What was the inspiration behind choosing the name Endurance ?
The name “Endurance” was inspired by the legendary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton, renowned for his incredible feat of exploration and survival during his arctic expedition of 1914. Remarkably, the Endurance was only discovered perfectly preserved beneath the Weddell Sea in March 2022, after being lost for over 107 years. This discovery coincided serendipitously with a pivotal moment for Off Piste Marine. At the same time, our founder, James Wakeford, was discussing this exciting new project with Sergio Cutolo, the visionary founder of HydroTec. This extraordinary alignment of events inspired us to name our range “Endurance,” symbolizing resilience, adventure, and the spirit of discovery that drives us forward. Shackleton’s family moto was “through endurance we conquer”, says James Wakeford founder of Off Piste marine ltd, “Shackleton’s 1914-16 expedition is truly REMARKABLE…a feet of human endurance, perseverance and survival in true British spirit”
What are the intended uses for its different versions of Endurance?
The Endurance range is designed to serve all sectors of the marine market, including commercial, military, and leisure. Each vessel has been designed in accordance with UK MCA Commercial Codes and the structural arrangement has been developed to comply with classification society requirements. The Endurance 110 and 110WB adhere to MCA MGN 280 small commercial code 3, making them fully equipped for commercial operations if specified. Similarly, the Endurance E90 qualifies for MCA Yellow Code, ideal for commercial activities such as diving or fishing in charter operations.
The modular units available for the 110 and 90 platforms further enhance their versatility, allowing these vessels to be adapted for a variety of roles, including fishing, diving, leisure, utility, adventure. With the Endurance range, you can expect unmatched flexibility and performance for any maritime endeavour
When is the expected completion date for the construction of the first unit?
The first Endurance E110L will be ready for sea trials in August 2025. Off Piste Marine is currently accepting build slot deposits, offering a unique opportunity to secure your place in the next wave of maritime excellence.
What was the motivation behind creating OFF PISTE MARINE and the Endurance?
Off Piste Marine was born from founder James Wakeford’s passion for adventure and exploration. Named after his love for flying helicopters, sailing, skiing, diving and snowboarding in uncharted territories, Off Piste Marine embodies the spirit of venturing into the unknown. “My love for adventure and the unexplored is my passion. The name Off Piste Marine reflects exactly where I hope our vessels will venture” says James.
The Endurance range is the culmination of James’s extensive experience as a diver, pilot and captain of large yachts world-wide, where he frequently encountered challenges with tender operations due to over-engineering and reliability issues. His travels to the world’s most remote islands often left guests unable to explore because tenders simply couldn’t navigate to the beach safely.
James’s background in project management of new builds and retrofits highlighted what was lacking in modern explorer chase boats and tenders. His time working with UK maritime Special Forces and work in the film industry underscored the critical importance of reliability for successful operational outcome.
With the Endurance, James has created a vessel that combines the rugged aesthetic elegance of the modern Land Rover Defender with maritime reliability and redundancy required in a saltwater environment. The Endurance seamlessly crosses over between commercial, military, and leisure sectors, offering owners and operators reliability, modular customization and choice. The result is the most reliable boats, capable of operating in both the extreme heat of the tropics to the extreme cold of the Arctic, with an emphasis on reliability, redundancy, comfort, and aesthetics.
What experiences as a yacht captain have you brought into the product development process?
My extensive hands-on experience aboard yachts of various sizes, both during their construction and operation, has provided invaluable insights that I have integrated into the creation of the Endurance range. With over thirty-five years as a pilot, diver and captain, I’ve learned the importance of reliability, which is why we adhere to the “KIS” (Keep It Simple) principle -simplicity equals reliability.
Key elements I’ve brought to the product development process include:
- Reliability: Ensuring our vessels are dependable by keeping systems simple and robust.
- Redundancy: Building in backup systems to guarantee operational continuity.
- Quality: Selecting and specifying the best available materials and components for their intended operations.
- Feedback: Listening closely to owners, operators, and crews to understand their needs and preferences.
- Accessibility: Designing for easy access to parts and systems for servicing and replacement and streamlining the replacement process.
- Modularity: Offering modular options to create versatile vessels capable of multi-tasking in various operational envelopes.
- Practical Experience: Drawing on hands-on experience in military, commercial, and private sectors to design practical and efficient design solutions.
- Attention to Detail: Leveraging over twenty years of working with high-net-worth individuals and families to ensure meticulous attention to detail and perfectionism.
- Personal Service: Committing to providing a personal touch and exceptional build and aftersales service.
These experiences have shaped the Endurance range into vessels that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also supremely functional, reliable, and versatile for a wide array of maritime adventures.