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Electric boats: A-Z of the 37 best all-electric models

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Electric boats are here and they are quietly turning heads all over the world, we pick out 37 of the most exciting all-electric projects being built right now...

Electric boats are here to stay. What started as a trickle of electric craft over the past few years has turned into a torrent with everyone from Riva to Axopar jumping on the bandwagon.

Hybrid diesel electric boats are by no means a new concept in the marine world, but the latest generation of electric boats, not to mention electric outboard motors , is proving that this technology is no longer something to look forward to in the future, electric boats are a viable option right now.

Here at MBY.com, we’ve been following the electric boats revolution with intent for over a decade and now there are enough models on the market to make this style of boat a true competitor to conventional diesel and petrol-powered boats.

With a network of fast electric boat chargers already in place along the French Riviera, and plans for many more in marinas all over Europe and the UK, it looks like the electric revolution is now fully under way.

Read on for our round-up of the best electric boats currently in build…

35 of the best electric boats in build right now

Near silent cruising at 5-7 knots is the electric Alfastreet’s forte

Alfastreet 28 Cabin

These Slovenian-built boats are now a common sight on the Thames where their elegant lines, large sociable cockpits and clever lifting hard tops make them ideally suited to lazy days afloat.

Although most of them are available with powerful petrol outboard or sterndrive engines for fast coastal passages, Alfastreet also offers factory-fit electric boat versions of all its models for inland use.

Designed for slow speed displacement cruising , these are built for slipping along silently at 5-6 knots with zero emissions rather than rushing about at speed.

The top-of-the-range Alfastreet 28 Cabin, for example, is powered by twin 10kW motors for a top speed of around 7.5 knots and an estimated cruising range of 50nm at 5 knots from its twin 25kWh batteries.

Alfastreet 28 Cabin specifications

LOA: 28ft 3in (8.61m) Motor: 2 x 10kW Battery: 2 x 25kWh Top speed: 7.5 knots Range: 50nm Price: Approx £150,000 (inc. VAT)

Article continues below…

Electric boats: When will the boating world be ready to ditch the diesel?

Volvo Penta D4 Hybrid first look: Is this the future of boat propulsion?

Ski boats are all about instant-on torque to punch you out of the hole and leap on the plane. New California start-up Arc Boat Company is ensuring its upcoming Arc One ski boat will do just that, courtesy of its honking 350kW electric motor.

In case you’re wondering, that’s the equivalent of 475hp. Or around twice the juice on tap in the highest-capacity Tesla Model S. It also means a top speed of 40mph, and enough amps to keep you skiing or wake-boarding for up to five hours.

The aluminium-hulled 24-footer, with seats for 10, is the first offering from Los Angeles-based Arc, which is being headed-up by Tesla’s former head of manufacturing. He’s expecting the first electric boats to be delivered, with custom trailer included, this summer.

ARC One specifications

LOA: 24ft (7.3m) Motor: 350kW Battery: 200 kWh Top speed: 35 knots Range: 160nm at 35 knots Starting price: $300,000 / £226,000

The Boesch 750 offers all the style, heritage and performance you could wish for, and an electric motor

Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe

This exclusive Swiss yard has been in business since 1910 building elegant retro sportsboats for lake and sea use.

Unlike Riva , it still builds exclusively in wood using a lightweight mahogany laminate construction that it claims is as strong and easy to maintain as a modern GRP hull.

All its craft use a traditional mid-mounted engine with a straight shaft propeller and rudder steering for maximum reliability and a flat trim angle, making them well suited for use as ski boats.

The current range comprises six models from 20ft to 32ft, however only the models up to 25ft are available as electric boats.

The top-of-the-range electric model, the Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe, has twin 50kW Piktronik motors giving a top speed of 21 knots and a range of 14nm.

Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe specification

LOA: 24ft 7in (7.5m) Motor: 2 x 50kW Battery: 2 x 35.6kWh Top speed: 21 knots Range: 14nm @ 20 knots Price: €336,000 (ex. VAT)

The Candela C-8 recently set a world record for electric boat endurance by covering 420nm in 24hrs

Candela C-8

With a claimed range of 50nm at 22 knots, overnight accommodation for two and a more robust deep vee foiling hull , this new Candela C-8 could be the electric boats game-changer we were waiting for.

Whereas the Candela C-7 looked oddly dated for such a high-tech boat, the C-8 has a purity of line to it that is fresh, modern and distinctive. With its vertical bow, slender beam and subtly contoured topsides free of scoops, slats or unnecessary styling lines, it has a pared back simplicity to it that oozes confidence.

It doesn’t need to shout for attention because every pair of eyes will be glued to it the minute it rises onto its foils and flies silently past the assembled onlookers, leaving nothing but a lingering aura of astonishment hanging in the air.

New for 2023, the C-8 will now be available with an uprated 69kWh Polestar 2 Standard battery pack, which considerably improves the range (as the Candela C-8’s recent world record attempt proved), and with the option of a center console deck layout.

Candela C-8 specifications

LOA: 27ft 11in (8.50m) Motor: 45-55kW Candela C-Pod Battery: 44-69kWh Top speed: 24 knots Range: 51nm Price: €290,000 (ex. VAT)

Watch our full test drive review of the Candela C-8

Electric motors powered by batteries, solar panels and ICE generators allow it to cruise night and day

Cosmopolitan 66

Newcomer Cosmopolitan Yachts is hoping to shake up the market for large electric boats with a striking new 66ft (20.1m) solar-powered catamaran called the Cosmopolitan 66.

An all-aluminium  multihull  design, the Cosmpolitan 66 features a vast amount of interior space thanks to a maximum beam of 35ft (10.67m).

The outside deck spaces are just as generous, with entertainment terraces fore and aft as well as wide side decks and a huge, almost square  flybridge .

Cosmopolitan 66 specifications

LOA: 66ft (20.1m) Motor: 2x 180kW Battery: 450kWh Top speed: 20 knots Range: TBC Price: TBC

Read more about the Cosmopolitan 66

Two-tiered windows provide big views and generous light down below

The new Vripack-designed Delphia 10 is a very versatile yacht. You can spec it with either a diesel engine of up to 110hp or an electric shaft drive from 40 to 80hp.

You can also tailor the layout to your needs with one of three standard arrangements. The Delphia 10 Sedan is a traditional pilothouse model with  walkaround  side decks and a large cockpit settee.

The Lounge model (pictured) uses a fully open design, with plenty of seating and a forward cockpit, securely contained within elevated side decks. And the Lounge Top model uses a large flat hardtop that makes a great platform for boat solar panels .

Delphia 10 specifications

LOA: 32ft 1in (9.78m) Beam: 11ft 5in (3.49m) Engines: Single inboard electric 40-80hp / up to 110hp diesel Top speed: 44 knots Price: £229,950 (inc. VAT)

Watch our full yacht tour of the Delphia 10

Duffy Sun Cruiser 22

You can’t talk about electric boats and not talk about Duffy. Since 1970, more than 14,000 of these surrey-topped, genteel bay and lake cruisers have been sold. In Duffy’s home port of Newport Beach, California, there’s an estimated 3,500 of them running around. It’s simply the world’s best-selling electric boat.

Beautifully-built, with cushy seats for 12, a built-in fridge, and a multitude of cupholders, the top-selling Duffy 22 makes the perfect cocktail-hour cruiser.

Don’t expect to get anywhere in a hurry. Top speed is a heady 5.5 knots courtesy of a 48-volt electric motor amped by a bank of 16 six-volt batteries.

One especially cool feature is Duffy’s patented Power Rudder set-up. This integrates the electric motor with the rudder and the four-bladed prop, allowing the whole assembly to rotate almost 90 degrees for easier docking.

Duffy Sun Cruiser 22 specifications

LOA: 22ft (6.7m) Motor: 1 x 50kW Battery: 16 x 6-volt Top speed: 5.5 knots Range: 40nm at 5.5 knots Starting price: $61,500 / £47,000

Four Winns H2e

Another member of the Beneteau Group vying to build the best electric boats, Four Winns will launch a 22ft model called the H2e in late 2022, which it claims is the first all-electric series production bowrider in the world.

Powered by a 180hp electric outboard motor from Vision Marine that promises a 35-knot top speed, the Four Winns H2e will get its American debut at the 2023 Miami Boat Show before going into full production in the summer.

Twin 700v batteries will be fitted, but there’s no word yet on the price or cruising range, but given Four Winns’ pedigree, you can expect the former to be very competitive indeed.

Four Winns H2e specifications

LOA: 22ft (6.7m) Motor: 180hp Vision Marine electric outboard Battery: 2x 700v Top speed: 35 knots Range: TBC Starting price: TBC

Frauscher 740 Mirage

The tag line for this Austrian yard is ‘Engineers of Emotion since 1927’, and given the effect its boats tend to have on casual observers, let alone the person sitting behind the helm, we’re inclined to agree.

Simply put, it builds some of the best looking boats on the market, combining rakish proportions with cutting-edge style and exquisite detailing.

Although it builds petrol-powered boats up to 39ft offering searing performance, it also offers most of its smaller craft with the option of silent, emissions-free electric power.

The Frauscher 740 Mirage is a perfect example of this, offering two different electric Torqeedo motors of either 60kW or 110kW. The more powerful of these delivers a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 17-60nm depending on how fast you go.

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Frauscher have also teamed up with Porsche for an all-electric version of their 8.5m Fantom model, which is due to launch in 2024 as part of a limit edition 25-boat series.

Frauscher 740 Mirage specification

LOA: 24ft 6in (7.47m) Motor: 1 x 60-110kW Battery: 40-80kWh Top speed: 26 knots Range: 17-60nm @ 26-5 knots Starting price: €216,616 (ex. VAT)

Greenline 40

Slovenian-based Greenline Yachts can lay claim to kickstarting the current trend for electric boats. Way back in 2008 it launched the first affordable diesel electric hybrid boat, a formula it has been refining and improving ever since.

Greenline now offers an extensive range of cruisers from 33ft to 68ft, all of which are available with all-electric as well as hybrid or conventional diesel power.

The mid-range Greenline 40 is a fine example; the all-electric version is powered by twin 50kW motors giving it a top speed of 11 knots and a range of up to 30nm at 7 knots with a small 4kW range extender increasing that to 75nm at 5 knots.

However, if you need more flexibility the Hybrid model is fitted with twin 220hp Volvo D3 diesel engines boosting the speed to 22 knots but still allowing electric-only cruising at 5 knots for up to 20nm.

Greenline 40 specification

LOA: 39ft 4in (11.99m) Motor: 2 x 50kW Battery: 2 x 40kWh Top speed: 11 knots Range: 30nm @ 7 knots Price: €445,000 (ex. VAT)

Hermes Speedster E

Inspired by the curvy lines of Porsche’s classic 1950s 356 Speedster, this achingly-gorgeous Hermes Speedster from UK-based Seven Seas Yachts, has been spinning heads since 2017.

The rakish, Greek-built 22-footer typically comes with a 115hp Rotax Biggles-style motor doing the powering. But more recently it’s been offered with an eco-friendly, 100kW electric motor juiced by a 30 kilowatt-hour battery pack.

Flat out it’ll do just over 30 knots. But throttle back to a more leisurely five knots and it’ll glide in stealthy silence for up to nine hours on a charge. Perfect for a trip up the Thames.

And for lovers of retro, it boasts a curvy chrome-framed windscreen, chrome-ringed gauges in a hand-stitched leather dash, bucket front seats in glove-soft marine leather, and chrome air intakes on the rear deck. A nautical piece of art? You bet.

Hermes Speedster E specifications

LOA: 22ft (6.7m) Motor: 100kW Battery: 1 x 35kWh Top speed: 30 knots Range: 50nm at 5 knots Price: $269,000 / £203,000

Hinckley Dasher

Mention the name Hinckley and you immediately conjure-up an image of gorgeous teak-and-stainless, water-jet-thrusted Picnic Boats. But the legendary New England builder has been looking to the future and investing big in electric power.

Its first offering is the sleek 28-foot, all-electric Dasher that comes complete with a BMW-developed lithium-ion battery pack and twin 80hp Torqeedo Deep Blue motors. The high-tech combo can punch the Dasher to a top speed of 23.5 knots. Ease back to seven knots and it’ll run for over five hours on a charge.

Available as an open-deck, fishing-focused runabout, or classic-style windshielded day boat, the Dasher is a hand-built Hinckley bow to stern.

That said, while the boat still looks like it oozes with mirror-varnished teak and stainless fittings, the teak is actually hand-painted composite, the stainless is 3D-printed titanium. That flag-blue hull? Made of carbon-epoxy composites with carbon stringers.

Hinckley Dasher specifications

LOA: 28ft 6in (6.7m) Motor: 2 x 50kW Battery: 40kWh Top speed: 23.5 knots Range: 40 miles at 20 knots Starting price: $545,000 / £412,000

The electric Iguana is capable of three knots on the land and 30 knots at sea

Iguana Foiler

Iguana Yachts has launched the world’s first battery-powered amphibious boat, called the Iguana Foiler. As if that weren’t enough, it also features folding foils and retractable caterpillar tracks.

The all-new 33ft Iguana Foiler is powered by a specially adapted version of Evoy’s new prototype 300hp electric outboard motor fed by a 120kWh lithium-ion battery bank.

To reduce drag and increase range, it rides on a pair of curved surface-piercing foils that fold down from each side and a third T-shaped foil at the rear fitted to a specially extended lower leg of the outboard.

Iguana Foiler specifications

Length: 32.8′ / 10m Beam (min): 10′ / 3.1m Engine: Single 300hp EVOY electric outboard Top speed: 30 knots Range: 50 miles Capacity: 8 people Price: TBC

Read more about the Iguana Foiler

The compact Magonis E-550 is a refreshinghly affordable electric option

Magonis Wave e-550

Spanish newcomer Magonis may not be the prettiest electric boat on the market but it is certainly one of the most affordable, with prices starting from as little €33,485 inc VAT.

Admittedly that only buys you the least powerful displacement-only 4kW version but even the most powerful 30kW model starts at a relatively modest €68,960 and boasts a top speed of 22 knots.

The key to its performance is a lightweight resin-infused hull that weighs just 335kg, which is powered by off-the-shelf electric outboards from Torqeedo and Mag Power.

Despite its diminutive proportions the squared-off bow means it is Category C rated for up to six people. Battery sizes vary from 10kWh to 23kWh according to engine power, giving a range of up to 60nm at 5 knots.

Magonis Wave e-550 specifications

LOA: 18ft 0in (5.50m) Motor: 1 x 4 – 30kW Battery: 1 x 10 – 23kWh Top speed: 22 knots Range: 30nm @ 3 knots Starting price: €33,485

Mantaray M24

What makes this 24ft Mannerfelt-designed runabout particularly interesting is its simplicity. Unlike its main foiling rival, the Candela C-7, the Mantaray M24 requires no complicated electronics to ‘fly’.

Instead it uses the builder’s patented mechanical hydrofoil system, which it has trademarked as Dynamic Wing Technology or DWT.

The technology is said to be the result of ten years’ development work and uses a retractable T-foil in the bow and H-foil amidships that self-stabilise mechanically.

Mantaray M24 specifications

LOA: 24ft 0in (5.50m) Motor: 48kW Battery: 26kWh Top speed: 30 knots Range: 60nm Starting price: TBC

Read more about the Mantaray M24

The Marian M800 doesn’t make any compromises on style or speed

Marian M800 Spyder

This Austrian yard only manufactures all-electric boats so they can be designed from the ground up to suit the packaging requirements of the battery and motor rather than having to accommodate big petrol or diesel engines too.

The result is a supremely elegant range of retro-inspired sportsboats from 19ft to 26ft, as well as a more prosaic lake cruiser. The latest M800 Spider, launched at the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival , is its prettiest boat yet, rivalling the Riva Iseo for sheer style.

With each boat being built to order, you can specify anything from a 10kW electric motor and affordable 200Ah AGM batteries for lake use up to a 150kW motor and 125kWh lithium ion batteries for a top speed 34 knots (waterskiing is also possible) and a range of 30nm at 16 knots.

Marian M800 Spyder specifications

LOA: 25ft 9in (7.90m) Motor: 1 x 10-150kW Battery: 10-125kWh Top speed: 34 knots Range: 30nm @16 knots Starting price: €238,560

Styling is a bold mix of retro design cues and futuristic detailing

Mayla FortyFour

German start-up Mayla Yachts is close to launching the first of its outrageous all-electric performance boats, called the Mayla FortyFour. Based on a Petestep deep-vee hull platform, this ultralight carbon fibre electric boat promises top speeds of over 70 knots.

Twin 800kW dual-core electric motors deliver up to 2,150hp of power to tunnel-mounted surface drives and thanks to the 4,800Nm of torque on tap, the second you apply the throttles, acceleration should be fearsome.

Power comes from either an all-electric 500kWh lithium-ion battery or a smaller 400kWh battery backed up by a 400hp (300kW) diesel generator and fuel tank. This hybrid boat version should give a maximum range of 270nm at 30 knots.

Mayla FortyFour specifications

LOA: 44ft (13.4 m) Beam: 10ft (3.0 m) Displacement: 6,200kgs Water capacity: 200L Power: Twin 400-800kW Battery: 400-500 kWh Li-ion Top speed: 70 knots Cruising range: 70nm (electric) / 270nm (hybrid) Price: TBC

Read more about the Mayla FortyFour

Anyone who has watched America’s Cup boats in action will know foiling does wonders for performance, which is the thinking at Silicon Valley-based and Sergey Brin-backed Navier, which is currently developing one very cool, and very clever, hydro-foiling electric dayboat, the Navier N30.

With its retractable foils and twin 90kW electric motors connected to a 80kWh battery bank, the carbon-hulled Navier can soar four feet above the waves at over 30 knots. Throttle back to 20 and the projected range is over 75 nautical miles, which Navier claims makes this the rangiest 30ft electric boat in the world.

You cake your pick from a Cabin version or open Hardtop, both of which come with a nifty self-docking feature (demonstrated in the video above). Navier says that the 2023 production run has sold out and it is already taking deposits on 2024 boats.

Navier N30 specifications

LOA: 30ft (9.1m) Beam: 8ft 6in (2.6m) Motor: 2 x 90kW Battery: 80kWh Top speed: 35 knots Range: 75 miles at 20 knots Starting price: From $300,000 / £226,000

Nero 777 Evolution

Designed in Italy and built in Germany, the new Nero 777 looks like a very appealing combination of style and engineering know-how. Due to launch in 2024, it will come with a choice of five Evoy propulsion systems ranging from 60kW all the way up to 300kW.

The latter will offer an impressive top speed in excess of 50 knots, making this one of the fastest electric boats in development. And with a Petestep hull, it should offer a very comfortable ride even at such rapid speeds. Bring the speed back to a leisurely 5 knots and the claimed range shoots up to an impressive 108nm.

