Alaska salmon fishing.
- Circa Marine and IndustrialminorBuilt FastFord high-speed pleasure boat designed by Teknicraft.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Technicraft Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Sunreef Yachts: Polish luxury catamaran designer-builder for the recreational and superyacht segment. Overlaps with Teknicraft's private-yacht and luxury motor-yacht work (e.g., U21, Three Saints) but specialises in sailing and eco-luxury rather than hydrofoil-assisted high-speed craft.
- Fountaine Pajot: French leisure catamaran manufacturer with global dealer network. Comparable in the recreational / private-vessel segment served by Teknicraft's 'Other Vessels' category, but focused on production cruising catamarans rather than hydrofoil-assisted commercial craft.
- HH Catamarans: South African performance and luxury catamaran builder with advanced composite construction. Comparable in South African naval-architecture roots and high-performance catamaran design ethos, though focused on sailing yachts.
- Blade Marine: Emerging designer-builder of hydrofoil-assisted passenger ferries focused on zero-emission fast vessels. Direct technology overlap with Teknicraft's hydrofoil + low-wake IP and competing for similar environmentally constrained ferry tenders.
Others
- HamiltonJet: New Zealand-based waterjet propulsion supplier and existing core technology partner. Adjacent rather than competing — supplies the HJ-series waterjets integrated into Teknicraft hulls and enables the BlueArrow control system.
- All American Marine: US-based aluminium shipbuilder and long-standing Teknicraft build partner (Enhydra, Sally Fox, Salish Explorer, NOAA vessels). Operates as a downstream channel / implementation partner rather than a competing designer.
Broad incumbents
- Damen Shipyards: Large Dutch shipbuilding group with a Fast Ferry product line and broad naval architecture capability. Competes across multiple Teknicraft vessel classes (patrol, offshore support, passenger) but as a generalist incumbent rather than a specialist catamaran designer.
Direct peers
- Incat: Tasmania-based designer and builder of large high-speed aluminium passenger and vehicle ferries, including wave-piercing catamarans. Most direct competitor in high-speed commercial catamaran design and construction for global ferry operators.
- Brødrene Aa: Norwegian designer-builder of high-speed carbon-fibre and composite catamaran ferries serving coastal passenger routes in Europe. Closely comparable in fast-ferry technology focus and passenger comfort / low-emission design.
- Austal: Australian global shipbuilder designing and constructing high-speed aluminium catamarans for defence and commercial ferry markets. Directly comparable in customer segments (government transit, patrol, defence) and hull-form expertise.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Technicraft Design social profiles
Digital presenceTechnicraft Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Technicraft Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Technicraft Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Technicraft Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Technicraft Design
What does Technicraft Design do?
Teknicraft Design provides complete custom design services for innovative, high-performance commercial and recreational power catamarans across four categories: Passenger Vessels (whale watching, ferry services, harbor tours, event charters from 11.9m to 38m), Patrol Craft (law enforcement, customs, police, search and rescue), Survey Vessels (hydrographic and oceanographic research), and Other Vessels (motor yachts, fishing boats, rescue craft, pilot boats, crew boats, offshore supply vessels, split-hopper barges). The firm specializes in proprietary hydrofoil-assisted catamaran technology, with more than 130 vessel designs operating in commercial service worldwide.
Is Technicraft Design a public or private company?
Technicraft Design is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Technicraft Design founded?
Technicraft Design was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Technicraft Design based?
Technicraft Design is headquartered in Beachlands, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Technicraft Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Vessel Design Services.
Who are Technicraft Design's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Sunreef Yachts, Fountaine Pajot, HH Catamarans and Blade Marine. Others are HamiltonJet and All American Marine. Damen Shipyards is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Incat, Brødrene Aa and Austal.
Does Technicraft Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Technicraft Design.
What industry is Technicraft Design in?
Technicraft Design's product category is Marine Vessel Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAEAC, Catamaran & Multihull Leisure Craft Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAJADAC, Passenger Ferries & Water Taxis (Fast Ferries, RoPax, Catamarans). Its NAICS code is 336612 and its SIC code is 3730.