Before you start reading, let me warn you twofold: First of all, this is going to be one of the longer articles, so have a bit of time at hand. Secondly, you might become very much spoiled after you´ve read through. The following story contains all your beloved Sweden-stereotypes which, I know this myself from various trips to this wonderful country, are funnily enough not stereotypes, but true. That said, let´s start where I have started a few days ago having just landed after a relaxed, half-empty flight from Hamburg to Sweden´s capital, Stockholm.
I am happily following an invitation of Linjett Yachts. Renting a car at the airport, I am a bit sad that there isn´t time to pay a visit to the wonderful city, but I am instantly compensated by the lush Swedish nature. Guided by Google Maps, I am literally driving through a seemingly endless forest. Although I can get a glimpse onto the Baltic Sea of which the countless inlets of the Swedish Archipelago are still frozen, there is no snow anymore. The smooth up and down through this forest could be an exciting rallye-type of ride, but the strict speed limit and countless speed cameras tame my German Autobahn-impulses …
A hidden champion. Hidden in the Swedish forests
You don´t know what Linjett Yachts is? Never heard of this brand before? Well, this is partially by intention, partially because Linjett indeed is a very small shipyard compared to the more publicly known Scandinavian brands. All of which Hallberg-Rassy may be the most known, followed by boatbuilders and brands like Najad, Malö, Vindö and most recently Arcona Yachts. But Linjett, as I will understand only a bit later, maybe one of the most „Swedish“ in this respect.
My picturesque ride through the forests of Sweden ends after some one and a half hours. From Stockholm Arlanda airport I have driven some 60 kilometres to the East, passing a town called Norrtälje, but always lead through nice pine forests. It´s as much Sweden as you can think of, even the warning signs for moose and wild boar appear frequently. How cool is that? Just as I hit the shoreline to the Baltic Sea, passing a small village, there´s my final destination: Rosättra. Calling it a „village“ would be an exaggeration: If it wasn´t for the shipyard, this place probably wouldn´t even have a name. It´s a bit unfortunate that it is not full-blown summer (or winter, with proper snow) right now, because this is an absolutely fantastic venue! Rich, unspoiled nature … coming here as an owner or client to visit your boat during the building process must be a very special treat indeed. Coming here by boat even more!
I have arrived. Directly at the shore, a number of large workshops and big, long halls for yacht winter storage open up before my eyes. A stiff westerly wind is keeping the sweet long Swedish flags in motion. Every house has its dedicated flag pole here, of course. I am welcomed by Matti Wikholm, the Sales Manager of the shipyard. With him I will spend the coming two days, diving deep into the brand, the boats and the tradition of Linjett Yachts.
Family owned boatbuilding since 140 years …
Don´t be ashamed if the brand´s name „Linjett Yachts“ didn´t made sense to you when you started reading: I also only got to know these boats last year by chance when I strolled over a boat show and got caught by the classy lines of a beautiful boat. Linjett up to now is indeed a very „hidden“ champion, both figuratively and literally. Which is kind of funny because Rosättra Shipyard, as the company´s official name goes, exists since 1886! This is when boatbuilding had started at this place.
Nowadays, almost 140 years later, this company is still family owned by the Gustafssons. And not only owned, but still run by the current, third generation. I will get to meet and talk to the three brothers a little later. Linjett Yachts as a brand started in 1973. Almost 900 units had been built by now, making up for an annual production of some 15 units now. The family ownes 150.000 square metres of land here of which 15.000 square metres alone are for dry (and partially warm) yacht storage. The production, meaning the actual shipyard and connected workshops, is houses directly by the sea in a large, modern hall.