Design-wise, the Neto 777 Evolution taps into the current trend for fold-down balconies, which can create a water-level beach club effect – no mean feat on such a compact boat.

Nero 777 Evolution specifications

LOA: 25ft 6in (7.77m) Beam: 8ft 8in (2.63m) Motor: 60-300kW Battery: 40-126kWh Top speed: 50 knots Range: 108nm at 5 knots Starting price: From €287,500

Nimbus 305 Coupe E-Power

Legendary Swedish yard Nimbus is renowned for its thoughtfully designed and sturdily built boats and the 305 Coupe is no exception.

Although originally designed for conventional combustion engines, it has been successfully adapted for electric use with the aid of a Torqeedo Deep Blue electric motor and a pair of 12.8kWh lithium ion batteries.

The recommended cruising speed is a modest 5.7 knots giving a range of 22nm at this speed but this can be almost doubled with the aid of a second optional battery.

Nimbus 305 Coupe E-Power specifications

LOA: 33ft 3in (10.07m) Motor: 1 x 25kW Battery: 1x 40kWh Top speed: 6.5 knots Range: 22nm @ 5.7 knots Starting price: €265,000 (ex. VAT)

One of the most striking elements of the Optima E10 is its hull shape. This stabilised monohull design features a slender central hull flanked by even thinner external ones, creating tunnels underneath.

This design enhances efficiency by reducing drag, allowing the boat to achieve fast displacement speeds of approximately 14 to 15 knots. The external riggers also contribute to the boat’s stability, ensuring a comfortable and smooth ride.

Measuring 10m in length (around 33 ft), the Optima E10 is powered solely by electricity. It does not feature a hybrid drive or combustion engine, thus maximising its efficiency. The boat is equipped with two 63kWh Kriesel batteries and a 40kW electric motor from Rad propulsion, equivalent to approximately 54hp.

Optima E10 specifications

LOA: 36ft 1in / 11m Motor: 40kW Rad Propulsion Batteries: 120kWh Kriesel Top speed: 15 knots Range: 200 nautical miles @ 6 knots Starting price: £400,000

Watch our yacht tour of the Optima E10

Pixii’s aluminium hull and powerful battery should deliver impressive range and performance

Pixii SP800

Although this budding British brand has yet to launch one of its pretty new Pixii SP800 electric sportsboats, the first one is already in build on the Isle of Wight.

Featuring a light but strong aluminium hull with either one or two electric motors linked to a jet drive and what is said to be a class-leading 150kWh battery pack, it has all the ingredients of a formidable contender.

We’ll have to wait to see if it lives up to its maker’s claims of a 40-knot top speed, but if it does, it would make it one of the fastest electric production boats on the market.

It even has the option of a remote anchoring system that lets you jump off onto a beach then drive it out into deeper water before dropping the hook!

Pixii SP800 specifications

LOA: 24ft 6in (7.5m) Motor: 2 x 25kW Battery: 1x 150kWh Top speed: 40 knots Range: 100nm @ 14 knots Starting price: £114,000 (inc. VAT)

Persico Zagato 100.2

Performance boat specialist Persico is set to launch its first all-electric superboat this year, called the Persico Zagato 100.2. Designed in collaboration with iconic automotive design house Zagato, the 26ft stunner is built around a revolutionary new steerable electric waterjet pod from Italian start-up Sealence.

The 100.2 part of the name celebrates Zagato’s second century in business, the new electric boat features a reverse bow, wraparound windshield, aft sunpad, rear bench-sofa and two front pilot seats, plus cuddy space beneath the foredeck.

However, it’s the ultra-efficient electric drivetrain that is likely to cause the biggest stir. The single 205kW  Sealence DeepSpeed  420 steerable azipod is said to give the new boat a top speed of 43 knots and a cruising speed of around 24 knots, at which the range should be almost 50nm.

Persico Zagato 100.2 specifications

LOA: 25ft 11in (7.9m) Motor: 205 kW electric integrated jet pod Battery: 2x 83kWh Top speed: 43.5 knots Range: 47nm @ 24 knots Starting price: TBC

Read more about the Persico Zagato 100.2

Q-Yachts Q30

This Finnish yard was established in 2016 with the idea of developing an elegant electric boat that gave the same swift, silent cruising experience as a high-end sailing boat but without having to worry about sails and crew.

The result is the Q30, a stylish open day boat with striking minimalist looks and a super efficient hull shape that allows it to slip through the water at speeds up to 14 knots, making almost no noise or wake.

It’s powered by a pair of 10kW Torqeedo motors and a relatively meagre 30kWh battery but such is its efficiency that it will cruise for 10 hours at 6 knots or 5 hours at 9 knots.

Q-Yachts Q30 specifications

LOA: 30ft 6in (9.3m) Beam: 7ft 3in (2.2m) Motor: 2 x 10kW Torqeedo Battery: 30-40kWh Top speed: 14 knots Range: 60nm @ 6 knots, 21nm @ 14 knots Starting price: €183,000 (ex. VAT)

Distinctive rebated topsides are a growing trend in small sportsboat design

Rand Source 22

Rand Boats claims its new Rand Source 22 is one of the most affordable electric sportsboats on the market, as well as one of the fastest.

Two electric boat options enable it to cover both these extremes in addition to a range of inboard and outboard petrol and diesel engines of up to 250hp.

When propelled by Torqeedo’s Deep Blue 50 outboard, it will carry a price tag of less than €100,000 but when fitted with Rand’s much more powerful 170kW electric inboard it will be capable of short-burst speeds of up to 50 knots and sustained cruising at 28 knots.

Rand Source 22 specifications

LOA: 22ft (6.7m) Motor: 170kW Battery: TBC Range: TBC Top speed: 50 knots Starting price: €63,900

Read more about the Rand Source 22

Ripple Boats 10m Day Cruiser

Hailing from Norway and launched at the 2023 Cannes Yachting Festival, Ripple Boats is a new brand founded by Frydenbø Marine and Pascal Technologies.

They have raised over €4million of funding for their start-up venture and their debut model will be a 10m day cruiser developed by Thorup Design.

Key features from the initial renderings include an extendable hard-top bimini with inset glazing, plus the now ubiquitous folding balconies.

Should this debut model prove successful, Ripple Boats have plans to build a wide range of electric boats from 6-11m.

Ripple Boats 10m Day Cruiser specifications

LOA: 32ft 10in (10m) Beam: 10ft 6in (3.2m) Motor: 2 x 93kW Battery: 190 kWh Range: 45nm Cruising speed: 25 knots Starting price: TBC

Only Riva could produce an electric boat that looks as pretty as this

Riva El-Iseo

As its name suggests the El-Iseo is an all-electric version of Riva’s entry-level sportsboat, the gloriously retro 27 Iseo.

The heart of the El-Iseo is a 250kW Parker GVM310 electric motor that spins a Mercury Bravo Three XR sterndrive leg. The prototype is capable of 40 knots, much the same as it delivers with its usual 300hp petrol or diesel engine options.

However, those who have driven the electric version say it’s the acceleration that really stands out. The quoted range figures are one hour at 25 knots or 10 hours at five knots, meaning a range of 25nm at planing speeds or 50nm in displacement mode.

Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi says that they will not start selling the El-Iseo or commit to a price until they have thoroughly tested the prototype and are certain it will deliver the performance, safety and reliability expected of a Riva.

The production model will be packaged with the latest electronics including a smart management system that reduces speed when the battery runs low and collision-avoidance software. “If it is going to be a Riva, it has to be perfect,” said Galassi.

Riva El-Iseo specifications

LOA:   27ft (8.2m) Motor: 250kW Battery: 150kWh Top speed: 40 knots Range: 50nm Starting price: TBC

RS Pulse 63

RS Sailing is the first British yard to offer a production ready electric planing RIB in the form of the RS Pulse 63 . With a super efficient hull design by Jo Richards, the man behind the hugely successful RS range of sailing dinghies, and styling by superyacht studio Design Unlimited, it looks like a really enticing package.

Power comes from a brand new 40kW RAD propulsion system, that claims to be safer and more efficient than an exposed propeller, linked to a bespoke 46kW Hyperdrive battery pack.

This delivers a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 25-100nm miles depending on speed but can be further increased with the aid of an optional extra 23kWh battery pack.

RS Pulse 63 specifications

LOA: 20ft 8in (6.30m) Motor: 1 x 40kW Battery: 46kW Top speed: 23 knots Range: 25-100nm @ 20-5 knots Starting price: £82,800 (inc. VAT)

Watch our sea trial video of the RS Pulse 63

SAY Carbon Yachts 29 E

As the name suggests, this German yard is renowned for its ultra light, high performance carbon fibre craft and it’s these same properties that make the SAY Carbon Yachts 29 E such a compelling electric craft.

This slender, low draught speed machine weighs less than two tonnes all up, including a powerful 360kW Kreisel electric motor and 120kWh battery. Hardly surprising then that it also holds the record for the world’s fastest production electric boat (under 9m) after scorching to a top speed of 50 knots on an Austrian lake in 2018.

Use the power more sparingly and the yard claims a range of 25nm at 22 knots, while a built in 22kW charger delivers a full recharge in just six hours.

SAY Carbon Yachts 29 E specifications

LOA: 29ft (8.85m) Motor: 1 x 360kW Battery: 120kWh Top speed: 52 knots Range: 25nm @ 22 knots Starting price: €396,460 (ex. VAT)

Silent 28 Speed

Silent Yachts ’ electric-powered Silent 28 Speed grabbed headlines at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival thanks to a claimed top speed of more than 60 knots and an impressive range of 70nm at 30 knots. The secret to its performance is a foil-assisted hull with unique surface-piercing propellers.

Pushed along by twin 100kW eD-QDrive electric motors hooked up to a 100kWh lithium-ion battery bank topped up by built-in solar panels, it demonstrates that serious performance is no longer the preserve of petrol powered boats. No price has been announced.

Silent 28 Speed specifications

LOA: 28ft (8.6m) Motor: 2 x 100kW Battery: 100kW Top speed: >60 knots Range: 70nm Starting price: TBC

SpiritBARTech35EF

A marriage of gloriously retro styling and cutting-edge foiling technology, this electric foiler was commissioned as a chase-boat toy by the same European owner that took delivery in early 2020 of Spirit Yachts ’ largest and most technologically advanced project to date, the 111ft super-sloop Geist .

She was drawn by Spirit Yachts’ CEO and chief designer Sean McMillan, who admits to taking his principal inspiration from a slightly smaller twice Gold Cup winning hydroplane of mid-1920s America called Baby Bootlegger , which sported a similar near-plumb bow, long varnished foredeck and a two-seat cockpit.

The vessel encompasses a modified electric motor, developed for motorsport, and three integrated foils. The claimed top speed is 30 knots, but the usual fast cruise speed will be in the low 20s, at which the quoted range is 100nm.

This was put to the test on July 17, with the SpiritBARTech35EF setting a new electric boat record for fastest circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight, covering 51m in 1hr 56mins at an average speed just shy of 23 knots.

Spirit 35 Foiler specifications

LOA: 35ft (10.6m) Motor: TBC Battery: TBC Top speed: 28 knots Range: 100nm at 20 knots Price: Available on application

Read more about the SpiritBARTech35EF

Super Air Nautique GS22E

Based on the petrol-powered GS22 wake surf boat, the Super Air Nautique GS22E is packed with the best features available. These include a hydraulic folding wake tower, custom finishes, a configurable cockpit, and a customizable running surface that can change the characteristics from ski boat to wake surf or wakeboard use via a simple touchscreen at the helm. The boat can even be optioned with an electric stern thruster to make docking a doddle.

As well as being virtually silent underway, this electric boat version can offer up to three hours’ use on a single charge. The huge flat torque curve of the electric power plant perfectly suits tow sports use and onboard telemetry constantly monitors and reports the engine’s performance.

The significant $140,000 premium over the petrol powered version means this model will not be for everyone, however the emissions-free GS22E is the first of its kind and potentially the wake surf boat of the future.

Super Air Nautique GS22E specifications

LOA: 22ft / 6.7m Motor: 1 x 220kW Battery: 124kWh Top speed: 37.5 knots Range: 2-3hrs usage Starting price: $312,952

Vita isn’t just a boat-building company, it also hopes to sell off-the-shelf electric drivetrains to other yards. Given the impressive performance and range of its own flagship LION model, this could prove a very smart move.

This elegant 10.5m day boat packs roughly the same amount of battery power as four Tesla 3 models and, thanks to a pair of 150kW electric motors linked to a single Mercury Bravo sterndrive, it goes like one too.

In fact Vita has to limit the amount of torque the motors put out to stop it shredding the gears. Despite this it maxes out at around 35 knots and can cruise for 90 minutes at 22 knots or almost 10 hours at 6-7 knots.

Vita LION specifications

LOA: 32ft 9in (10.5m) Motor: 2 x 150kW Battery: 235kWh Top speed: 35 knots Range: 33-70nm @ 22-7 knots Starting price: £750,000 (ex. VAT)

Watch our full sea trial review of the Vita LION

Voltari 260

Typically, the brand new Voltari 260 electric boat is all about going fast. With its high-torque 740hp electric motor juiced by a 142kWh bank of lithium-ion Evereadys, it can slice and dice the waves at an impressive 52 knots.

But when there’s a world record to be broken, it’s worth a compromise or two. So, to claim the gong for covering the longest overseas distance in an electric “vehicle” on a single charge, the Voltari streaked along at a heady… 4.3 knots.

That meant covering the 91-miles between Key Largo, Florida, across the often-boisterous Gulf Stream, to Bimini in the Bahamas in what must have seemed an endless 20 hours. But it got the job done, and on a single charge.

Voltari 260 specifications

LOA: 28ft 11in (8.6m) Motor: 551kW Batteries: 142kWh Top speed: 52 knots Range: 91 miles @ 4 knots Starting price: $450,000

Read more about the Voltari 260

The big claim for the new X Shore 1 is that it’s the first all-electric 30-knot sportsboat to be priced at under €100,000 ex taxes, making it the cheapest electric planing runabout in Europe.

With an LOA of 21ft 4in (6.5m), it is around 5ft shorter than the original X-Shore Eelex 8000 and €150,000 cheaper. It is powered by a 125kW electric motor with a single 63kWh Kreisel battery (the Eelex has a 225kW motor and two 63kWh batteries) but thanks to the 1’s smaller, lighter hull it boasts the same top speed of 30 knots and a similar range of 20nm at 20 knots or 50nm at 6 knots (the Eelex can do 100nm at low speed).

The X-Shore 1 is available either as an open boat with a half height windscreen or a semi-enclosed Top version with the aid of an extended windscreen, a small hard top and canopies protecting the helm. Unlike the walkaround Eelex, it also has an enclosed foredeck with a cuddy underneath for overnighting.

X Shore has also started branching out into the realm of commercial boats. Based on the Eelex 8000 platform, the first X Shore Pro is being used for school transportation in the Swedish archipelago.

X-Shore 1 specifications

LOA: 21ft 4in (6.5m) Motor: 125kW Battery: 63kWh Top speed: 30 knots Range: 50nm @ 6 knots Starting price: <€100,000 (ex. VAT)

Watch our full video tour of the X-Shore 1

ZIN’s waif-like sportsboat has a claimed range of 100nm at 13 knots

Seattle-based start-up Zin Electric Boats claims an astonishing range of up to 100nm for its pretty little Z2R sportsboats. Its secret is a super-lightweight all-carbon fibre hull that allows it to plane efficiently at just 13 knots.

As with many of these boats it is powered by Torqeedo’s 55kW electric motor linked to the same company’s 45kWh battery adapted from the BMW i3 electric car.

The first prototype reached a faintly terrifying 48 knots flat out but the production version is being limited to 30 knots to extend the range. Acceleration should still be lightning quick though thanks to the motor’s impressive torque.

Zin Z2R specifications

LOA: 20ft 0in (6.1m) Motor: 55kW Torqeedo Battery: 40kWh Top speed: 30 knots Range : 100nm @13 knots Price: $250,000 (ex. VAT)

Zodiac 450 e-jet

French RIB specialist Zodiac is developing an entire range of small, affordable electric RIBs in conjunction with Torqeedo, but in the meantime it has already started building a state-of-the-art electric jet-RIB, predominantly for use as a superyacht tender.

Powered by a 50kW Torqeedo Deep Blue motor with a 40kWh battery from the BMW i3 car driving a low drag water jet, it can reach a max speed of 30 knots.

It also boasts a useful 90 minutes of cruising time at 24 knots, equating to a range of 36nm. High quality Neoprene tubes, retractable seating and hand-sewn quilted seats help justify its price and intended target market.

The new 3.1m and 3.4m eOpen range won’t be quite as quick but will have a range of around 10nm at 12 knots, and with prices from €25,200, they’re more affordable.

Zodiac 450 e-jet specifications

LOA: 14ft 9in (4.5m) Motor: 50kW Torqeedo Battery 40kWh Top speed: 30 knots Range: 36nm @ 24 knots Price: €140,800 (ex. VAT)

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Electric yacht comparison - Which electric yacht fits you?

• updated: 14. October 2022

Alva Yachts Ocean Eco 60ex – Image: Alva Yachts

Electric yachts are becoming increasingly popular as a result of people’s increased environmental consciousness and limitations caused by climate change. However, with more and more models and manufacturers on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. In this electric yacht comparison, you will get an overview of the different models available and learn about the factors that you should consider when making your decision. So read on to find out more!

In this comparison are only electric yachts of over 10 meters in length, if you are looking for a smaller boat, check out our electric boat comparison .

Table of Contents

Electric yacht comparison.

*Base Price excluding VAT, Customs Fees, etc. This is only a reference, the actual price in your country may vary greatly. Therefore, the euro and the dollar were also considered equivalent here.

Alva Yachts - ECO Cruise 50

The ECO CRUISE 50 is a monohull yacht that has less space for solar panels than the catamarans of this size. But the ECO CRUISE 50 has the advantage of taking less room and is simpler to handle in port. The rooms are also closer together because you don’t have to go from one hull to the other. With a unique design that includes a huge beach club area with ample area to park the yachts tender and a jet ski while traveling, it’s suitable for both families and groups of friends. Alva Yachts’ designs are forward-thinking and contemporary, reflecting a creative vision. Natural materials and lighting are emphasized. The Owner version has room for 6 passengers and 2 crew berths, whereas the Charter version has space for 8 passengers and 2 crew berths. The performance version has a maximum speed of 20 knots.

Alva Yachts - Ocean ECO 60

The OCEAN ECO 60 is a solar-powered electric long-range cruiser catamaran. The electric yacht’s cutting-edge technology-focused design allows you to cruise indefinitely at a comfortable speed of 5 knots without relying on shore power, as the solar panels provide enough electricity for the electric motor. However, you can add a hydrogen or diesel generator in case the clouds are ever not in your favor or if you prefer to travel at higher speeds. To complement the luxurious and pleasant design of this solar electric catamaran, you may also add a jacuzzi and a sauna to fully unwind on your yacht.

