stockholm watertaxi

Raket – 4 guests

M/Y Raket (1919) – Swedish design history at speed

M/Y Raket is more than a boat: she is part of Sweden’s industrial and design history. Designed in 1919 by C.G. Pettersson for Carl Wikström, she was built in Södertälje as a fast open motorboat with two cockpits. Her 30 hp Buffalo engine gave her an impressive top speed of 12 knots for the time.

From vision to reality

In the 1920s, Carl Wikström travelled to the United States and returned with exclusive rights to Masonite, a new building material that became a major success. It enabled a life in Stockholm’s Diplomatstaden district and summers in the archipelago. His interest in boating led him to buy Maderö near Ingarö, where several Masonite boats were built. Some remain in the family today.

As his family grew, Wikström had Raket rebuilt with a partially enclosed cabin to protect his wife and children from the weather, combining speed with comfort.

Adventure, decline and restoration

Her next owner was sailor John Carlsson, known as “Glas Kalle”, who used Raket to travel to his island of Mansören. Her subsequent history is unclear until she was found in poor condition in a storage yard.

Dedicated enthusiasts saved the boat. Using drawings from the Swedish Maritime Museum and with support from Carl Wikström’s grandchildren, they began a careful and extensive restoration. The keel and bottom planking were replaced, the deck restored, the fittings replated and the hull brought back to a deep shine with traditional oil and varnish.

In 2007, Raket was launched again.

Classic character, modern performance

In 2020, a 300 hp MerCruiser V8 engine raised her top speed to approximately 24 knots. Today, Raket pairs early twentieth-century design with modern performance.

An icon for lovers of authentic boats

A trip aboard M/Y Raket is a close encounter with Swedish boating heritage. Low in the water, elegant and unmistakable, she bears the distinctive lines of C.G. Pettersson.

M/Y Raket is a living example of Swedish innovation, craftsmanship and passion for the sea.