Adjoining is a modern harbor with up to 50 berths for Linjett owners who want to keep their boats directly at the shipyard. Many Stockholmers are here, of course, but as Matti tells me, many foreigners use that service too: As only one decade ago Linjett boats indeed were almost all bought up by Swedish sailors. Nowadays some 50 percent of their clients are from all over the world. With Germany, Finland, Norway, the UK, Denmark and other northern European countries being their main markets, now more „exotic“ countries like the United States and even Japan join the select circle of clients. Or shall we call them: „Club Members“? It´s a bit like that: Even now, early March, their annual production is nearly sold. Also, some 7 units sold already of their latest boat, the Linjett 36, of which there isn´t even a prototype finished yet …
I begin to understand why this hidden champion is not just only „hidden“, but also a „champion“ as well, as we enter the shipyard and walk down the central walkway. Going through the workshop, I can spot respectively three boats in various building stages docked stern-first to this elevated working platform. As it is shortly after 9 a.m. I had expected to see workers buzzing around like busy bees, various tools humming and people chattering. But the light suffused workshop is almost empty, as quiet as a mouse. Nobody here? Crisis? Short work? By no means! Time for another Swedish cliché …
Family: Not a hollow marketing buzzword here
Many businesses are praising themselves being „family“ and – much worse – promoting „family values“. If the first may be factual, mostly the latter turns out to be just empty marketing bling. Matti kind of hastily speeds through the workshop, which at first made me wonder where we´d start our tour. But then I understood: As we had traversed the whole shipyard and arrived at the seaside part of the hall, I set foot into a large canteen-like room. Chatter, laughter and a scent of freshly brewed coffee: Breakfast time!
Apparently, all of the little more than 50 employees of Linjett Yachts have gathered in this room. Half cafeteria, half kitchen. On a central cooking desk almost five meteres long, colorful rich baskets full of fresh fruit are provided. Vitamin bombs. Two industry-sized coffee brewing machines deliver hectoliters of the precious beverage. I ask Matti if this has been arranged for me, as he offers me to join and help myself. He smiles: Nope, not at all! A healthy and happy team is a thing they curb here. Social contacts and a nice working atmosphere is a way of promoting team spirit and motivation. I eat a Banana and look around: Some having a full-fledged (second) breakfast, some are just sitting together enjoying their coffee.
At a wall I spot a „farm“ of microwaves. People bring their cold food here for lunch, heat it up and enjoy their pauses together. This says so much about how people are treated and valued here at Linjett. To make sure as many guys can enjoy their warm meal together at the same time, the company has set up ten microwave ovens. Currently Linjett is run by three brothers, all Gustanfssons: Daniel, the oldest, is the CEO; Kristoffer is responsible for the production; and the youngest Markus, takes care of the design of the boats. I will later have the opportunity to talk to all three of them in person.
Showing me the canteen first made something very clear to me without having seen a single thing in the production yet: People are valued here at Linjett. Team spirit and motivation are taken very seriously. This is the base to making a high quality product such as a sailing boat. Linjett yachts are top-shelf boats. This product is definitely upper price range: Having a workforce that knows and lives that, accepts the responsibility, is a prerequisite for success. Happy people who love what they do will do it even better. Even though this happened by chance as Matti was maybe just a bit hungry, this was the best entreé he could have given me.
Where the Linjett yacht is born
As I am still stuffed by my Hotel breakfast, we take the chance to roam the production without being in the way of all the workers. Linjett Yachts sells some 15 new units per year, which is perfectly fine to pay their 50 people. Matti tells me that they want to grow – yes – but slowly. They don´t feel any pressure by the market, he clarifies: Even in the relatively calm times as now where predominantly the large production companies are hit hardest, Linjett faces no shortage of demand. On the contrary: It seems that their products enjoy an increase of people inclined to buy. In this, satisfying this demand is their motor for growth, not some pressure.
Linjett currently offers three boats in their line with a fourth, the said Linjett 36, in the midst of joining the range. From 34 feet as their smallest boat up to their flaship, the Linjett 43. Again, a surprise for some maybe: Here at Rosättra they don´t feel the urge to come up with colossal oversized luxury ships as so many other do. Their core business has always been the active sailor who knows what he wants and what sailing is like. To joing the struggle for the Mediterranean bling is not the thing of Linjett and it shall never be, as Matti tells me with a smile.
The lines of a Linjett are always classy. Again, there is no need to jump on every trendy-train that is skeltering through town every year time and again. Instead, they have a completely different approach to their brand and product: Matti explains that a Linjett is made to be lasting forever. I smile, but he insists: They mean it! Both in terms of design and building quality, but also in terms of the timelessness of their products. Matti says that of all the almost 900 Linjetts that have been built in total, the shipyard only knows of 3 units which are gone. Three! All the others are still sailing. Can you believe that?
Even hull number #001 is still on the water. And although of course things have changed, hull shapes have progressed, as did rigging, sails design and naval architecture, a Linjett from the Eighties is still looking and performing awesome. A Linjett built in 2025 will be much alike in 2050, they are sure about that here. This is fascinating because usually, most certainly that is valid for the big production boat companies but also for smaller brands, you have to come up with something „completely new“ every 5 to 10 years maximum. Here in Rosättra, progress is measured in different scale units. To achieve this, one huge building block of this legacy is the capability to have all of the production steps inhouse. And guess what? They have this capability.