Alva Yachts - OCEAN ECO 60 EX

The only distinction between the OCEAN ECO 60 EX and the regular model is the fully enclosed flybridge.

Alva Yachts - OCEAN ECO 90

The OCEAN ECO 90 is a luxury solar electric motor superyacht that offers superbly comfortable and spacious accommodation, with an exterior and interior design that is uniquely appealing. Superyachts with electric propulsion can also feel like the next generation, as the OCEAN ECO 90 shows. With cutting-edge forms, futuristic and minimal architecture, this vessel is suited to forward-thinking clients. While the electric yacht is at anchor or quietly cruising the seas, you may leisurely sunbathe outdoors or enjoy your espresso. Alternatively, there’s plenty of room for family gatherings and parties. You may also embrace the visitors inside of the spacious, well-lit saloon.

There is plenty of room for tenders, jet skis, and other watercraft and water toys, as well as additional features, to suit your taste.

Alva Yachts - OCEAN ECO 90 EX

As for the Ocean Eco 60, the only distinction between the OCEAN ECO 90 EX and the regular model is the fully enclosed flybridge.

AQUON - AQUON One

The Aquon One is a hydrogen yacht, where the energy is generated through water electrolysis. This means that hydrogen is produced with the help of the energy generated by the solar cells. The hydrogen generated is stored in hydrogen tanks and used to charge the battery bank, which powers the electric motors. The combination of hydrogen and oxygen will not only lead to impressive performance but also charge the batteries. The AQUON One can achieve a speed of 20 knots and it may travel an unlimited distance at 4 to 6 knots.

AQUON uses sustainable materials in production: Wall paneling is constructed from bamboo, some walls are constructed of a combination of flax and carbon fibers, furniture is crafted from veneer, recycled leather from shoe production is used on the main floor, sustainable Portuguese cork is used in wet areas for floor and wall coverings.

The smart yacht is outfitted with innovative communication technology and high-speed internet that enables IoT devices. Even the window shading is intelligent and adjusts to the position of the sun and ambient conditions, making it very energy efficient as less energy is needed to air-condition the vessel.

To estimate the AQUON One Price , consider the cost of similar size electric yachts in this comparison and add a good premium for electrolysis and hydrogen propulsion. Remember that with this technology you can save a lot of money.

Greenline Yachts - Greenline 39

Greenline 39 is a small electric yacht with a good space layout. The abundance of natural light inside due to the 360˚ panoramic view gives a spacious feeling on deck.

The cockpit and galley may be readily integrated into a single large social area so that you may do what you love best with the people who matter most to you. Whether you want to catch up with friends at a local island or head out for a day on the water, the Greenline 39 will get you there. With an 8 kWp solar panel output, you can go up to two days on anchor without requiring any shore energy.

Greenline Yachts - Greenline 40

The main differences between the Greenline 39 and the Greenline 40 are the shape and the roof. The Greenline 39 has a sportier build than the Greenline 40, but the Greenline 40 has a larger roof. The larger roof provides more space for the solar cells that generate energy for the electric motors. The roof of the Greenline 40 may be opened to a larger extent than on the Greenline 39.

Greenline Yachts - Greenline 45

The Greenline 45 is available in two versions the Greenline 45 Coupe with a large roof and the Greenline 45 Fly with a flybridge. The Greenline 45 Coupe has a bigger roof area than the Greenline 45 Fly, allowing it to accommodate more solar panels that may power the electric propulsion with 13 kWp rather than 8 kWp. Both models have the same interior layout, giving you plenty of area for your family, guests, and a full-beam master cabin.

The Greenline 45 can travel 30 nautical miles fully electric on a single charge. It is capable of speeds of up to 13 knots and has all the facilities required for overnight cruising with up to 8 berths and 2 toilets/ bathrooms.

Greenline Yachts - Greenline 48

The Greenline 48 is also available in two styles: the Greenline 48 Coupe with a big roof and the Greenline 48 Fly with a flybridge. The Coupe version features 13 kWp of solar panels, compared to 8 kWp on the Flybridge model. The battery banks on both models may be charged either by shore power or from the sun. The Greenline 48 has a fully electric range of 30 nautical miles at a speed of 7 knots. The top speed of the electric version is 13 knots.

The spacious bow deck provides a great place to sunbathe with a large bathing platform at the stern. The interior is very open and provides an abundance of natural light from panoramic windows all around. The interior comes with a stunning full-beam master cabin, a walk-in closet, and a full-size freezer.

Greenline Yachts - Greenline 68

The Greenline 68 has an impressive flybridge design. This makes access to the sun deck for sunbathing or relaxation easy and provides plenty of space on the roof for solar panels that power its 12 kWp electric propulsion system. The electric version of the Greenline 68 is capable of speeds up to 10 knots and can travel 15 nautical miles on a single charge. The Greenline 68 has a range of 30 nautical miles in both its electric and fuel-powered variants. On the inside, it provides all the luxuries expected from a large yacht including two staterooms with queen size beds, two full-size bathrooms, and an open main deck plan.

Silent Yachts - Silent 60

Silent Yachts is the best known electric yacht manufacturer. The founding couple has achieved this primarily by building an outstanding team, parts of which are former Tesla employees, and clever marketing. Of course, they also have an advantage due to their early involvement in the field.

The Silent 60 is the next step in the evolution of the legendary Silent 64 and won “Best of Boats” awards in the category “Best for Travel”. The Silent 60 combines all of the previous model’s finest features with improved performance, a sleek design, and lower environmental impact. It can be driven by two people comfortably and has up to 4 cabins onboard based on the version (Front Master or Front Exit). The Silent 60 has an unlimited range at low speeds. If you want it faster, you can combine the solar panels’ 17 kWp output with an automatic kite.

Silent Yachts - Silent 62 3-Deck

The Silent 3-Deck is the three-deck version of the Silent 60, which has two additional feet as a result of adding the deck. The Open and Closed versions of the Silent 3-Deck are two separate options. The closed-deck version has also two different variants: one with a closed sky lounge and one with an owner’s suite on the third deck. If you like the Silent 60, finding a Silent 60 or 62 that is not suitable for your needs is nearly impossible.

Silent Yachts - Silent 80

The Silent 80 offers all the benefits of the Silent 60 with even more room, so if you want to spend some quality time with even more family and friends, you might want to look deeper at the specifications of this electric yacht. It boasts an impressive top speed of 20 knots, promising a smooth ride in most conditions. The Silent 80 has all the perks of being fully electric including being silent, ecologically friendly, and with no gasoline smell or noise. The unlimited range is also impressive. The Silent 80’s open layout makes it feel roomy and our favorite spot is the flybridge with the retractable roof.

Silent Yachts - Silent 80 3-Deck

The Silent 80 3-Deck is the three-story version of the Silent 80, hence the name. It has a similar relationship as the Silent 62 3-Deck to the Silent 60, but without gaining two additional feet in length. The top deck of the solar electric yacht can be either an open sky lounge or if you choose the closed version, it can be a closed sky lounge or an owner’s lounge with a 360 view of the ocean. The 45m² sky lounge is definitely a great place to party with a huge bar and dining area.

Silent Yachts - Silent 100

The Silent 100 is the newest flagship from Silent Yachts. It’s the biggest yacht with electric propulsion systems and a lot of cleverly placed design accents. Marco Casali, who also designed the majority of other electric yachts in the range, created this solar electric yacht. He used curves to create a timeless design with the most optimal performance possible for this size. All of the measurements are carefully placed to enhance stability even at high speeds of up to 16 knots, but also make it extremely comfortable. The Silent 100 has four decks, with the fourth one hidden beneath the retractable part of the solar roof, and on this floor is also a landing pad. The entire solar roof generates an impressive output of up to 40 kW per hour, which supplies both the onboard power and the two 340 kW electric motors.

For water toys and tenders there are also two tender garages. One between the two hulls, where can store a tender of up to 7,50m, and one smaller garage in the side-loading garage in the portside hull.

Soel Yachts - Soel Senses 48

The Soel Senses 48 has enough room for up to 12 people in a comparable small, yet spacious, size of 14.50m. Each of the two cabins, one in each hull, is paired with a bathroom. A versatile sleeping area in the salon can further accommodate up to four people. The optimum cruising speed for this electric yacht is 10 knots, but you can reach a top speed of 18 knots. At 10 knots, the largest battery package can travel a distance of 56 nm. The electric propulsion system is from Naval DC (both motor and battery). With shore power, the battery pack may be charged at up to 18 kW when the 2.7 kWp output of the solar roof isn’t enough.

Soel Yachts - Soel Senses 62

Soel Yachts’ Soel Senses 62 is designed in a timeless style that will most likely never go out of style, like sustainability. This solar electric yacht has a dynamic elegance with refined interior design and a beautiful exterior silhouette. The salon extends almost the whole width of the vessel, allowing for lots of natural light inside. The rooms combine to form a well-integrated design that provides enough seclusion in the private cabins. A spacious master suite, two guest cabins, and a kids cabin offer plenty of space for a memorable holiday with family and friends. There’s also a separate crew cabin with its own entry. There are also optional diesel generators for longer trips, such as a trans-ocean journey, to ensure that you have enough electricity. When the conditions aren’t optimal to reach the full 17.6 kWp output of the solar panels.

Solarimpact Yacht - The SWATH Yacht

The SWATH Yacht from Solarimpact Yacht surprises with its unique shape. Not only the S.W.A.T.H hull shape, but the whole design of the yacht looks very futuristic and it is easy to see here that this is a vision. A vision that may not make it onto the water in this form, as it is, unfortunately, the case with many concept vehicles. Unfortunately, because we would like to see the vision become a reality as it brings creative design to the 80-foot electric yacht sector since most of them are just larger versions of smaller yachts.

Solarimpact Yacht - CAT 80

Compared to the SWATH yacht, the CAT 80 is a more set variant with the same length. Externally a very simple catamaran design is used, in the interior similar options are available as in the SWATH yacht. This creates elegance on a completely different basis.

Sunreef Yachts - 60 Sunreef Power Eco

Sunreef Yachts has a special approach to the placement of solar panels. This is because not only the roof is covered with solar panels, but also the outside of the hulls of the catamaran and all other non-walkable surfaces are covered. In addition, there is the possibility of equipping the yacht with wind turbines to use the energy for the electric motors. The energy is then temporarily stored in the ultra-light battery bank. They use recyclable and ethical materials (such as linen, basalt, reclaimed teak flooring or antifouling with silicon)for their ECO Line. Sunreef Yachts’ Eco line is based on the yachts with combustion engine. This not only allows Sunreef to save costs in development, but also benefits through targeted selection of Brand Ambassadors. For example, Rafael Nadal’s yacht the Great White is a 80 Sunreef Power, so not an ECO yacht like the one Nico Rosberg is getting.

See more in this video:

The 60 Sunreef Power Eco Yacht offers a solar output of 14 kWp due to the placement of the solar panels, has two 180 kW electric motors on board with a battery bank of up to 320 kW. The electric catamaran can accommodate up to 12 people and 4 crew members.

Sunreef Yachts - 70 Sunreef Power Eco

The 70 Sunreef Power Eco Yacht is the bigger version of the 60. Therefore is a lot more room in this model.

Sunreef Yachts - 80 Sunreef Power Eco

The 80 Sunreef Power Eco Yacht is the larger brother of the 70. With more length and a wider beam.

Electric Yacht FAQs

The cheapest yacht in this comparison is the Silent Yachts Silent 60 with a base price of 2.770.000,00 €. However, there are cheaper electric yachts in this comparison, but the price is not publicly communicated. Especially the smaller yachts from Greenline Yachts should be significantly cheaper. If you inquire with Greenline Yachts and the price does not match your budget, we recommend you to take a look at our electric boat comparison . Especially the boats with cabin might fit your needs and budget.

There are 8 solar powered electric yacht companies in this comparison.

Solar powered electric yachts: a great step into the future of yachting

Take a step and enjoy the advantage of solar electric yachts with zero emissions. Neither noise nor CO2 is emitted with solar powered electric yachts. A great step into the future.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You have a lot of information about electric yachts and the features that are important to them. Hopefully we were able to help point out some key things for your next purchase so you can get exactly what you need. But don’t forget – if there’s anything else not mentioned in our blog post that you’re wondering about or want more information on, feel free reach out with any questions at all! We’ll be happy to answer them as best we can.

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Top 10 Electric Super Yachts

Electric Yachts vessels utilise electric propulsion systems powered by advanced battery technologies, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and minimising environmental impact. EV yachts boast whisper-quiet operation, zero emissions, and enhanced manoeuvrability, providing a serene and eco-conscious cruising experience. As the world increasingly embraces renewable energy solutions, EV yachts emerge as the pinnacle of green luxury, seamlessly blending opulence with environmental responsibility on the open seas.

Amels electric yachts redefine luxury cruising with a sustainable edge. Integrating advanced electric propulsion systems, they prioritise eco-conscious cruising without compromising on opulence. These vessels represent a harmonious blend of innovation and environmental responsibility, offering discerning travellers an unmatched yachting experience on the open seas.

9 | Heesen Yachts

Heesen's electric yachts (EV Yachts) marry luxury with sustainability on the open seas. Equipped with cutting-edge electric propulsion systems, they prioritise eco-friendly cruising without compromising on elegance. These vessels redefine luxury travel, offering discerning travellers an exceptional blend of environmental consciousness and comfort for unforgettable maritime journeys.

8 | Abeking & Rasmussen

Abeking & Rasmussen's electric yachts epitomise luxury and sustainability at sea. Integrating advanced electric propulsion systems, A&R EV Yachts prioritise eco-conscious cruising without compromising opulence. These vessels redefine luxury travel, offering discerning adventurers an unparalleled blend of environmental responsibility and refined comfort for unforgettable maritime experiences.

7 |  Lürssen

Sunseeker's electric yachts combine luxury and sustainability for unparalleled maritime experiences. They offer eco-conscious cruising with advanced electric propulsion systems without compromising opulence. These vessels redefine luxury travel, providing discerning adventurers with a seamless blend of environmental responsibility and refined comfort on the open seas.

6 | Sunseeker

5 | princess yachts.

Princess electric yachts (EV Yachts) epitomise luxury and sustainability on the high seas. With cutting-edge electric propulsion systems, they prioritise eco-conscious cruising without compromising on opulence. These vessels redefine luxury travel, offering discerning travellers an exquisite blend of environmental responsibility and unmatched comfort for unforgettable maritime experiences.

4 |  Oceanco

Oceanco's electric yachts redefine luxury cruising with a sustainable edge. Integrating advanced electric propulsion systems, Oceanco's EV yachts prioritise eco-friendliness and silent operation. With their signature craftsmanship and innovative design, Oceanco EV Yachts offer discerning travellers an unparalleled blend of opulence and environmental responsibility on the open seas.

3 | Feadship

Feadship's electric yachts represent the pinnacle of sustainable luxury at sea. Integrating advanced electric propulsion systems, they prioritise zero emissions and silent cruising. With impeccable craftsmanship and innovative design, Feadship EV Yachts offer an unparalleled blend of opulence and environmental responsibility for discerning travellers.

2  | CRN

CRN electric yachts redefine luxury cruising with a commitment to sustainability and innovation. Incorporating advanced electric propulsion systems and cutting-edge battery technology, CRN's EV yachts offer unparalleled performance and eco-friendliness. These vessels prioritise zero emissions and silent operation, providing an exquisite cruising experience while minimising environmental impact. With meticulous attention to detail and impeccable craftsmanship, CRN EV Yachts exemplify the future of green luxury on the open seas, setting a new standard for responsible maritime travel.

1 | Benetti

Benetti electric yachts epitomise a harmonious blend of luxury and sustainability on the high seas. Benetti's EV yachts offer a revolutionary cruising experience with cutting-edge electric propulsion systems and state-of-the-art battery technology. These vessels prioritise eco-consciousness, boasting zero emissions and whisper-quiet operation while maintaining the exquisite craftsmanship and opulence that Benetti is renowned for. From sleek design to unparalleled comfort, Benetti EV Yachts redefine luxury cruising, setting a new standard for environmentally responsible maritime travel.

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Make sure you check out the latest edition of  EV Magazine  and feel free to sign up to our global conference series -  Sustainability LIVE 2024.

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Sustainability at sea: Sunreef is integrating recycled plastic bottles into solar electric yachts

Sunreef Yachts is already a solar electric boatbuilder recognized for its sustainability efforts in the maritime industry but is now taking things a step greener. The company is now integrating recycled PET bottles into its solar electric yacht production process.

• Electric boats

Sunreef Yachts unveils new luxe solar electric Explorer catamaran with over 1,000 kWh in batteries

Sustainable boatbuilder Sunreef Yachts is adding a sleeker, lighter solar electric catamaran to its portfolio. The new Explorer Eco 40m is the company’s smallest electric yacht to date, but debuts with some of the most advanced technology, including Sunreef’s proprietary “solar skin”

Sunreef shows off gorgeous 80-foot solar electric luxury yacht ahead of US debut this month

Eco-responsible shipbuilder Sunreef Yachts had given the public its first glimpse of its new 80-foot solar electric yacht before it makes it US debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida later this month. The 80 Sunreef Power Eco is a fully-electric luxury catamaran that could very well be one of the most advanced solar electric yachts built to date.

This new solar electric yacht with its own spa pool and theater awaits you

Renowned luxury yacht maker, Sunreef, released plans for a new 108-ft (33-m) solar-powered electric superyacht complete with its own pool spa and indoor theater. Did I mention it’s also fully autonomous?

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• Alva Yachts

ALVA Yachts goes long with a 90-foot solar electric superyacht boosted by hydrogen and wing sails

Luxury electric boatbuilder ALVA Yachts is doing what many in the maritime industry consistently strive toward – building vessels bigger and better. Its latest solar electric catamaran is a 90-foot superyacht called the OCEAN ECO 90 H2 – in addition to zero-emissions propulsion and sustainable power, it adds hydrogen fuel cells and a wing sail propulsion system to alleviate any need for fuel aboard. Oh, don’t forget the jacuzzi up top.

• Hydrogen Boats

This 64-foot hydrogen electric yacht uses solar and sea water to power itself with ‘unlimited range’

European yacht broker MYSEA has announced the beginning of sales of the AQUON One eco-catamaran – a solar electric yacht powered by the sun and hydrogen fuel cells with luxurious accommodations for eight to ten passengers without any emissions.

This 8,400-sq.-ft. Domus solar trimaran concept plans to deliver unlimited range at sea with zero emissions

Meet Domus – the solar electric sailing yacht concept created as a collaboration between Rob Doyle Design and Van Geest Design. This 40-meter sailing vessel promises to deliver the interior volume of a 60-meter yacht and can propel itself using wind, solar, hydro regeneration, and hydrogen fuels cells to deliver “unlimited range.” All without any carbon emissions. Did we mention it has a movie theater?

ALVA Yachts introduces new 78-foot solar electric catamaran with ‘transatlantic range’

Luxury electric boatbuilder ALVA Yachts is back with its latest solar electric catamaran. The upcoming OCEAN ECO 78 will arrive as a mid-size marine vessel in ALVA’s current lineup and comes equipped with the solar and electric propulsion technology to reach a top speed of 14-15 knots (16-17 mph) at sea, plus plenty of battery capacity to go far – all backed by solar panels on its roof.

• electric boat
• Lurssen Yachts

Meet Project Cosmos: 1,000 mile range, emissions-free megayacht from Apple Watch designer

German luxury boatbuilder Lürssen Yachts has shared video footage of it successfully launching a zero-emissions megayacht longer than two olympic swimming pools, suspected to be commissioned by a Japanese billionaire. The exterior of hydrogen powered megayacht, codenamed Project Cosmos, is being designed by Apple designer Marc Newson.

ZEN Yachts secures $5.9M in Series A alongside new orders for its solar electric catamaran

Nascent solar electric catamaran manufacturer ZEN Yachts has announced the closing of a Series A funding round totaling 5.5 million euros ($5.86M), sponsored entirely by Ocean Zero, LLC. The zero emissions boatbuilder looks to use the fresh round of funding to continue construction of the first hulls of its ZEN50 solar electric catamaran, of which additional preorders have now been secured.

• Silent Yachts
• Silent-60 Yacht

First voyage on the solar electric SILENT 60 yacht

After previously following and reporting on Silent Yachts , the solar-electric boat maker invited me down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to experience a cruise on the vessel for myself. The SILENT 60 yacht is a solar electric catamaran that represents the future of zero-emissions maritime travel and a mere stepping stone to the more advanced vessels Silent Yachts is already developing next.

• Solar power

Check out ArkHAUS – A modular, floating, solar-electric social club for members only

If you thought Soho House was exclusive, wait until you see this. ArkHAUS is an upcoming members-only social club that is as innovative as it is stylish, offering multiple solar-powered, electrically propelled vessels than can be connected to create large floating spaces to work, socialize, and enjoy the views – all while supporting local marine research cleanly beneath the vessel.

• Hogdgon Yachts

The oldest shipyard in the US will build Vita’s new LION high performance electric boat

Vita, a manufacturer of performance electric boats and electrified marine powertrains, announced its flagship model, the LION, will be manufactured in Maine by Hodgdon Yachts – the oldest shipyard in the United States. When it begins sea trials this summer, the LION will boast impressive marine propulsion specs.

• Electric Boat Charging
• Soel Yachts

Soel Yachts unveils 62 ft solar electric catamaran with 564 kWh battery capacity and ‘trans-ocean range’

Another day and another solar electric yacht shared with the world, each seemingly going further and faster. The latest announcement comes from Soel Yachts out of the Netherlands, whose new Senses 62 solar electric catamaran boasts some large battery capacity for a yacht, providing what the company calls “trans-ocean range…” however far that means.

ZEN Yachts sells its first ZEN50 electric catamaran featuring solar roof, automated wingsail, and plans for Starlink internet

Infant electric boat manufacturer, ZEN Yachts, has announced its first US order for its flagship ZEN50 solar electric catamaran . The zero-emission sailing yacht is currently under construction in Europe and will arrive with some pretty luxurious features including two kitchens, a high-tech fully-automated wingsail, and Starlink internet from SpaceX.

Luxury e-boat brand ALVA Yachts introduces OCEAN ECO 60 Coupé solar catamaran with twin 250kW electric motors

ALVA Yachts has introduced the latest addition to its family of all-electric luxury sailboats and yachts with the OCEAN ECO 60 Coupé, a 60-foot electric catamaran with solar panels. The Coupé arrives as a new, sportier version of ALVA’s ECO 60 and ECO 60 Explorer electric yachts, offering a lower profile silhouette and innovative new features.

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The award-winning entry to solar-electric yachts

As the successor to the Silent 64 (the first ever solar powered production yacht to cross the Atlantic Ocean during January of 2018), the 60 Series is equipped with the most refined, efficient and clever technology available today. Being a multi-award winner, including the prestigious “Best of Boats Award” in the category of ‘Best for Travel’, she embodies solar electric yachting in its purest form. Available in a variety of deck and cabin options, the Silent 60 is ideally suited for families cruising with or without additional crew.

Specifications

Deck options, silent 62 flybridge.

The flybridge version with a retractable roof offers enough space for a dining area with a small lounge and a dedicated helm station. For owners who do not need the additional space of the 62 3-deck configurations, the flybridge version offers enough space and outstanding 360° visibility.

Silent 62 3-Deck Open

An additional open deck instead of the flybridge combines the benefits of larger catamarans with the compact dimensions of the 60 Series. The open sky lounge is a fantastic outdoor community space, equipped with a full dining area including a panoramic view and a superyacht atmosphere.

Silent 62 3-Deck Closed

The closed version of the 62 3-Deck further develops her character as a compact superyacht. Providing additional indoor space, the closed third deck is available in two options: a choice between a sky lounge or an exclusive owner’s deck makes sure it can be tailored towards individual needs.

Model variations

Front Master Version

• Available for every deck option (flybridge, 3-deck open & 3-deck closed versions)

The Master cabin is located below the bow in the front of the main deck. This replaces the additional exit in the front of the salon.

Front Exit Version

Hereby the salon on the main deck is equipped with an additional exit in the front. The Master cabin moves to the side of the hull in the lower deck.

3-Deck Open

3-Deck Closed

Front Master

Solar-electric yachting advantages

Unlimited range, noiseless cruising, zero emission, minimal maintenance, powertrains, 6o series highlights.

Kite sail system

Adding the option of a fully automatic towing kite gives the 60 Series the opportunity to make use of the wind without shading the panels. The either 9m² or 12 m² sized kite flies at heights where winds are much stronger, thus being able to create up to 10x more pulling power compared to a conventional sail.

Self-sufficient lifestyle

Designed from the ground up to be fully autonomous. By being able to produce your own energy and water while making use of coolable food supplies for storage as well as a worldwide internet connection, you have the possibility of creating a fully self-sufficient lifestyle on board.

Bridgedeck storage

Under the bridge deck, there are two spacious storage boxes for SUPs, surfboards, small RIBs or compact sailboats. Both of them can be accessed either from the aft cockpit deck or directly from the hydraulic tender lift.

Owner's suite

Being able to design the 60 Series with an exclusive owner’s suite on the 3rd deck us unique amongst 60-foot catamarans. The suite itself is fully equipped with an en-suite bathroom and measures 23 m² in size. It also gives direct access to the 36 m² lounge area in the aft.

If you would like to enquire about this electric yacht and get in touch with a member of our team, please click on the button below.

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120 Explorer

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14 Speedy Battery-Powered Boats Bringing the Electric Revolution to the Water

The once disregarded concept is now coming of age in real time..

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Even two years ago, the idea of electric-powered watercraft was confined mostly to cool-looking sketches. The notion didn’t carry much credibility in the boating world, since water’s high drag caused batteries to deplete quickly and severely limited range. And who wants to be stuck offshore with dead batteries?

Technology may have finally caught up to the concept, with more than two dozen builders (and counting) having recently launched new EV runabouts. Range remains the restricting factor, but these inshore craft now make sense to four-wheeled EV owners who understand the charging routine. In return: no emissions, instant acceleration and silent running, likely acceptable tradeoffs for boaters who typically use their vessels for only limited periods, anyway. Which means right now we’re watching electric boats come of age in real time. Here are 14 models leading the pack.

Navier 27 Foiler

The Navier 27, which is being built at the Lyman-Morse shipyard in Maine, promises to be a ground-breaker when it launches next fall. The electric boat is built on three retractable hydrofoils (one at the bow and two at the stern) that provide speed, range and efficiency. Navier founders Sampriti Bhattacharyya and Reo Baird, two MIT-educated engineers who both have backgrounds in aerospace, decided to put their knowledge to work with the 27. They’ve assembled a team of experts in hydrofoil design, software engineering and hull design to create what they think is a sustainable dayboat (with an overnighting cabin) that will appeal to most boater profiles. The Navier 27 will have a top speed of 30 knots, and at 20 knots, it will have a 70-mile range. The futuristic boat retails for $300,000.

Learn More: Here

With a length of nearly 35 feet and top end of 40.2 mph, the Lion shows that electric boats can be authentic weekend yachts. The first production model, currently in build at Maine’s Hodgdon shipyard, will be available in late summer. The boat has a propietary Vita V4 operating system that recharges in under an hour, with electric motors that generate 590 hp and a modern touchscreen interface at the helm. Its open layout, double sunbed aft and open stern, with steps down to the water, reflect contemporary dayboat designs. The boat also has a cabin that can be outfitted with a berth and head. With a base price of $1.5 million, the Lion is an exciting new trend for owners that want an authentic sustainable boat for coastal cruising. 

Say Carbon Yachts 29 E

This sleek hot rod is the electric version of the popular 29 from Say Carbon , the German yard known for lightweight, ultrafast sport boats with minimalist, luxury interiors. Built from carbon fiber, the $450,000 29 E clocks in under 4,400 pounds and is powered by a 360 kw Kreisel electric motor and 120 kw battery. The company claims it’s the world’s fastest electric boat under 33 feet, with a top speed of 57 mph. Of course, all that velocity comes at the expense of range, but at 25 mph it delivers a respectable ambit of 31 miles. Meanwhile, the built-in charger completes a full recharge in six hours.

Q Yachts Q30

Designed with aesthetics over speed in mind, this 30-footer from Finnish builder Q Yachts is an ideal lake boat. Top speed is just 16 mph, but at 7 mph it delivers a range of 70 miles, or 10 hours of running time. Starting at $208,000, the Q30 has a cabin for overnighting, complete with fridge, water and electric toilet. Plus, it can be charged with a standard plug.

Marian M 800 Spyder

This new bowrider has a retro, almost Riva-esque look, and since the Austrian yard Marian builds only electric boats, it has the advantage of a hull designed specifically for extended range. The M 800 Spyder can be outfitted with four different power options, from a 60 kw motor meant for puttering around a lake up to an electrifying 150 kw inboard with 125 kw lithium-ion batteries that delivers a top speed of 39 mph and enough torque to allow the M 800, priced from $270,000, to double as a towboat. At a more leisurely 18 mph, expect a range of up to 30 nautical miles.

Rand Escape 30

Designed as a high-performing electric boat with a wave-piercing hull, this 30-footer was also built light to maximize range: Rand claims the Escape 30 has 30 to 50 percent lower electric consumption than similar-sized boats. Its motors run the gamut from 105 to 460 kw, all paired with correspondingly sized lithium-ion batteries. The open-bow 30-footer starts at about $195,000, can carry up to 12 people and has five different seating areas, including a rear-facing lounge over the swim platform, plus an overnight cabin with head. The hard-top design makes the Escape 30 more of a serious coastal boat than others on this list, though your range will vary depending on engine size (and your personal need for speed).

X Shore Eelex 8000

The instant thrust of this Swedish-built 26-footer, thanks to its 225 kw Brusa electric motor, was an absolute thrill when running the boat on the Intracoastal Waterway off Palm Beach, and the highly respectable 34.9 mph top end competes with many traditionally powered vessels in the same class. The hull was made of recycled plastic and flax fabric (an upgrade from the standard fiberglass/carbon-fiber weave), and instead of teak soles, X Shore used cork, which provides uncompromising grip while being more ecologically sustainable. Twin 60 kw lithium-ion Kreisel batteries can be replenished in under two and a half hours with a supercharger. Even blazing down the ICW, the 8000, priced from $329,000, sounds more like a sailboat than a runabout.

Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe

If it’s classic runabout looks that invoke a certain feeling of dolce vita that you’re looking for in your electric boat, then look no further than the 750 Portofino De Luxe from Boesch . With a spacious sunpad aft, a retractable soft top, and an automotive-inspired windshield, the boat checks a lot of boxes for both style and practicality. At 25 mph this boat has a battery life of 70 minutes, making it an excellent choice when you need a steed to guide you towards a crisp Aperol spritz and a delicious lakeside nosh.

Correct Craft Ingenity 23E

With room for up to 11 people, the Ingenity 23E is built for a party—with minimal environmental impact. The boat’s bow features round-robin seating that enhances conversation, while the transom is open for unencumbered movement, to and from the water. The bow also offers easy access to sandbars and beaches. A 126kW engine allows the 23E to travel for 14 hours at slow speeds, though if need be the boat can reach 30 mph.

Spirit Foiler

British builder Spirit Yachts has collaborated with America’s Cup veteran BAR Technologies for a hydrofoiling electric vessel with a Torqeedo engine that lends it a relatively leggy 100-mile range. The boat will get up on its foils at 16 mph, cruise at 25 mph, and hit a very respectable top end of 34 mph. Added benefits of the foils include a smoother ride not susceptible to rougher waters, as well as aided efficiency. What’s more, the Spirit’s super-sleek, raceboat profile will immediately make it pop out at near any port of call.

Hermes Speedster E

It’s tough to beat the Greek-built Hermes Speedster E when it comes to looks. The sleek, retro-inspired design has loads of tumblehome and comes in a large variety of customizable colors. A design motif that is reminiscent of mid-20th century Porsche roadsters has made the Speedster a runaway hit at recent boat shows. Now outfitted with a 134kW electric motor that offers an unexpectedly brisk top speed of 45 mph, the runabout promises to gain even more new fans. With room for four and notably low trim angles, the Hermes is an excellent pick for a fun cruise up the ICW—just don’t expect not to attract any attention.

Candela C-8

The C-8 from Swedish builder Candela is instantly recognizable at sea because of its hyrdofoiling technology that has it literally floating above the water. The foils mean the boat is more efficient because it has less drag and is not particularly vulnerable to rougher conditions. And it barely leaves a wake. At 27 mph, the boat has a range of 50 nautical miles and the engines can charge in just two hours. The Candela also sleeps two adults and two children, which makes it a true family boat.

Magonis Wave e-550

At first glance, this electric bowrider has an almost 1970s Mini Cooper sensibility—a small 16-foot hull with as much interior space as possible. The boat made its public debut last summer at the Venice Boat Show, powered by a 10kW Torqeedo electric motor. It recently upped the power by 300 percent with a 30kW Mag Power motor. That turned it from a canal cruiser into a coastal vessel that reaches 22 knots. The boat was designed around the engines to perform well at both low and high speeds. At three knots, it has a range of 10 hours. Despite the small hull, the designers used every inch to maximize the experience, from the open stern to the open-bow configuration. Fit and finish is excellent, with options like a full teak deck, fridge, shower, and telescopic table. Instead of the typical helm console, Magonis substituted a 13-inch, waterproof iPad that can stay with the owner at all times. The starting price is about $36,500.

Minimalist is a good descriptor for Zin ’s 20-foot Z2R runabout. Fast is another one, since the runabout boasts a top speed of 35 mph. The company says the boat’s average range is 80 to 100 miles, and in an uncharacteristic display of transparency, claims it only costs $6 to charge. Compare that to the gallons a similar-sized gas powerboat would consume on a Saturday afternoon, especially in these times of rising fuel prices. The boat is powered by a Torqeedo motor and BMWi3 battery. It has carbon-fiber construction for light weight and structural stiffness, and is trailerable. The flat foredeck also makes it easy to get on and off the Z2R from the bow, and an 18-inch draft lets it come up to the beach on a secluded island.

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The Promises and Pitfalls of an All-Electric Yacht

• By Tim Murphy
• Updated: November 8, 2021

This past October, I saw one of the most interesting exhibits in more than 500 new cruising sailboats I’ve reviewed over two decades. It was the Arcona 435Z, built in Sweden and introduced by Graham Balch of Green Yachts in San Francisco. Balch describes his business as “a new brokerage dedicated to the electric revolution on the water,” and it was the “Z” in the boat’s name, which stands for “zero emissions,” that made this boat so interesting. This was the first electric propulsion system—not hybrid but all-electric —I’d ever seen on a cruising sailboat.

Electric propulsion isn’t new. Since 1879, electric motors have propelled boats; a fleet of some four-dozen electric launches transported visitors around the 1893 Colombian Exposition in Chicago. But cruising sailboats are not launches, and the open sea is not a protected canal. When we’re using cruising boats as they’re meant to be used, they seldom end their day plugged into a shore-power outlet. Cruising boats comprise many devices —stove, refrigerator, freezer, windlass, winches, autopilot, radar, lights—whose power typically comes from a tank of fossil fuel. And today’s cruising sailors are accustomed to using diesel auxiliary power to motor through lulls or punch into headwinds and seas.

Starting about 15 years ago, we saw a wave of diesel-electric and hybrid propulsion systems on production and custom cruising boats ( see “Perpetuated Motion,” CW , March 2005 ). Both of those systems ultimately start with an onboard internal-combustion engine. A diesel-electric propulsion system relies on a running genset to directly power the electric motor that turns the propeller. A hybrid system relies on batteries to power the electric motor, plus an internal-combustion genset to recharge the batteries. One of the promises of a hybrid system is the ability to regenerate electrical power. Regeneration means using boatspeed under sail to turn the propeller, whose spinning shaft sends electrons from the electric motor back through an electronic controller to recharge the batteries. In such a system, the boat’s propeller is both an electrical load (when running under power) and a charging source (when sailing in regeneration mode).

The Arcona 435Z was different from both of these systems: It incorporates no onboard fossil-fuel engine at all. Instead, it has a bank of lithium batteries, several solar panels, and a proprietary propulsion leg that looks like a saildrive. “This boat,” Balch said, “has the very first production unit in the world of Oceanvolt’s newest electric propulsion system, called the ServoProp.”

For our sea trial, Balch was joined by Derek Rupe, CEO of Oceanvolt USA. “If you can sail the boat and you have some solar, you can go anywhere in the world, and you can make all your power underway while you go,” Rupe said. When we spoke in October 2020, he touted three high-profile sailors who were using the Oceanvolt electric propulsion system: Alex Thomson, for his Hugo Boss Open 60 Vendée Globe program; Jimmy Cornell, for his Elcano 500 expedition; and Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, who had been teasing their new boat for months on their popular Sailing La Vagabonde YouTube channel.

The efficiency of Oceanvolt’s ServoProp and the regeneration from it is the promised game-changer in each of these boats. The ServoProp is a leg with a ­feathering propeller that can be set for optimal pitch in three modes: forward, reverse and regeneration.