Serious inhouse production
I start with a detail: As we walk through the boats and I look at the waterline markings, I know, a seemingly tiny thing. But I notice that these decorative stripes are not simple stickers here, they are made of gelcoat and thus integral part of the boat. This technique of applying the waterline stripes into the mould with differently colored gelcoat is very costly and therefore an expensive thing to have. Not very many boatbuilders do it nowadays, at Linjett, this is a matter of course. I ask Matti about it.
He tells me that Linjett boats are made from the start up until the very commissioning entirely inhouse by the shipyard. Some 10 kilometers from Rosättra, near Norrtälje, the company owns another production location where they make their hulls and decks. This is an important first step: To have full control over the quality, used materials, the time and circumstances of the production. Many brands, especially smaller, have outsourced this step. This of course saves cost and must not automatically result in inferior quality: But having everythinging inhouse ensures that every Linjett hull and deck is made the way they appreciate it here.
As classic and timeless their boats may look, as modern and up-to-date their production and utilization of products is. A Linjett of 2025 is built using vacuum infusion technology and modern materials, like Divinicell core foam for example. These are made and manufactured using meticulously gathered data, CNC- and Laser cut to precision and perfect fitting. As I inspect a fresh, totally empty, raw hull, I cannot spot any squalidness or abberation.
After the freshly made hulls, decks and GRP parts arrive from the Norrtälje-facility, a vigorous quality check is applied. In an adjoining building, the skilled craftsmen start to mount the first deck fittings, windows and portholes and do the pre-wiring. As each and every Linjett yacht is an individual order and because of the fact that they only make up to 15 units per year, true customization is a major selling proposition for the shipyard. As Matti shows me in different boats of the same type, not a single Linjett is alike her sistership. Owners can change much, much more in their yachts as this is possible even with other so-called premium brands, he tells me. A fact that is not widely know, but heavily appreciated: Linjett has also produced boats for other brands as well. Like the classic Swede 41 or recently, boats for Shogun Yachts.
With a production setup this close-meshed, it is a matter of course that their strive for quality is outwordly here. Walking through the workshop I see little signs of this everywhere I look: The tools used by the workers – and be it the simplest screwdriver – are top shelf. All of the workers wear nice, clean uniforms. This is another sign for the appreciative approach towards them by the company. The fact that these uniforms are not worn down, holey or smirched means that the workers have a number of sets and the the company constantly renews them. But there´s also a heavy emphasis on the quality of the equipment used for the yachts themselves. This can also be seen in the big, but excitingly enough, more in the small things.
Quality has a completely different meaning here
You know that I personally have a great affection for Scandinavian-style boats as I currently have my own Swedish dream yacht built. For me it was a no-brainer that, for example in terms of winches, there is only one brand and product on the market that „can“ be mounted onto my Omega 42. And that´s the Andersen winch of course. I am so happy to see that this is a matter of course for Linjett too …
As we visit each of the six yachts currently in building process in the workshop, I notice that no boat is dirty. The workers clean the offcut, the dust, the little plastic things – from the big chunks to sweeping and vacuuming the boats. That means that there is no chaotic bustle as I had to witness in some shipyards: A sign for a good pre-planning and also responsible execution of working steps here.
This emphasis on both work ethics and quality is essential that later, when the boat has been finished, a flawless, perfect, seemless and timeless treasure has materialized. I can remember my desperate drudgery back in the days of the refit of my King´s Cruiser 33: How damn hard it was to make a nice ceiling. Of course I failed. But look at these pictures. This, dear reader, is an absolutely spotless ceiling made with roofing panels and decorative stripes which fit without any visible gaps, screws or any other flaws, not displaying a single tiny variation in gap dimensions. This ceiling alone is a masterpiece!
And you can look where you want, even behind panels or covers. The backside of every cabinet, shelf or compartment is painted, minimum, but all too often covered with a blind. Matti asks me to twist my head upward, to look underneath and behind a blind where the indirect LED-stripes are mounted: A place where certainly nobody will never ever take a look at: Even here they spare us the view of bare GRP or laminate! Open the main switch panel at the chart table, and be astounded by the wiring:
Each cable is marked and labelled clearly. Not handwritten, like so often, or coded. My father was a skilled and trained electrician in his first life, I am sure, he would have had nothing but praise for this level of craftsmanship. The list of things Matti shows me and points to is sheer endless. But every single point is a manifestation of Linjett´s strive to perfection. To my eyes, they´ve achieved nothing more and nothing less than exactly this – these boats are not just eye-candy for lovers of classy lines, they are role-models for boatbuilders.