“You don’t need fuel,” Rupe said. “You don’t need to dock; you can go anywhere you want to go and always have the power for living and propulsion.”

That’s the promise. But are there also pitfalls?

Innovation and Risk

Marine electric propulsion is an emerging technology. Compared with the mature and settled technology of diesel engines and lead-acid batteries, electric-propulsion systems—with their electronic controllers and lithium batteries—are in a stage of development best described as adolescent. Every sailor has his or her own tolerance for technical innovation. For the promise of fewer ­seconds per mile, grand-prix-racing sailors willingly trade a high risk of expensive damage to the sails, rig or the boat’s structure itself; cruising sailors, by contrast, tend to favor yearslong reliability in their equipment as they seek miles per day.

Folks who identify as early adopters take special joy in the first-wave discoveries of a new technology; if they’re clear-eyed about supporting an ongoing experiment, they see themselves as partners with the developers, accepting failures as opportunities for learning. Sailors motivated primarily by changing the trajectory of climate change might be especially willing to modify their behavior to limit their own output of greenhouse gases. Investing in any emerging technology asks you to start with a clear assessment of your own risk tolerance. We’ll return to this theme with one or two real-life examples.

The American Boat and Yacht Council, founded in 1954, sets recommended standards for systems installed on recreational boats. For decades, ABYC has published standards related to installations of diesel and gasoline engines, as well as electrical systems based around lead-acid batteries. By contrast, it was only three years ago that ABYC came out with its first electric-propulsion standard (revised July 2021). And only last year it published its first technical-information report on lithium batteries (a technical-information report is an early step toward a future standard). The takeaway is that if you need help servicing your diesel engine or electrical system built around lead-acid batteries, you can pull into any reasonable-size port and find competent technicians to help you. With electric propulsion and lithium batteries, that pool of skilled talent is significantly scarcer.

To say that a technology is mature simply means that we’ve learned to live with it, warts and all, but that it holds few remaining surprises. Certainly, diesel-propulsion and lead-acid-battery technologies each leave plenty of room for improvement. When a charge of fuel ignites in the combustion ­chamber of a diesel engine, some three-quarters of the energy is lost in heat and the mechanical inefficiencies of converting reciprocating motion to rotation. Lead-acid batteries become damaged if we routinely discharge more than half of their capacity. During charging, they’re slow to take the electrons we could deliver.

Lithium batteries are comparatively full of promise. Their power density is far greater than that of lead-acid batteries, meaning they’re much lighter for a given capacity. They’re capable of being deeply discharged, which means you can use far more of the bank’s capacity, not merely the first half. And they accept a charge much more quickly; compare that to several hours a day running an engine to keep the beers iced down.

But the pitfalls? Let’s start with ABYC TE-13, Lithium Ion Batteries. Some of its language is bracing. “Lithium ion batteries are unlike lead-acid batteries in two important respects,” the report says. “1) The electrolyte within most lithium ion batteries is flammable. 2) Under certain fault conditions, lithium ion batteries can enter a condition known as thermal runaway, which results in rapid internal heating. Once initiated, it is a self-perpetuating and exothermic reaction that can be difficult to halt.”

Thermal runaway? Difficult to halt? Self-perpetuating?

“Typically, the best approach is to remove heat as fast as possible, which is most effectively done by flooding the battery with water,” TE-13 continues, “although this may have serious consequences for the boat’s electrical systems, machinery, buoyancy, etc.”

If you were following the news in January 2013, you might remember the ­story of Japan Airlines Flight 008. Shortly after landing at Boston’s Logan Airport, a mechanic opened the aft ­electronic equipment bay of the Boeing 787-8 to find smoke and flames billowing from the auxiliary-power unit. The fire extinguisher he used didn’t put out the flames. Eventually Boston firefighters put out the fire with Halotron, but when removing the still-hissing batteries from the plane, one of the ­firefighters was burned through his ­professional protective gear.

Samsung Galaxy cellphones, MacBook Pro laptops, powered skateboards—in the past decade, these and other devices have been recalled after their lithium batteries burned up. In that period, several high-end custom boats were declared a total loss following failures from lithium batteries. In March 2021, a 78-foot Norwegian hybrid-powered tour boat, built in 2019 with a 790 kW capacity battery bank, experienced thermal runaway that kept firefighters on watch for several days after the crew safely abandoned the ship.

Yes, experts are learning a lot about how to mitigate the risks around lithium batteries. But we’re still on the learning curve.

ABYC’s TE-13 “System Design” section starts, “All lithium-ion battery ­systems should have a battery ­management system (BMS) installed to prevent damage to the battery and provide for battery shutoff if potentially dangerous conditions exist.” It defines a bank’s “safe operating envelope” according to such parameters as high- and low-voltage limits, charging and discharging temperature limits, and charging and ­discharging current limits.

Graham Balch takes these safety recommendations a step further: “To our knowledge, the BMS has to monitor at the cell level. With most batteries, the BMS monitors at the module level.” The difference? “Let’s say you have 24 cells inside the battery module, and three of them stop working. Well, the other 21 have to work harder to compensate for those three. And that’s where thermal events occur.”

Balch followed the story of the Norwegian tour boat this past spring. He believes that the battery installation in that case didn’t meet waterproofing standards: “The hypothesis is that due to water intrusion, there was reverse polarity in one or more of the cells, which is worse than cells simply not working. It means that they’re actively working against the other cells. But if the BMS is monitoring only at the module level, you wouldn’t know it.”

On the Green Yachts website, Graham lists five battery manufacturers whose BMS regimes monitor at the cell level. “If I were sailing on an electric boat, whether it be commercial or recreational, I would feel comfortable with having batteries from these five companies and no other,” he said.

The broader takeaway for today’s sailors is that lithium batteries bring their own sets of problems and solutions, which are different from those of conventional propulsion and power-supply technologies. A reasonably skilled sailor could be expected to change fuel filters or bleed a diesel engine if it shuts down in rough conditions. With lithium-ion batteries aboard, an operator needs to understand the causes and remedies of thermal runaway, and be ready to respond if the BMS shuts down the boat’s power.

Real-World Electric Cruising Boats

When we met Oceanvolt’s Derek Rupe a year ago, he and his wife had taken their all-electric boat to the Bahamas and back the previous season. Before that, he’d been installing electric-propulsion packages for six years on new Alerion 41s and other refit projects. “My real passion is on the technical side of things—installations, really getting that right. That’s half the picture. The technology is there, but it needs to be installed correctly.”

When talking to Rupe, I immediately encountered my first learning curve. I posed questions about the Oceanvolt system in amps and amp-hours; he responded in watts and kilowatt-hours. This was yet another example of the different mindset sailors of electric boats need to hold. Why? Because most cruising boats have just one or two electrical systems: DC and AC. The AC system might operate at 110 or 220 volts; the DC side might operate at 12 or 24 volts. On your own boat, that voltage is a given. From there we tend to think in terms of amps needed to power a load, and amp-hours of capacity in our battery banks. Going back to basics, the power formula tells us that power (watts) equals electrical potential (volts) times current (amps). If your boat’s electrical system is 12 volts and you know that your windlass is rated at 400 watts, it follows that the windlass is rated to draw 33 amps.

But an all-electric boat might comprise several systems at different voltages. A single battery bank might supply cabin lights at 12 volts DC; winches and windlasses at 24 volts DC; the propulsion motor at 48 volts DC; and an induction stove, microwave and television at 110 volts AC. A DC-to-DC power converter steps the voltage up or down, and an inverter changes DC to AC. Instead of translating through all those systems, the Oceanvolt monitor (and Derek Rupe) simply reports in watts coming in or going out of the bank.

“We keep all our thoughts in watts,” Rupe said. “Watts count in the AC induction. They count in the DC-to-DC converter. They count the solar in. They count the hydrogeneration in. And the ­power-management systems tracks it that way for shore-power in.

“On a boat like this, maybe I have 500 watts coming in the solar panels,” he continued. “So then I can think: ‘Well, my fridge is using 90 watts. My boat has an electric stove. When I cook a big meal, I can see that for every hour we cook, we lose about 10 to 12 minutes of our cruising range.’”

During his Bahamas cruising season, Rupe observed that on days that they were sailing, the combination of solar panels and hydroregeneration supplied all the power he and his wife needed. “When we weren’t sailing,” he said, “we found that we were losing 8 percent each day, in the difference from what the sun gave us to what we were using for the fridge, lights, charging our laptops, and all that stuff.”

Rupe’s solution? “Twice in Eleuthera and once outside Major’s, we went out and sailed laps for a couple of hours because the batteries were below 30 percent of capacity. It was good sailing, and the wind was coming over the shore, so we didn’t have any sea state. We did a couple of hot laps on nice beam reaches, and generated about 700 watts an hour.”

Of the three sailors Rupe touted in October 2020—Alex Thomson, Jimmy Cornell and the Sailing La Vagabonde couple—only Cornell can report back on his all-electric experiences with Oceanvolt. Alex Thomson ended his circumnavigation abruptly last November, just 20 days after the Vendée Globe start, when Hugo Boss collided with an object in the South Atlantic. And at press time in early fall 2021, Riley and Elayna had just recently announced the build of their new Rapido trimaran; keep an eye on their YouTube channel for more about their experiences with the Oceanvolt propulsion system.

As for Cornell—circumnavigator, World Cruising Routes author, creator of the transoceanic rally, and veteran of some 200,000 ocean miles—he suspended his planned Elcano 500 round-the-world expedition solely because of the Oceanvolt system in his new Outremer catamaran. His Aventura Zero Logs on the Cornell Sailing website, particularly the Electric Shock article posted on December 2, 2020, are essential reading for any sailor interested in sailing an electric boat. “Sailing around the world on an electric boat with zero emissions along the route of the first circumnavigation was such a tempting opportunity to do something meaningful and in tune with our concern for protecting the environment that my family agreed I should do it,” Cornell wrote. “What this passage has shown was that in spite of all our efforts to save energy, we were unable to regenerate sufficient electricity to cover consumption and top up the batteries.”

Cornell’s experience in that article is raw, and his tone in that moment bitterly disappointed. We recommend it as essential reading—not as a final rejection of the electric-boat concept or of Oceanvolt’s system, or even as an endorsement of Cornell’s own decision that the system didn’t work. I suspect that I may have arrived at the same conclusion. Yet given the same boat in the same conditions, one imagines that a new breed of sailor—a Graham Balch or a Derek Rupe—may have responded differently to the constraints imposed by an all-electric boat, as nearly every cruising sailor today habitually responds to the inconvenient constraints of diesel engines and lead-acid batteries.

“If you bring electric winches, electric heads and an induction stove, and then sail into a high-pressure system, you’ll set yourself up for failure,” Balch said. “You have to balance your power inputs and your power outputs.

“Sailing an electric boat is a return to the tradition of sailing that the crutch of a diesel engine has gotten us away from,” he added. “Magellan’s fleet got all the way around the world, and they didn’t have a diesel engine.”

Tim Murphy is a Cruising World editor-at-large and ­longtime Boat of the Year judge.

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Rossinavi Launches 140′ Hybrid-Electric Catamaran

• By Caleb Revill
• May 30, 2024

Italian yacht builder Rossinavi announced the launch of the M/Y Seawolf X , a hybrid-electric power catamaran capable of cruising in full electric mode for 100 percent of the time on one-day trips.

In a press release from the company, Rossinavi announced the innovative yacht carries the BluE label designating the shipyard’s new sustainable philosophy. Seawolf X has a 140-foot length overall, 45-foot beam and is an all-aluminum vessel that combines sleek design with environmentally friendly solutions.

The press release notes that the catamaran can cruise in full-electric mode for 100 percent of the time on day trips and 90 percent of the time on multi-day trips. Rossinavi also states that the vessel is capable of making transatlantic trips while in electric mode 80 percent of the time. 

The Hibernation mode, kicking off when the power catamaran is moored, reduces consumption to a minimum and the energy generated can be given back to the dock or a private property. Rossinavi boasts that the Seawolf X supplies enough energy to charge up an entire villa. The ship’s two diesel generators can quickly recharge its batteries on shore power in five hours.

“After years of study and construction, it is now a source of satisfaction and pride for us to witness the launch of project Sea Cat, now Seawolf X , the first hybrid-electric multihull vessel,” said Rossinavi COO Federico Rossi in a press release. “This yacht showcases remarkable technological innovations in both power management and propulsion technologies, marking the beginning of a new chapter in next-generation vessels.”

Yacht of the future

Rossinavi’s BluE label hybrid-electric yachts are propelled by batteries and solar panels with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions. Energy collected by these solar panels during the day is stored in advanced batteries and released at night, creating a bioluminescent effect similar to glowing plankton.

On top of its environmental perks, Seawolf X also includes an onboard artificial intelligence system developed by Rossnavi. Rossinavi AI constantly analyzes the operation of the vessel and acts as a brain that can learn from observation and predict the needs of the guests on board. Rossinavi AI is able to talk with crew members and monitor the battery pack to keep it in a range of 20 to 80 percent –the ideal range to ensure better battery pack lifespan.

The boat’s exterior architecture is by Fulvio De Simoni Yacht Design , while New-York-based practice Meyer Davis Studio designed the interiors. The Fulvio De Simoni Yacht Design team came up with a sleek and low-profile silhouette, reminiscent of a sports car.

The yacht has three distinct spaces for outdoor living: a lively cockpit centered around a pool, a large sundeck with sunbathing and living spaces, and a bow area featuring a hidden pool and convertible home theater. The yacht design team accurately integrated solar panels into the vessel, ensuring plenty of surface space for energy recovery.

“We set out to envision the boat of the future, unbound by convention yet grounded in feasibility with cutting-edge technology for minimal environmental impact,” said Fulvio De Simoni, founder of Fulvio De Simoni Yacht Design, in a press release.

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The electric tender revolution: Meet the models leading the charge

Electric tenders have been a long time coming, but, says Sam Fortescue , these frontrunners are well worth the investment...

Let’s get this out of the way up front. In the blunt words of Ernest Menten at Tenderworks: “You have to accept that an electric tender is going to be slower than an internal combustion engine boat.”

Even a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery supplies just 10 per cent of the power of the same weight of petrol, so electric tenders are more expensive and need frequent charging. And yet they are flying off the shelves, with most manufacturers reporting they have filled build slots for all of this year, next year and even into 2024.

“We have already seen a tenfold increase in the electric boat order books of the current manufacturers compared to this time last year,” says Alex Bamberg, CEO of fast-charging specialist Aqua superPower. “We see that in the next three years, an unstoppable and confident transition will be well under way.”

The attraction is clear. These boats are silent to operate, fumeless and welcome in a growing number of locations – from Norway’s fjords to Amsterdam’s canals – which are closed to polluting craft. “The environmental benefits, noise and vibration mitigation and reduced service requirements make electric particularly suitable for tenders,” adds Audrey Hodgdon of Hodgdon Yachts. The company has adapted its 10.5-metre and 12-metre limo tenders to run on electric power.

Speed vs Range

Technological development has reduced, but not eliminated, a fundamental compromise at the heart of every electric boat: a hull’s drag increases exponentially with speed, so you can either drive fast or drive long – but not both.

“Even with the best lithium-ion batteries on the market, conventional planing boats will not reach more than 20 to 25 nautical miles of range at high speeds, making them inferior to conventional gasoline-powered speedboats in terms of performance,” explains Teodor Hällestrand of electric boatbuilder Candela.

Some say that doesn’t matter. “How often have you sat in a limo tender doing 40 knots?” asks Menten of Tenderworks. “It never happens. Not even when the tender driver is alone! Smaller tenders just don’t get used for extensive driving. They wait idling for hours behind the main yacht and then drive 10 minutes to the shore.”

Candela chose a different solution. In the C-8, a trio of foils lift the hull above the water and allow the drivetrain to achieve 30 knots using just 37kW of power. At a still-impressive 22 knots, it can knock off 50 nautical miles with its single 40kWh battery pack. There is a virtuous circle at work here, because a lighter boat requires smaller motors and smaller batteries, in turn making the boat lighter still. The only complication is garaging a boat with foils – even retractable ones.

Berlin-based startup Voltaire has gone down another path. Its boats have yet to be built, but designer Jonas Hertwig has drawn a twin-hulled tender with razor-fine hulls for minimum drag. Its twin 50kW Deep Blue motors are driven by 85kWh of BMW i3 batteries, giving it a top speed of 20 knots and a respectable range of 100 nautical miles at nine knots. As a kicker, the hull is laminated in sustainable flax-fibre composite.

Standard monohulls need to pack in anything up to 230kWh of battery capacity. “You have to put enough batteries in, but if you put too many in, you actually reduce the range,” says Menten.

There are other weight concerns, too. “With tenders, you’re very much limited by the hoisting capabilities of the motherships,” says Massimo Kovacic, head of engineering at Bremen-based Yachtwerft Meyer, which has designed a number of electric tenders but is yet to build one. “We have had a number of requests, but when we made all the analysis, the clients decided to stick to traditional.”

Fast Pit Stops

So the electric tender is no all-rounder. You won’t be wakeboarding one moment and ferrying guests to a deserted beach with a champagne grill the next. But as a means of luxurious, short-range transport, it is almost perfectly suited, says Audrey Hodgdon. “The operational profile of tenders makes them a great candidate for electric propulsion, with the short ship-to-shore-type trips and the ability to charge both from the mothership and when at shore.”

Until very recently, big battery packs could only be charged overnight using low-power AC from dockside supplies, and the DC systems on board were slow. But, just as in the automotive sector, burgeoning boat demand has spurred rapid development. Batteries at 400v accept more charge than their low-voltage counterparts, and there are already moves towards 800v batteries with better cooling for even faster charging.

Aqua superPower is in the vanguard here. By the time you read this, it will have installed  14 high-powered DC chargers in marinas in Europe and the US, with a further 90 expected in  the next year in key hotspots around Italy and the French Riviera, plus in MDL marinas around  the UK. Often requiring local infrastructure upgrades, these are capable of supplying 125kW to  two plugs simultaneously.

Before any power comes aboard, the boat must complete an electronic handshake that also validates the user’s profile. Only when connected does the plug become live, supplying AC and DC current. Aqua can also replicate this performance with an onboard charging system, creating the prospect of a 60 per cent recharge in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.

“Currently the network is in the build-out phase,” says Bamberg. “We know there are very significant boat sales in the sub-15-metre market and these will drive the usage next year in the  leisure and workboat space.”

Dutch yard Tenderworks has also dipped a toe in the electric tender market. Under the codename V-AMP, it has already built two fully custom 14-metre electric tenders for a  client who was focused on setting a positive example.  “As a billionaire you are an opinion leader, so you’d better make your choices count,” says CEO Ernest Menten.

Potentially competing with the Vita Lion, the V-AMP nevertheless features a Vita electric drivetrain, which the two companies collaborated on. All the parameters were meticulously studied, from the shape of the hull and the location of the shafts to the positioning of the batteries. Her naval architecture is completely different, however, with a semi-displacement hull designed for comfort and range. “On the electrical range of the naval architecture, it lifts with little resistance and is flat on the water, but cuts through the water with a sharp bow,” says Menten. “You cut the wave in two at a very early stage and it creates a speed with the least amount of power.”

It means that her top speed is a little lower at 20 knots,  but perfectly sufficient for making comfortable runs between the ship and the shore. “The V-AMP really impressed with her stability when cruising, cutting through the waves in total comfort with nine passengers on board,” says BOAT International ’s Raphaël Montigneaux. “The boat was as if on rails. Even though the technology on board comes from Vita, there is a clear feeling of being on a very different boat, proving that Vita has created a really flexible technology  that’s easily adaptable to various platforms.”

After launching in 2017, Vita Power set about designing a series of electric concept boats, which proved hugely successful in the Yacht Club de Monaco’s Energy Boat Challenge. The new 10.5-metre Lion is the first production dayboat, built by JFA Yachts, and incorporating many lessons learned over four years. “Built in carbon, the fit-out of the boat is neat,” says Montigneaux, who tested the boat first-hand. “We see here the experience of the superyacht builder. Her layout is very classic, with large sunpads aft followed by a cockpit with seven seats to cruise comfortably.” The cockpit converts into a U-shaped dining area, and a little cabin forward offers a double bed and a dayhead. “I especially liked the beautiful work done to link the deck and bathing platform,” he says. “Linked to this pure design, the use of white throughout reinforces the feeling that they are pollution-free.” All the control systems have been developed by Vita and are managed through two large touchscreen displays at the helm.

And the feel of the boat? Well, it was rather different. “We left the port of Saint-Tropez in complete silence. At the beginning, it gives the feeling that something is missing. But after a few minutes you start to really enjoy it.” Montigneaux never reached the boat’s top speed of 35 knots because of restrictions in the bay, but the Lion quickly settled into its cruising stride of 22 knots. Despite the confused, choppy seas that often prevail here, the ride was dry and comfortable. This is not a lightweight boat, packing an industry-leading 233kWh of battery power – this alone amounts to well over a tonne. But it gives the boat 90 minutes of operation at 22 knots, and Vita CEO Rory Trahair says that the boat recharges in less than an hour using Aqua superPower’s new fast-charging stations.

Every Watt Counts

In the quest for efficiency, lossless motors and slippery hull design take on giant importance, because just a few percentage points’ improvement adds another mile to the range.

On the propulsion side, some boatbuilders have gone back to basics to develop the most efficient motors, propellers and gearboxes. “With internal combustion vessels, the tendency is to just add more power rather than improving efficiency of the hull form or build,” says Rory Trahair of electric drivetrain integrator Vita.  “We have to balance all of the above, and have designed our hulls around the particularities of an electric power train.”

With its foiling boat, Candela quickly realised that it couldn’t simply rely on electric outboard technology. It created the C-POD, whose  two contra-rotating propellers are much more efficient than a single prop, while the direct drive reduces friction to a minimum. The result delivers 23 per cent more range than the best electric outboards.

In the quest to strip away every surplus kilogram from the hull, carbon fibre is usually the material of choice. “To accommodate enough batteries to ensure efficient propulsion, you must make the boat as light as possible, so you need to use the latest composite technology and techniques,” says Henry Ward of launch builder Cockwells. Of course, carbon raises its own problems because it has a much bigger carbon footprint than GRP. Care is also needed, as lighter boats can be more uncomfortable in any kind of seas.

You must also optimise hull shape and balance for an electric drivetrain. “Just shoving an electric motor into a boat doesn’t make it an electric yacht,” says Ernest Menten of Tenderworks. “If you don’t have the appropriate naval architecture, you’ll have so much resistance that your batteries will go flat very quickly. It is a whole discipline of naval architecture and hull design – a combination of elements makes it work.”

This is a problem whose solution has so far eluded some RIB makers – particularly those using jet drives, as the ubiquitous Williams  Jet Tenders builder admits. “We have spent the last three years developing various prototypes and system studies,” says the brand’s Ollie Taylor. “The big stumbling block is the battery. Due to the jet pump and hull design of our existing tenders, the running time would be very, very low, and recharge time on board would be very high.”

RS Electric, a newcomer with a name familiar to those in the RIB-racing world, claims to have cracked the problem with its more utilitarian boats. Naval architecture was the biggest challenge, according to CEO Jon Partridge. “The RIB needed to have an ultra-efficient running surface that could smoothly transition from displacement to planing mode; too much displacement would be inefficient at high speeds, and too little displacement would be inefficient at slow speeds.”

The result is the Pulse 63, with a 23-knot top speed courtesy of its RAD 40 electric drive and 46kWh of high-voltage batteries. Even at  10 knots it manages a very decent 70 nautical miles. Uniquely, RS has gone eco on the lay-up, too, with recycled PET foam core, recycled carbon fibre and sustainable flax-fibre.

Truly eco or greenwashing?

Aqua superPower’s onshore network is supplied by renewable energy, but on the mothership it’s an entirely different matter. The tender charging station typically draws power from the yacht’s generators, which invariably run on polluting diesel. So do electric tenders simply displace emissions from the small boat to the big?

Not so, according to many in the industry. “Excess energy generated by the mothership can be used to charge the tenders, thus avoiding that energy going to waste,” says Rory Trahair of Vita. “Tenders largely operate during the day and will often require charging at night when the loads on the mothership are lower. This energy can be optimised.”

That may well be the case with older yachts. Their generators are inefficient unless they operate at optimum RPM, so there is effectively free energy to be had during moments of light load. But many modern yachts use hybrid technology, where battery banks mop up any excess electricity then switch off the generator.

“If the power requirements of an electric tender can be factored into the power-generating systems of the mothership to optimise and reduce wastage, then the electric tender serves as an additional use of that energy,” adds Trahair.

Truly renewable energy is restricted to giant sailing yachts such as Black Pearl and Ethereal, which can generate totally renewable electricity as they sail. Lürssen is one of several boatbuilders also spearheading the use of cleaner hydrogen fuel cells to cover hotel loads.

But perhaps the last word should go to Henry Ward of Cockwells, builder of those achingly beautiful wooden launches. “In reality, you won’t save the world with your electric tender,” he tells me candidly. “But you will enjoy a much more pleasant experience in your limousine.”

First published in the March 2022 edition of BOAT International.

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How to improve power management on a yacht

• August 21, 2024

Mike Morgan offers advice on how to improve power management on a yacht and preserve precious amps for those that like their home comforts

I confess, I’m not a marine electrician, and my understanding of boat electronics is at best rudimentary, but I’ve now been managing my boat’s power generation and consumption for three seasons and have developed an approach which seems to work well. Hopefully, you will find some of the following advice useful when it comes to managing your own yacht’s energy needs.

Every boat has its own particular balance of power generation and demand, so my system may not work perfectly for you, but it might help you start managing your precious amps a lot more effectively.

My wife Debbie and I sail up to nine months a year around the Med, predominantly lying at anchor. We avoid marinas and use our generator infrequently, to help save the planet and our budget.

I won’t address power needs whilst under sail here, as it’s not relevant to our cruising profile. Clearly, if you’re taking on an Atlantic crossing , then you’ll need to consider the power demands from your navigation equipment, lights and auto pilot.

We bought our pride and joy, Spirit, a Bavaria C57, brand new in 2021, and made several upgrades in an attempt to achieve the holy grail of self-sufficiency at anchor. We opted for 800 amp hours (Ah) hours provided by lithium batteries that weigh less than a single 150Ah lead acid battery.

Because lithium offers roughly twice the capacity of lead acid, that’s equivalent to 16 100Ah lead acid batteries with a combined weight of just over a third of a ton. Given Spirit’s generous beam, we’ve been able to accommodate four 420W solar panels, giving a potential maximum of 1,680W.

A few of the electrical galley appliances aboard Mike’s Bavaria C57 and the wattages that similar products might draw off your battery if you have an inverter

State of charge

The amount of electrical power you have available is all about batteries. Boat batteries are usually measured in amp hours (Ah) – the total number of amps devoured in one hour of use. So, a 120Ah battery will, theoretically, deliver 120A for one hour or 1A for 120 hours. But, of course, this is a little simplistic.

If you have lead acid batteries, you must never completely discharge them, unless you want to replace them regularly. Lead acid batteries should never be discharged below 50 per cent, so the practical Ah they really offer is half the theoretical Ah rating. In the above example, 60 hours at 1 amp would be the limit before you had to recharge the battery. Typically, the state of a battery’s charge is monitored by volts or a shunt battery monitor.

Knowing the state of charge of your batteries is critical to managing your power needs.

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I replaced our Bavaria’s standard 240Ah of domestic lead acid batteries with 800Ah of lithium batteries. The advantage of a lithium battery is its light weight. And, unlike a lead acid battery, it can be run down to a much lower charge. The downside is that lithium batteries have been known to explode.

To avoid this, they need to be paired with a battery management system, which is best left to a professional, who knows what they are doing, to install.

Oceanvolt lithium batteries aboard a Feeling 32

Charging sources

A standard ‘off the shelf’ mid-size production boat is likely to be fitted with a 60A battery charger which is used by the boat’s generator, if it has one, or when shore power is plugged in. The engine will also have an alternator which will typically produce between 35 and 60A of charge, depending on the size of the engine.

Assuming a 60A charge source, the batteries will receive 60A of charge in one hour. So, to put it very simplistically, if you have, as I do, 800Ah of lithium batteries and they are at 50 per cent, to charge them up to capacity would take 6.6 hours (400 amps divided by the charging source of 60 amps equals 6.6 hours).

Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as that. For example, there are various charging states – bulk, absorption and trickle (also known as maintenance or float) – and different types of batteries with different ratings, but I have kept it as simple as possible here for the purposes of explanation.

If you don’t have shore power (when at anchor, for instance), or don’t have a generator, the alternative is to run your engine for six hours under light load, which is not good for the engine and won’t win you many friends nearby who are trying to relax and enjoy a peaceful sundowner.

Mike’s customised electrical control panel

Battery charger

Increasing the size of your battery charger will speed up the process of charging from both a generator and shore power. I opted to fit a 120A charger and a 3kW inverter for my 240V appliances. There is always the option to beef up the engine alternator to feed a hungry family of batteries, but again, this means the boat engine needs to run for prolonged periods of time.

The 9kW Paguro 9000 generator I fitted produces a lot more power than we ever need. The generator powers both the 240V ‘ring main’ and the battery charger. However, the battery charging will be limited by the power rating of the charger, which in my case is 120A.

Four solar panels on Spirit’s stern arch produce a maximun 1,600W

Renewable energy

Renewable energy for boats is either wind, hydro or solar. I opted for solar on a custom-made stern arch. I fitted four 400W panels, which produce a theoretical maximum output of 1,600W at 12V or, in amp speak, 133A.

Like lithium batteries, the voltage and charge from solar panels needs to be managed, so each panel is equipped with an MPPT (maximum power point tracking) controller to ensure the batteries are getting the right amount of charge when the sun is shining. The next conundrum was to get all this in perfect balance based on the boat’s power consumption.

The stern arch was custom-built to support the solar panels

Background noise

I started by building a spreadsheet to calculate the various power ratings of my many onboard electrical appliances. However, this isn’t simple as you must calculate the power demand of each appliance, estimate how long you will run it for, and when you will run it.

You then need to map this over time to calculate a theoretical power demand and how much power you need to be generated. Estimating the power output from my solar panels alone became a headache: calculating the assumed number of ‘sunny’ daylight hours, the angle of the sun, solar panel efficiency, and when the next solar eclipse would be! So, like all people with limited brain capacity, I gave up.

I decided, instead, to take a more pragmatic approach. The first thing I did was to measure the ‘background noise’ of my boat; that is, the power being consumed whilst at anchor and not running any major appliances.

It turned out to be around 200A, which is very high; but then I do have three fridges, a deep freeze and more internal lighting than Blackpool Illuminations.

The time it takes to recharge my batteries once the sun has dragged itself up to the right angle differs dramatically based on which way the boat is lying. If my stern is exposed to the sunny side my batteries will fill to the brim in a few hours. However, if my bow is facing the sun, it takes a lot longer.

On an average day, we are at 100 per cent by midday or early afternoon, leaving a good four or five hours of surplus power generation for running more critical systems.

Air-con is a battery power ‘killer’

We have a lot of power consuming paraphernalia on board, for example the kettle, coffee maker, hair dryer, microwave oven, and so on, but I ignore these when it comes to power management as they are used randomly and are never on for long.

However, we do have several appliances that are critical to our power management, including a washing machine, water maker, ice maker and water heater. All of these have high demand and can run for long periods of time. I also have air-conditioning which can be run off the inverter, but I prefer to use fans and open hatches to keep the temperature tolerable when we are at anchor. Air-con is a battery power killer and is best left to when shore power is connected or the generator is running.

Our Bavaria came with a built-in utility room, so we decided to fit a full-sized washer-dryer, which has proven to be our favourite upgrade.

For this equipment I simply use a rota and allocate a specific day to run either water production, laundry, ice making or water heating. We do laundry once a week without using the drying function and relying instead on nature’s outside dryer, which does tend to lower the tone of an idyllic anchorage.

The water maker produces 60 litres an hour and I typically run it for around four hours, which will then keep us going for several days. I fit in ice-making and heating the water at other times.

Having guests on board who insist on having a shower every time they go for a dip off the swimming platform requires the water maker to be run most days. Inevitably under these circumstances I lose the battle of consumption versus generation and will need to resort to running the generator.

We chose a Schenker Smart 60-litre-per-hour, 12V water maker rated at 20A, which enables free freshwater production all day long thanks to Spirit’s cluster of four solar panels.

I always delay this until my battery charge is showing 30 per cent or less in the morning. At that point I will run the generator for three to four hours, which is enough to get my batteries back up to around 70-80 per cent, and then let the solar panels take over.

When I run the generator, I take advantage of the surplus power it produces by running as many devices as possible: I make water, run the air-con and heat water. Never waste any of those precious amps! I find that I run the generator, on average, every eight to 10 days when we’re on our own and every four to five days when we have guests.

Batteries can be easily distributed around a yacht

Before increasing the capacity of your service battery bank you need to calculate your total power requirement by multiplying the amperage of all the equipment by the period of time it will be run over a charge cycle (usually 24hrs).

Tally up the amp hours and then double the result (to allow for not going below 50 per cent of your charge capacity). Then add another 20 per cent to ensure you will always have enough to spare.

If you already have separate engine start and service batteries but want to add further service batteries, they should all be of the same age, type and capacity (Ah rating) to the first. It’s best to create your service bank from a number of smaller batteries and then link them together to achieve the total voltage and capacity you require.

If you’re planning to install a large bank (500Ah or more), it is often better to use 6V cells for this as these allow a large deep-cycling bank to be created, while still having the ability to move them around easily or distribute them evenly over a greater area.

Create an improved service bank by connecting a number of smaller batteries

Stay in charge

Once you’ve decided on the battery type, make sure you have enough charging power to fully charge them between cycles. As a rough guide you will need to be able to bulk-charge the bank at a minimum of 10 per cent of its rated capacity (ie. 20A for a 200Ah battery).

However, 20 per cent is a better figure to aim for if you’re looking to fully recharge over one night in a marina. Modern AGM (absorbent glass mat) style batteries can usually take a greater charge than wet lead-acid type, although gel cells require a more particular regime if they are not to be damaged.

Chargers (both mains and alternator regulators) should be of the multi-stage type, with bulk, absorb and float stages. This allows the batteries to be rapidly charged until they reach around 90 per cent charge, then the charge voltage drops to attain the final part of the charge more slowly, keeping temperature (and hence internal resistance) down, and eliminating gassing.

A smart battery monitor will allow you see your state of charge and remaining capacity

Temperature noticeably affects a battery’s ability to give out and absorb charge. The colder a battery gets, the greater the power required to charge it fully. For this reason, always fit a charger or regulator with a temperature sensor that will automatically compensate for these differences.

Most power devices produce a trickle charge, and are used to keep the engine battery topped up. However, if you’re planning to install a powerful (5A+) wind or water generator, or a large solar array, then you’ll need to install some sort of voltage regulator to prevent overcharging. This can vary, from a small solid-state switch for small solar panels, to a large dump resistor that dissipates excess charge from a wind generator through heating up a wire-wound resistor.

Monitoring your batteries

The easiest way to ensure your batteries are kept in tip-top condition is to observe their state of charge every day you’re on board, using a modern ‘smart’ battery monitor. This will give you a real-time display of the current going in and out, the state of charge (SOC), and the remaining capacity available. They also often have alarms to warn you when the voltage is dropping dangerously low, or if too high a charge is being applied.

A rough idea of the SOC can be attained using a voltmeter, but this is not particularly accurate and can indicate a false condition when recently charged or under a heavy load. It’s far better to install a monitor that has a shunt, which measures current flow over time and can calculate the available charge capacity remaining much more precisely.

Hydrogenerators, like this Remoran Wave 3, will quickly recharge a yacht’s batteries underway

Optimising solar power

The efficiency of solar panels can be compromised by saltwater and long-term exposure to UV and high temperatures. Good regular maintenance will improve a solar panel’s performance.

Clean your solar panels early in the morning, while they are at their coolest, as cleaning them when they are warm or exposed to direct sunlight can cause internal thermal stresses.

Use distilled or deionized water to avoid the formation of mineral stains or deposits on the surface of the panels, and avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive solvents that could scratch the photovoltaic cells. Let the panels air-dry or use soft cloths, and make sure no water residue is left. Check regularly for cracks, breaks or loose connections.

Hydrogenerators

Hydrogeneration has become a great deal more efficient in recent years. It’s a very simple concept: the yacht’s motion through the water turns an alternator on the transom-mounted hydrogenerator which generates electricity to recharge the boat’s batteries. Achieving 300Ah each day is a realistic expectation when cruising at 7-8 knots.

Oceanvolt’s High Power ServoProp 25 electric saildrive

Main prop regeneration

You can also use your main propeller to ‘regenerate’ electricity whilst under sail by using a parallel hybrid propulsion system where an electric motor is installed alongside the engine. Lynch Motors in Devon has supplied its systems to Vendée Globe boats for years, purely as a re-generator, and now produces a Red Snapper electric motor for cruising yachts.

The only problem with a regeneration system is that the pitch required for the propeller to drive the boat efficiently through the water may not always be the same as the pitch for optimum regeneration. Manufacturers have tackled this in different ways.

Oceanvolt has developed its ServoProp for saildrives, which electronically adjusts its pitch depending on speed and function. The latest incarnation allows total 360° blade mobility and faces forwards, increasing efficiency: at six knots, it produces an eye-watering 1kW of power.