Meticulous craftsmanship
I´ve seldom seen this high level of craftsmanship paired with such an uncompromising struggle to control the complete line of manufacture. The only shipyard that does this at such a crazy high level that I know of and personally visited is Cranchi Yachts in Italy, But they don´t make sailing yachts. Controlling the whole chain of production steps, that means for Linjett for example that the complete woodwork is done inhouse.
Joinery is still a huge part in modern boatbuilding. More so in boats with a classy emphasis on beauty, like Linjett. Matti shows me around in their carpentry. As it seems, they indeed make all the wooden parts found in a Linjett by themselves: Literally from the log over the plank to the individual part. The smell of fresh timber is alluring: Having phased out real Teak for many reasons years ago, Linjett still fancies Mahogany, Oak and other high-class natural material.
You may have read my articles on how hard it actually was for me to find and choose the right steps for the companionway of my Omega 42? Here, they don´t even bother to ask this question, they make their own. And that by not just only simply cutting wood: The steps of a Linjett are laminated. This is very, very costly and elaborate, but assures to deliver not only very beautiful stairs but also a rugged and virtually unbreakable quality.
I see one carpenter making tillers. Beautifully curved, two of them with differently colored wood. Most beautiful details. I ask Matti if I could have the tiller for my ALPHA made by Linjett. He smiles. And agrees. On another working station a cabinet is put together for a Linjett 39: Look at how clean and spotless the joints come together, look at the joints anyway – where else can you see those carpentry-details?
Some of you may think now that this is a very outdated way of making a boat. Not so modern. Old fashioned carpentry, nice, yes, but it eats working hours, eats time and thus money. Well, on the contrary: Linjett has mastered the integration of most modern production techniques by at the same time keeping the proven, well established and cherished. 3D CAD-preplanning at the computer in the design office, the help of a big CNC-machine and the combination of that with highly skilled master craftsmen takes craftsmanship to a whole new level.
Classic. Reinvented.
This is due to the design team around one of them three brothers: Markus Gustafsson. Matti and I storm the office where Markus and Stefan, Project manager and engineer at Rosättra Boatyard, are meeting. The guys are talking about their latest boat, the upcoming new Linjett 36. On a screen a part of the boat is shown in 3D, Stefan is moving it around as they talk about technical details.
Markus says that the impression of the Linjett as a classic boat with their conservation of timeless lines may leave the impression that the shipyard may work with old tools. But, as he puts it, they are not living under a rock out here in the woods. On the contrary: They are constantly upgrading their software and planning tools. Modern CFD analysis is as common here as CNC-milled models or 3D-printing. In this, the shipyard also employs external specialists, such as Christian Wallgren, Hakan and Oscar Södergren for special tasks.
This is the strength of Linjett, as they explain: Having had the time to grow up in the company, Markus tells me that his father – the then-boss of Linjett – encouraged him to build his own boats. Try things out, play around. At the age of 13, Markus had already launched his first self-built 20 foot dinghy. Unrestricted and free – and that´s how it is still today. In this, of course, they don´t live in a bubble here, as he tells me: They have always been connected very closely to sailing and racing. Swedes love to sail quick, love to match themselves. In this, the Linjett has always been designed and made to deliver a top performance. Still today.
Since 50 years now, these boats prove themselves as serious racing boats. Many times the prestigious Gotland Runt race. ORC-ratings, which they of course retain, help to optimized their design, but Markus feels that optimization of the rudders for example brings more, than just „paper speed“. This shall not be the focus nor an USP for the Linjett, but it´s a re-assurance. Much more important for them is the fact that their boats sail exceptionally well, deliver their performance but retain an ease in control and safety. Keeping them save from a tendency to broach, helping to wind occasional racing and to provide a lifetime experience in cruising, that´s their motto.
The hidden gem of yachting
The sum of this, their boats, are indeed „secret champions“. So secretive that Matti tells me even 10 years ago a delivery of one of their boats to the Western Swedish coast has been considered an export! Nowadays the average Linjett-client is aged between 55 to 65 years. Not a sailing-beginner, although they do have occasionally younger clients (their youngest is 38 years old) as well as beginners. But usually a sailor deciding to go for a Linjett already knows his way around. These people have had their first or second boat, they know what quality is about and also, that quality needs a budget.