Bruntons has another solution with the cleverly engineered Autoprop, which automatically pitches up to match the boat speed. Its Ecostar version of the prop can generate 200W at five knots and up to 1kW at 10 knots when connected to an electric motor.

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New electric boat motors from Mercury Marine coming soon to a lake near you

The avator series ranges from 3 to 15 hp.

LAS VEGAS — And now something from sister site Aquablog (kidding), Mercury Marine is showing off  electric boat motors at CES. Its 7.5e is already available, but new are the 20e, 35e, 75e and 110e sizes. All can be connected to existing motor mounts on boats, most likely pontoon boats here in the United States. The numbers/names correspond to their output in hectowatts, which, if you’re not Egon Spengler, equates in the case of the first three motors to to 2-3 horsepower, 5 hp, and 9.9 hp respectively. Mercury says it hasn't released performance data for the two biggest motors yet.

While the existing 7.5e has an integrated battery pack, the bigger and more powerful motors require separate packs, available in 1-, 2.3- or 5.4-kilowatt-hour sizes. The 2.3 is what will be offered initially later this year – the 20e takes one pack, while the 35e takes two. Details about the even bigger motors are to be announced. The battery packs are provided by Mercury Marine along with the necessary power control module that ensures the overall system satisfies regulations and safety. Mercury also provides brackets to secure the battery packs.

This electric  propulsion system can be retrofitted to existing boats or to new ones, again, most likely pontoons. This means Mercury Marine is working with individual boat dealers as well as boat manufacturers. To facilitate the transformation, it will also be dispatching product integration engineers as needed to dealers or manufacturers.

Mercury Marine says that even the smallest motor could push a pontoon up to 20 mph, which would be really all you need. Range is said to be one hour at full throttle or five hours at 50% throttle. Recharging is both complicated and incredibly easy. Each of the 48-pound 2.3-kWh battery packs can be hauled out and recharged. Alternatively, you can have an AC breaker installed on your boat, which Patrick Reinke of Mercury Marine says isn’t as scary or complicated as it sounds. With it, you can simply plug the boat/battery into an outlet in your boathouse or on a dock. The final alternative is to haul the boat out of the water entirely and recharge the batteries that way – if you haul the boat out any way, this is probably how you’d do it. Considering how much of a pain it can be to refill your boat with gasoline, being able to recharge with any of these methods doesn’t sound too bad.

What about price? Mercury Marine hasn’t released pricing for all the new motors, but the 20e goes for $6,500 and the 35e for $10,500. That includes the power control unit. The 2.3-kWh battery pack is then $1,989 each. Do the math and you’re looking at $8,489 for the 20e and $14,478. That obviously does not include installation.

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Hydrogen Power for Boats

• By Randy Vance
• August 26, 2024

Yamaha Marine stole the limelight at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show in February when it revealed a 450 hp hydrogen-powered V-8 outboard. It featured a Roush Performance fuel-delivery system in a 26-foot 26 XO Regulator Marine hull. The deck was off to reveal three 6-foot-long cylindrical-shaped hydrogen fuel tanks and a custom stringer grid, to nest them securely and protect them from deformation in operation. At that time, preliminary testing of the motor and vessel indicated a range of 50 to 75 miles based on the estimated 23 kilograms of hydrogen pressurized to 10,000 psi in high-pressure, plastic-lined composite-overwrapped fuel tanks. 

It brought up a big question: What does this portend for the future of recreational boating? Is this concept ready for prime time or just a pipe dream?

“It’s not optimized—yet,” says Grant Suzuki, chief technology engineer in charge of the marine innovation development division of Yamaha’s business unit. 

Matt Van Benschoten, Roush vice president of advanced engineering, agrees. “A gas tank in that vessel would hold about 107 gallons of fuel,” he explains. “Our goal, for this first H 2 fuel system, was to store approximately one-quarter of the gasoline energy content. The resulting fuel system achieves this goal.”

“The hydrogen initiative is an important pillar of three technologies on a pathway to carbon neutrality: hydrogen, electrification, and sustainable fuel,” ­Suzuki says. 

Yamaha is not alone in its ­research. The National Marine Manufacturers Association has an alternative-fuel initiative that encourages and empowers manufacturers to develop lower-­carbon fuels. Hydrogen is one of the NMMA’s favorites, but so are renewable fuels such as biobutanol, a distillate of organic materials.

In the Beginning

In the 1980s, the California Air ­Resources Board began to demand lower emissions from fuel-thirsty two-stroke ­outboard engines that essentially drooled unburned fuel from their ­exhaust ports. By the late ’90s, Yamaha had perfected HPDI, regarded as the most reliable two-stroke direct-fuel- injection system. It used computer wizardry to directly inject atomized fuel into the combustion chambers only after the piston stroke closed the exhaust port. Old two-stroke engines charged the combustion chambers while they were still open—a practice that was particularly wasteful at slower speeds. HPDI stopped the waste of blowing wet fuel through the inefficient two-stroke induction system, reduced emissions enormously, and maintained the power and torque for which two-stroke tech was known. After that, in the early 2000s, Yamaha began research-and-development tasks using fuel cells and alternative fuels such as hydrogen. 

At the same time, ­automakers such as Toyota, BMW and GM had well-developed fuel-cell ­prototypes. So did Yamaha in its motorcycle division. 

Hydrogen fuel cells create electricity by initiating a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a process called electrolysis. This electricity powers an electric motor—sometimes several, as in the case of numerous commuter buses operating in California. Several fuel-cell cars are on the market today, such as the Toyota Marai, but only 60 or so hydrogen fuel stations exist to refuel them. The cost most recently reported, in late 2023, was $36 per kilogram. In a fuel-cell Marai, that amounted to 50 cents per mile in fuel costs: green, maybe, but prohibitively expensive and not widely marketable. The exhaust produced by a hydrogen fuel cell consists of water vapor and warm air. Emissions are nil.

“That early work on fuel cells led us to experiment on the viability of hydrogen as an internal-combustion-engine fuel,” Suzuki explains of Yamaha’s efforts.

And that’s how the 26-foot Regulator concept boat with a hydrogen-powered Yamaha V-8 came to be and was placed on exhibit at one of the world’s most important boat shows.

Hydrogen Pros and Cons

The potential advantage of hydrogen-fueled power lies in its use of conventional internal-combustion-engine technology, according to Yamaha. The twist is that the compressed hydrogen is delivered to the combustion chamber in a regulated manner, not atomized or vaporized gasoline forced in with the pressurized injection systems used in today’s engines.

Roush has decades of experience in this area, having developed many fuel-delivery systems for everything from aerospace applications to land-speed-­record vehicles. Roush’s systems replace conventional port or ­direct-injection systems and engine control modules, and often integrate supercharging ­technology.

Roush’s Van Benschoten ­explained the challenges of the ­fuel-delivery system. “Three Type 4 tanks hold about 7.5 kilograms of hydrogen [per tank] at 700 bar (10,000 psi),” he says. “Type 4 tanks are made with a plastic liner and composite overwrap. Tanks expand and shrink during each fuel-burn-refuel cycle, so it’s important to design a mounting system that does not overconstrain the tanks.”

Clearly the engine and fuel system are a heavy lift, but ­according to Joan Maxwell, ­Regulator’s president and CEO, her company is up to the task. 

“One of the challenges of this project was simply trying to place highly pressurized tanks in existing hulls,” she says. “For us at Regulator, it was a proof of concept.”

Regulator enlisted its top ­engineers to reform the 26 XO’s stringer grid to accept the tanks and protect them from deformation during use and abuse, then fit that into a boat. The design had to accommodate high-pressure fuel lines to transfer hydrogen to the fuel-delivery system at a rate to let the engine develop optimal horsepower, as well as accommodate the tanks’ expansion and contraction during burn and refuel cycles.

From 700 bar in the tanks, the hydrogen pressure must be stepped down through a series of regulators to 100 bar, or about 1,500 psi, which is the pressure at which the fuel injectors deliver the H 2 into the combustion chambers. 

Engineering challenges of fuel delivery include managing the ­ratio of oxygen to hydrogen being delivered into the ­combustion chamber and controlling ignition timing appropriately to account for the shorter burn duration of hydrogen-air ­versus gasoline-air vapor. The process, naturally, requires custom ­computerized engine controls. 

“Another challenge is the ­potential embrittlement of steel alloys, which, when not selected appropriately for a ­hydrogen-rich environment, can experience a reduction in the ductility due to absorbed hydrogen,” Van ­Benschoten says.

Hydrogen will diffuse into metals, and even after the fuel has left the system, it remains in the metal, and over time, that can cause it to fracture prematurely. 

“We have to design around that, particularly in the fuel-delivery system,” he says. “It also impacts the cylinders and heads and pistons, but the most vulnerable parts are the injectors and fuel rails and lines. You’ll see a lot of stainless steel in those parts.”

Combustible Confusion

You can’t discuss hydrogen as a fuel without thinking of the hydrogen-filled Hindenburg , which burst into flames when the German lighter-than-air passenger-carrying airship ignited while attempting to touch down in Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937. The disaster killed 36 people and injured more than 50 others. ­Anecdotally, recent studies have offered convincing evidence that it was the highly flammable doping compound painted on the fabric of the dirigible that was ignited by a spark, not the hydrogen inside. Still, many understandably worry that hydrogen fuel is dangerous because it’s extreme volatility—or so the thought goes. However, gasoline fumes are comparably volatile and are heavier than air, so if a gas tank ruptures and the fuel escapes initial ignition, the fuel is still present, dripping into a boat or floating on the water, at continued risk of ignition. Hydrogen will be evacuated from a compromised fuel tank almost immediately, provided that there is a way for it to get out of the boat, thus minimizing the time in which combustion can occur.

Van Benschoten explained ­Yamaha’s safety enhancements for handling hydrogen on board: “We have ‘sniffers’ in the bilge to detect hydrogen leaks, and if there is one, the tank valves are automatically closed, isolating the tanks, and the fuel lines are purged and piped above the top of the vessel, where it continues to rise and dissipate in the air. The process takes about 15 seconds. We also have vents in the bilge, but their pickups are on the highest points in the bilge—not the lowest, as they would be with gasoline, since ­hydrogen is lighter than air.”

So, place your bets: Which is safest? Gasoline? Hydrogen? Let’s not even talk about the potential hazards of lithium batteries. 

Where to Source Hydrogen

Hydrogen is an element, the first and simplest one on the periodic table, with only one proton and one orbiting electron. It takes two hydrogen molecules bound together to make the hydrogen gas that burns—H 2 is its chemical designation. Hydrogen makes up 75 percent of everything—me, you, the stars, the sun—and ranks as the most abundant element in the universe. To extract hydrogen gas, it must be separated from water (H 2 0), natural gas or other fossil ­fuels such as coal. The processes, and the carbon footprints of each, are identified by color. Green hydrogen is separated from water using renewable (solar or wind) electricity to power the electrolysis process and costs the most to produce. It is scarce. Blue H 2 is produced from fossil-fuel-powered electrolysis, but carbon dioxide is captured and repurposed or stored. Gray hydrogen is the most plentiful and is separated from natural gas. Brown or black hydrogen is the easiest, cheapest and dirtiest to make, from coal in a gasification process. The cost to produce hydrogen ranges from $1 per kilogram to $6 per kilogram. Unfortunately, due to distribution costs and poorly developed infrastructure, the price at the pump is an astronomical $36 or more per kilogram. Moreover, all existing and potentially known sources of hydrogen fall short of the current and projected future needs for world transportation. 

Getting Hydrogen in the Tank

Regardless of where hydrogen is sourced, it faces its next big and costly challenge: getting it to ­users. It can be transported by pipeline, and often is for large ­users such as gasoline refineries. 

It can be transported as compressed gas, but that’s far more costly for the amount of fuel carried in a tanker truck as compared with gasoline or diesel. It can be transported liquefied more easily, but its propensity for shrinkage is high, and the energy required to compress it, plus complications and liabilities at the point of ­delivery, adds to that cost. 

Transporting H 2 is an energy-burning process too. The gasoline refining industry limits hydrogen­transport costs frequently by ­locating near hydrogen-producing plants. That eliminates transportation as one of the big energy ­consumers for them. At some point, hydrogen-production plants could be scalable to locate at or near fuel service stations. But at present, door-to-door hydrogen delivery is not on the horizon, and at this writing, there are fewer than 100 hydrogen fuel stations in North America. Most are in California. Broad distribution of it is not practical. Yet.

Read Next: Decarbonization of Boating

If Not Now, When?

So, if Yamaha perfects its hydrogen engine in, say, two years, would we see them on the ­water in growing numbers? ­Probably not. Look back to the early 2000s, when carmakers such as Toyota, Honda, BMW and GM, as well as motorcycle-makers such as Yamaha, had extensive experience developing fuel cells, but the Western world began to push electric propulsion because transportation of carbon-neutral fuel—mainly hydrogen—was a long way from addressing the ubiquitous distribution system enjoyed by gasoline or even the electric power grid. Now, however, as that demand for electricity increases, the need for an alternative green fuel increases, which ultimately might generate a ­deeper dive into hydrogen power.

Should Boaters Care?

If Roush’s estimates are correct, 23 kg of hydrogen can provide energy comparable to 26 gallons of gasoline. At the current street price of $36 per kilogram, a 23-kilogram hydrogen fill-up would cost $828 (at $36 per kilogram) and propel the boat about 50 miles, while a 107-gallon gas fill-up would be $642 at the waterfront and get the boat about 180 miles. And, even when highly compressed, hydrogen takes up almost four times the space of gasoline for the equivalent amount of energy.

As with electric propulsion, hydrogen is not the formula for every challenge. And H 2 is far from viable today. But, as Yamaha, Roush and Regulator see it, it’s one potential heading in the passage to a carbon-neutral world. 

• More: August/September 2024 , Boats , Engines , NextMarine , outboards , Yamaha

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Last missing body from sunken superyacht near Sicily recovered

LONDON -- Divers in Italy have recovered the last missing passenger from the superyacht that sunk off the Sicilian coast, ABC News has learned.

Six bodies had been recovered by early Thursday morning but the body of the final missing passenger -- believed to be Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of the yacht's owner, British tech tycoon Mike Lynch – was located inside the yacht Friday.

The body is being taken from the pier to Palermo’s Rotoli cemetery for identification.

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The list of victims, according to Italian news agency Adnkronos, includes Jonathan Bloomer, the president of Morgan Stanley International; his wife Anne Elizabeth; lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Nada; British entrepreneur and yacht owner Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hanna. The ship's cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday morning.

Mike Lynch's body was recovered from the yacht on Thursday.

Rescue teams had been facing a "very hard" operation to find those still missing after the superyacht sunk on Monday, a spokesperson for the onsite fire brigade teams told ABC News.

The vessel was lost early on Monday in stormy weather around half a mile from the fishing village of Porticello, close to the city of Palermo.

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Divers had been operating inside the yacht for two days, Cari added. "But the job is very hard because there are large obstacles and [we] have to work in very narrow spaces."

"It's a long process and we can only operate in short spells," said Cari. Divers have to be rotated constantly, with each only able to stay underwater for around 12 minutes, he said.

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Two Americans -- Christopher and Neda Morvillo -- were among the missing, ABC News confirmed on Tuesday.

Christopher Morvillo is a partner at law firm Clifford Chance and represented Lynch in his recent fraud case brought by Hewlett Packard. He is a former assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that the list of victims was provided by Italian news agency Adnkronos and not the Palermo prosecutor's office.

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Omsk Oblast, Russia Map

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A-Z of the 37 best all-electric models

Electric boats are here and they are quietly turning heads all over the world, we pick out 37 of the most exciting all-electric projects being built right now…

Electric boats are here to stay. What started as a trickle of electric craft over the past few years has turned into a torrent with everyone from Riva to Axopar jumping on the bandwagon.

Hybrid diesel electric boats are by no means a new concept in the marine world, but the latest generation of electric boats, not to mention electric outboard motors, is proving that this technology is no longer something to look forward to in the future, electric boats are a viable option right now.

Here at MBY.com, we’ve been following the electric boats revolution with intent for over a decade and now there are enough models on the market to make this style of boat a true competitor to conventional diesel and petrol-powered boats.

With a network of fast electric boat chargers already in place along the French Riviera, and plans for many more in marinas all over Europe and the UK, it looks like the electric revolution is now fully under way.

Read on for our round-up of the best electric boats currently in build…

35 of the best electric boats in build right now

Near silent cruising at 5-7 knots is the electric Alfastreet’s forte

Alfastreet 28 Cabin

These Slovenian-built boats are now a common sight on the Thames where their elegant lines, large sociable cockpits and clever lifting hard tops make them ideally suited to lazy days afloat.

Although most of them are available with powerful petrol outboard or sterndrive engines for fast coastal passages, Alfastreet also offers factory-fit electric boat versions of all its models for inland use.

Designed for slow speed displacement cruising, these are built for slipping along silently at 5-6 knots with zero emissions rather than rushing about at speed.

The top-of-the-range Alfastreet 28 Cabin, for example, is powered by twin 10kW motors for a top speed of around 7.5 knots and an estimated cruising range of 50nm at 5 knots from its twin 25kWh batteries.

Alfastreet 28 Cabin specifications

LOA:  28ft 3in (8.61m) Motor:  2 x 10kW Battery:  2 x 25kWh Top speed:  7.5 knots Range:  50nm Price:  Approx £150,000 (inc. VAT)

Arc One Electric Sport Boat

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Ski boats are all about instant-on torque to punch you out of the hole and leap on the plane. New California start-up Arc Boat Company is ensuring its upcoming Arc One ski boat will do just that, courtesy of its honking 350kW electric motor.

In case you’re wondering, that’s the equivalent of 475hp. Or around twice the juice on tap in the highest-capacity Tesla Model S. It also means a top speed of 40mph, and enough amps to keep you skiing or wake-boarding for up to five hours.

The aluminium-hulled 24-footer, with seats for 10, is the first offering from Los Angeles-based Arc, which is being headed-up by Tesla’s former head of manufacturing. He’s expecting the first electric boats to be delivered, with custom trailer included, this summer.

ARC One specifications

LOA:  24ft (7.3m) Motor:  350kW Battery:  200 kWh Top speed:  35 knots Range:  160nm at 35 knots Starting price:  $300,000 / £226,000

The Boesch 750 offers all the style, heritage and performance you could wish for, and an electric motor

Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe

This exclusive Swiss yard has been in business since 1910 building elegant retro  sportsboats  for lake and sea use.

Unlike Riva, it still builds exclusively in wood using a lightweight mahogany laminate construction that it claims is as strong and easy to maintain as a modern GRP hull.

All its craft use a traditional mid-mounted engine with a straight shaft propeller and rudder steering for maximum reliability and a flat trim angle, making them well suited for use as ski boats.