In this, they have ex-Hallberg-Rassy owners, people that come from X-Yachts, Arcona or even Nautor Swan. But there are also „upgrades“ from Dehler or Beneteau First. Matti, as down-to-Earth as the Swedish are, does not tell me this because he want to brag around or badmouth other brands. On the contrary: He feels humbled that his brand is considered by serious sailors who come from other serious brands. It´s a pleasure to play in their league at absolute eye-level, as he puts it.
This fact also means that constant development is an imperative. In this, the shipyard collects the feedback of each sailor. I talk to the After Sales guy of Linjett who confirms that this feedback often leads to new ideas, to improvements, be it small or big. Linjett is not just selling new boats, the shipyard also refits and refurbishes used yachts – and brokers them. In this, little more than 20 units are dealt with annually. A high resale value is also a big issue for Linjett: Often the boats not just retain their value but also increase it. The scarcity of new boats may help, the high quality of their initial production and the shipyard´s maintenance does the rest.
… not so hidden anymore.
All this leads to a situation where there is an increasing demand. It´s never nice to send away potential customers, Matti says, and so the shipyard tries to grow. This alone in a market in recession is a big thing and more than good news. But not at any cost, as Matti implies: Neither quality nor the „soft values“ of Linjett shall be sacrificed for the sake of making more unites. Outsourcing is a complete no-go: A Linjett has been, is now and will always be made right here in Rosättra, that´s for sure! Too many shipyards failed with the outsourcing strategy, others are just empty brands, bare names that have no connection anymore and whatsoever with their origins and legacy.
This is why Linjett up until now kept itself hidden. There is barely any marketing. Linjetts on big boat shows? Nope. They rather invest better equipment. Linjett hasn´t any dealers because they fear being driven by their agendas and to lose contact with their clients. To insure that, Linjett has a huge storage area, protected in both open and closed heated halls. Linjett-only winter storage: Combined with the shipyard-owned service and maintenance. This makes sure their boats, be them new or old, are always top notch. But times they are a changin´, as the song goes: Matti tells me that he is both frightened and looks forward to delivering their first ever boat to Japan. With a production increase of one surplus unit per year Linjett wants to make 20 units per year in 2030. I am sure that they will reach that goal.
What the future brings, I ask Markus Gustafsson, the Chief Designer. He smiles. Looks around. The prediction of the future is a hard thing, he says. But no matter what it brings, the most important for him, he tells me, is that the next generation of boatbuilders, of designers, of keen craftsman, will find here a secure job. That these people keep on the tradition and legacy of this shipyard, of this brand. I find this amazing: Here, ROI, turnover, profit, units, cost-per-unit and all this business-talk is secondary. I even. It´s the people that counts much more. Heartwarming.
A Swedish cliché turned reality
This seems all too good to be true? Well, apparently: No?! It´s late in the afternoon as we come back from our walking tour through the other halls. Matti again takes me to the canteen where the staff is having a little coffee break. A mountain of fresh, delicious Semla, one of the Swedish signature sweet pastries, is offered to the people to indulge themselves. That´s certainly not a play set up to impress a little blogger like me. And I certainly don´t make this up: This Linjett. For real.
As I say Goodbye to the guys and pack my gear, my head is rotating what I will do with those more than 500 pictures I´ve taken. There is so much more to show you. About all the little cool, exciting, surprising and unbelievable details of those Linjetts. My conversations with the three brothers have made me taking notes worth of two more articles, I´ve witnessed how they attach a keel here and much more. So, if you don´t have tasted blood by now and want to come here yourself (you´d be more than welcome!) you may look forward to some more Linjett-stories. Shortly before I reached by car to drive back to the airport, I met this man …
I am taking my last outside-pictures, as he walks by with his dog. I love dogs and so I ask for his name (she is a she). Petting Happy (that´s her name), we talk a bit about the weather. The man smiles, has this kind aura of somebody who has achieved everything and now enjoys life. It turns out that this is Mats Gustafsson. He lives up the hill in one of the houses, looking upon the shipyard. The very place he had inherited from his father. Where he started Linjett in the Seventies. Together with his two brothers. It cannot get any better like this, I think as we part and say Goodbye. Only that, shortly before I return my car, a sweet baby Moose slowly walks next to the road and looks at me. Indeed, here, it can´t get any better!
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