The current range comprises six models from 20ft to 32ft, however only the models up to 25ft are available as electric boats.

The top-of-the-range electric model, the Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe, has twin 50kW Piktronik motors giving a top speed of 21 knots and a range of 14nm.

Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe specification

LOA:  24ft 7in (7.5m) Motor:  2 x 50kW Battery:  2 x 35.6kWh Top speed:  21 knots Range:  14nm @ 20 knots Price:  €336,000 (ex. VAT)

The Candela C-8 recently set a world record for electric boat endurance by covering 420nm in 24hrs

Candela C-8

With a claimed range of 50nm at 22 knots, overnight accommodation for two and a more robust deep vee  foiling hull , this new Candela C-8 could be the electric boats game-changer we were waiting for.

Whereas the Candela C-7 looked oddly dated for such a high-tech boat, the C-8 has a purity of line to it that is fresh, modern and distinctive. With its vertical bow, slender beam and subtly contoured topsides free of scoops, slats or unnecessary styling lines, it has a pared back simplicity to it that oozes confidence.

It doesn’t need to shout for attention because every pair of eyes will be glued to it the minute it rises onto its foils and flies silently past the assembled onlookers, leaving nothing but a lingering aura of astonishment hanging in the air.

New for 2023, the C-8 will now be available with an uprated 69kWh Polestar 2 Standard battery pack, which considerably improves the range (as the Candela C-8’s recent world record attempt proved), and with the option of a center console deck layout.

Candela C-8 specifications

LOA:  27ft 11in (8.50m) Motor:  45-55kW Candela C-Pod Battery:  44-69kWh Top speed:  24 knots Range:  51nm Price:  €290,000 (ex. VAT)

Electric motors powered by batteries, solar panels and ICE generators allow it to cruise night and day

Cosmopolitan 66

Newcomer Cosmopolitan Yachts is hoping to shake up the market for large electric boats with a striking new 66ft (20.1m) solar-powered catamaran called the Cosmopolitan 66.

An all-aluminium multihull design, the Cosmpolitan 66 features a vast amount of interior space thanks to a maximum beam of 35ft (10.67m).

The outside deck spaces are just as generous, with entertainment terraces fore and aft as well as wide side decks and a huge, almost square flybridge.

Cosmopolitan 66 specifications

LOA:  66ft (20.1m) Motor:  2x 180kW Battery:  450kWh Top speed:  20 knots Range:  TBC Price:  TBC

Two-tiered windows provide big views and generous light down below

The new Vripack-designed Delphia 10 is a very versatile yacht. You can spec it with either a diesel engine of up to 110hp or an electric shaft drive from 40 to 80hp.

You can also tailor the layout to your needs with one of three standard arrangements. The Delphia 10 Sedan is a traditional pilothouse model with walkaround side decks and a large cockpit settee.

The Lounge model (pictured) uses a fully open design, with plenty of seating and a forward cockpit, securely contained within elevated side decks. And the Lounge Top model uses a large flat hardtop that makes a great platform for boat solar panels.

Delphia 10 specifications

LOA:  32ft 1in (9.78m) Beam:  11ft 5in (3.49m) Engines:  Single inboard electric 40-80hp / up to 110hp diesel Top speed:  44 knots Price:  £229,950 (inc. VAT)

Duffy Sun Cruiser 22

You can’t talk about electric boats and not talk about Duffy. Since 1970, more than 14,000 of these surrey-topped, genteel bay and lake cruisers have been sold. In Duffy’s home port of Newport Beach, California, there’s an estimated 3,500 of them running around. It’s simply the world’s best-selling electric boat.

Beautifully-built, with cushy seats for 12, a built-in fridge, and a multitude of cupholders, the top-selling Duffy 22 makes the perfect cocktail-hour cruiser.

Don’t expect to get anywhere in a hurry. Top speed is a heady 5.5 knots courtesy of a 48-volt electric motor amped by a bank of 16 six-volt batteries.

One especially cool feature is Duffy’s patented Power Rudder set-up. This integrates the electric motor with the rudder and the four-bladed prop, allowing the whole assembly to rotate almost 90 degrees for easier docking.

Duffy Sun Cruiser 22 specifications

LOA:  22ft (6.7m) Motor:  1 x 50kW Battery:  16 x 6-volt Top speed:  5.5 knots Range:  40nm at 5.5 knots Starting price:  $61,500 / £47,000https://www.youtube.com/embed/LbO9_YpvJSI?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1

Four Winns H2e

Another member of the Beneteau Group vying to build the best electric boats, Four Winns will launch a 22ft model called the H2e in late 2022, which it claims is the first all-electric series production bowrider in the world.

Powered by a 180hp electric outboard motor from Vision Marine that promises a 35-knot top speed, the Four Winns H2e will get its American debut at the 2023 Miami Boat Show before going into full production in the summer.

Twin 700v batteries will be fitted, but there’s no word yet on the price or cruising range, but given Four Winns’ pedigree, you can expect the former to be very competitive indeed.

Four Winns H2e specifications

LOA:  22ft (6.7m) Motor:  180hp Vision Marine electric outboard Battery:  2x 700v Top speed:  35 knots Range:  TBC Starting price:  TBC

Frauscher 740 Mirage

The tag line for this Austrian yard is ‘Engineers of Emotion since 1927’, and given the effect its boats tend to have on casual observers, let alone the person sitting behind the helm, we’re inclined to agree.

Simply put, it builds some of the best looking boats on the market, combining rakish proportions with cutting-edge style and exquisite detailing.

Although it builds petrol-powered boats up to 39ft offering searing performance, it also offers most of its smaller craft with the option of silent, emissions-free electric power.

The Frauscher 740 Mirage is a perfect example of this, offering two different electric Torqeedo motors of either 60kW or 110kW. The more powerful of these delivers a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 17-60nm depending on how fast you go.

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Frauscher have also teamed up with Porsche for an all-electric version of their 8.5m Fantom model, which is due to launch in 2024 as part of a limit edition 25-boat series.

Frauscher 740 Mirage specification

LOA:  24ft 6in (7.47m) Motor:  1 x 60-110kW Battery:  40-80kWh Top speed:  26 knots Range:  17-60nm @ 26-5 knots Starting price:  €216,616 (ex. VAT)https://www.youtube.com/embed/D0v65Q703ZI?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1

Greenline 40

Slovenian-based  Greenline Yachts  can lay claim to kickstarting the current trend for electric boats. Way back in 2008 it launched the first affordable diesel electric hybrid boat, a formula it has been refining and improving ever since.

Greenline now offers an extensive range of cruisers from 33ft to 68ft, all of which are available with all-electric as well as hybrid or conventional diesel power.

The mid-range  Greenline 40  is a fine example; the all-electric version is powered by twin 50kW motors giving it a top speed of 11 knots and a range of up to 30nm at 7 knots with a small 4kW range extender increasing that to 75nm at 5 knots.

However, if you need more flexibility the Hybrid model is fitted with twin 220hp Volvo D3 diesel engines boosting the speed to 22 knots but still allowing electric-only cruising at 5 knots for up to 20nm.

Greenline 40 specification

LOA:  39ft 4in (11.99m) Motor:  2 x 50kW Battery:  2 x 40kWh Top speed:  11 knots Range:  30nm @ 7 knots Price:  €445,000 (ex. VAT)https://www.youtube.com/embed/cRZxLx1xzhI?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1

Hermes Speedster E

Inspired by the curvy lines of Porsche’s classic 1950s 356 Speedster, this achingly-gorgeous Hermes Speedster from UK-based Seven Seas Yachts, has been spinning heads since 2017.

The rakish, Greek-built 22-footer typically comes with a 115hp Rotax Biggles-style motor doing the powering. But more recently it’s been offered with an eco-friendly, 100kW electric motor juiced by a 30 kilowatt-hour battery pack.

Flat out it’ll do just over 30 knots. But throttle back to a more leisurely five knots and it’ll glide in stealthy silence for up to nine hours on a charge. Perfect for a trip up the Thames.

And for lovers of retro, it boasts a curvy chrome-framed windscreen, chrome-ringed gauges in a hand-stitched leather dash, bucket front seats in glove-soft marine leather, and chrome air intakes on the rear deck. A nautical piece of art? You bet.

Hermes Speedster E specifications

LOA:  22ft (6.7m) Motor:  100kW Battery:  1 x 35kWh Top speed:  30 knots Range:  50nm at 5 knots Price:  $269,000 / £203,000https://www.youtube.com/embed/pW-LP4w9nnk?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1

Hinckley Dasher

Mention the name Hinckley and you immediately conjure-up an image of gorgeous teak-and-stainless, water-jet-thrusted Picnic Boats. But the legendary New England builder has been looking to the future and investing big in electric power.

Its first offering is the sleek 28-foot, all-electric Dasher that comes complete with a BMW-developed lithium-ion battery pack and twin 80hp Torqeedo Deep Blue motors. The high-tech combo can punch the Dasher to a top speed of 23.5 knots. Ease back to seven knots and it’ll run for over five hours on a charge.

Available as an open-deck, fishing-focused runabout, or classic-style windshielded day boat, the Dasher is a hand-built Hinckley bow to stern.

That said, while the boat still looks like it oozes with mirror-varnished teak and stainless fittings, the teak is actually hand-painted composite, the stainless is 3D-printed titanium. That flag-blue hull? Made of carbon-epoxy composites with carbon stringers.

Hinckley Dasher specifications

LOA:  28ft 6in (6.7m) Motor:  2 x 50kW Battery:  40kWh Top speed:  23.5 knots Range:  40 miles at 20 knots Starting price:  $545,000 / £412,000

The electric Iguana is capable of three knots on the land and 30 knots at sea

Iguana Foiler

Iguana Yachts has launched the world’s first battery-powered amphibious boat, called the Iguana Foiler. As if that weren’t enough, it also features folding foils and retractable caterpillar tracks.

The all-new 33ft Iguana Foiler is powered by a specially adapted version of Evoy’s new prototype 300hp electric outboard motor fed by a 120kWh lithium-ion battery bank.

To reduce drag and increase range, it rides on a pair of curved surface-piercing foils that fold down from each side and a third T-shaped foil at the rear fitted to a specially extended lower leg of the outboard.

Iguana Foiler specifications

Length:  32.8′ / 10m Beam (min):  10′ / 3.1m Engine:  Single 300hp EVOY electric outboard Top speed:  30 knots Range:  50 miles Capacity:  8 people Price:  TBC

Read more about the Iguana Foiler

The compact Magonis E-550 is a refreshinghly affordable electric option

Magonis Wave e-550

Spanish newcomer Magonis may not be the prettiest electric boat on the market but it is certainly one of the most affordable, with prices starting from as little €33,485 inc VAT.

Admittedly that only buys you the least powerful displacement-only 4kW version but even the most powerful 30kW model starts at a relatively modest €68,960 and boasts a top speed of 22 knots.

The key to its performance is a lightweight resin-infused hull that weighs just 335kg, which is powered by off-the-shelf electric outboards from Torqeedo and Mag Power.

Despite its diminutive proportions the squared-off bow means it is Category C rated for up to six people. Battery sizes vary from 10kWh to 23kWh according to engine power, giving a range of up to 60nm at 5 knots.

Magonis Wave e-550 specifications

LOA:  18ft 0in (5.50m) Motor:  1 x 4 – 30kW Battery:  1 x 10 – 23kWh Top speed:  22 knots Range:  30nm @ 3 knots Starting price:  €33,485

Mantaray M24

What makes this 24ft Mannerfelt-designed runabout particularly interesting is its simplicity. Unlike its main foiling rival, the Candela C-7, the Mantaray M24 requires no complicated electronics to ‘fly’.

Instead it uses the builder’s patented mechanical hydrofoil system, which it has trademarked as Dynamic Wing Technology or DWT.

The technology is said to be the result of ten years’ development work and uses a retractable T-foil in the bow and H-foil amidships that self-stabilise mechanically.

Mantaray M24 specifications

LOA:  24ft 0in (5.50m) Motor:  48kW Battery:  26kWh Top speed:  30 knots Range:  60nm Starting price:  TBC

The Marian M800 doesn’t make any compromises on style or speed

Marian M800 Spyder

This Austrian yard only manufactures all-electric boats so they can be designed from the ground up to suit the packaging requirements of the battery and motor rather than having to accommodate big petrol or diesel engines too.

The result is a supremely elegant range of retro-inspired sportsboats from 19ft to 26ft, as well as a more prosaic lake cruiser. The latest M800 Spider, launched at the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival, is its prettiest boat yet, rivalling the Riva Iseo for sheer style.

With each boat being built to order, you can specify anything from a 10kW electric motor and affordable 200Ah AGM batteries for lake use up to a 150kW motor and 125kWh lithium ion batteries for a top speed 34 knots (waterskiing is also possible) and a range of 30nm at 16 knots.

Marian M800 Spyder specifications

LOA:  25ft 9in (7.90m) Motor:  1 x 10-150kW Battery:  10-125kWh Top speed:  34 knots Range:  30nm @16 knots Starting price:  €238,560

Styling is a bold mix of retro design cues and futuristic detailing

Mayla FortyFour

German start-up Mayla Yachts is close to launching the first of its outrageous all-electric performance boats, called the Mayla FortyFour. Based on a Petestep deep-vee hull platform, this ultralight carbon fibre electric boat promises top speeds of over 70 knots.

Twin 800kW dual-core electric motors deliver up to 2,150hp of power to tunnel-mounted surface drives and thanks to the 4,800Nm of torque on tap, the second you apply the throttles, acceleration should be fearsome.

Power comes from either an all-electric 500kWh lithium-ion battery or a smaller 400kWh battery backed up by a 400hp (300kW) diesel generator and fuel tank. This hybrid boat version should give a maximum range of 270nm at 30 knots.

Mayla FortyFour specifications

LOA:  44ft (13.4 m) Beam:  10ft (3.0 m) Displacement:  6,200kgs Water capacity:  200L Power:  Twin 400-800kW Battery:  400-500 kWh Li-ion Top speed:  70 knots Cruising range:  70nm (electric) / 270nm (hybrid) Price:  TBC

Navier N30 auto-docking demonstration

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Anyone who has watched  America’s Cup  boats in action will know foiling does wonders for performance, which is the thinking at Silicon Valley-based and Sergey Brin-backed Navier, which is currently developing one very cool, and very clever, hydro-foiling electric dayboat, the Navier N30.

With its retractable foils and twin 90kW electric motors connected to a 80kWh battery bank, the carbon-hulled Navier can soar four feet above the waves at over 30 knots. Throttle back to 20 and the projected range is over 75 nautical miles, which Navier claims makes this the rangiest 30ft electric boat in the world.

You cake your pick from a Cabin version or open Hardtop, both of which come with a nifty self-docking feature (demonstrated in the video above). Navier says that the 2023 production run has sold out and it is already taking deposits on 2024 boats.

Navier N30 specifications

LOA:  30ft (9.1m) Beam:  8ft 6in (2.6m) Motor:  2 x 90kW Battery:  80kWh Top speed:  35 knots Range:  75 miles at 20 knots Starting price:  From $300,000 / £226,000

Nero 777 Evolution

Designed in Italy and built in Germany, the new Nero 777 looks like a very appealing combination of style and engineering know-how. Due to launch in 2024, it will come with a choice of five Evoy propulsion systems ranging from 60kW all the way up to 300kW.

The latter will offer an impressive top speed in excess of 50 knots, making this one of the fastest electric boats in development. And with a Petestep hull, it should offer a very comfortable ride even at such rapid speeds. Bring the speed back to a leisurely 5 knots and the claimed range shoots up to an impressive 108nm.

Design-wise, the Neto 777 Evolution taps into the current trend for fold-down balconies, which can create a water-level beach club effect – no mean feat on such a compact boat.

Nero 777 Evolution specifications

LOA:  25ft 6in (7.77m) Beam:  8ft 8in (2.63m) Motor:  60-300kW Battery:  40-126kWh Top speed:  50 knots Range:  108nm at 5 knots Starting price:  From €287,500

Nimbus 305 Coupe E-Power

Legendary Swedish yard Nimbus is renowned for its thoughtfully designed and sturdily built boats and the 305 Coupe is no exception.

Although originally designed for conventional combustion engines, it has been successfully adapted for electric use with the aid of a Torqeedo Deep Blue electric motor and a pair of 12.8kWh lithium ion batteries.

The recommended cruising speed is a modest 5.7 knots giving a range of 22nm at this speed but this can be almost doubled with the aid of a second optional battery.

Nimbus 305 Coupe E-Power specifications

LOA:  33ft 3in (10.07m) Motor:  1 x 25kW Battery:  1x 40kWh Top speed:  6.5 knots Range:  22nm @ 5.7 knots Starting price:  €265,000 (ex. VAT)

One of the most striking elements of the Optima E10 is its hull shape. This stabilised monohull design features a slender central hull flanked by even thinner external ones, creating tunnels underneath.

This design enhances efficiency by reducing drag, allowing the boat to achieve fast displacement speeds of approximately 14 to 15 knots. The external riggers also contribute to the boat’s stability, ensuring a comfortable and smooth ride.

Measuring 10m in length (around 33 ft), the Optima E10 is powered solely by electricity. It does not feature a hybrid drive or combustion engine, thus maximising its efficiency. The boat is equipped with two 63kWh Kriesel batteries and a 40kW electric motor from Rad propulsion, equivalent to approximately 54hp.

Optima E10 specifications

LOA:  36ft 1in / 11m Motor:  40kW Rad Propulsion Batteries:  120kWh Kriesel Top speed:  15 knots Range:  200 nautical miles @ 6 knots Starting price:  £400,000

Pixii’s aluminium hull and powerful battery should deliver impressive range and performance

Pixii SP800

Although this budding British brand has yet to launch one of its pretty new Pixii SP800 electric sportsboats, the first one is already in build on the Isle of Wight.

Featuring a light but strong aluminium hull with either one or two electric motors linked to a jet drive and what is said to be a class-leading 150kWh battery pack, it has all the ingredients of a formidable contender.

We’ll have to wait to see if it lives up to its maker’s claims of a 40-knot top speed, but if it does, it would make it one of the fastest electric production boats on the market.

It even has the option of a remote anchoring system that lets you jump off onto a beach then drive it out into deeper water before dropping the hook!

Pixii SP800 specifications

LOA:  24ft 6in (7.5m) Motor:  2 x 25kW Battery:  1x 150kWh Top speed:  40 knots Range:  100nm @ 14 knots Starting price:  £114,000 (inc. VAT)

Persico Zagato 100.2

Performance boat specialist Persico is set to launch its first all-electric superboat this year, called the Persico Zagato 100.2. Designed in collaboration with iconic automotive design house Zagato, the 26ft stunner is built around a revolutionary new steerable electric waterjet pod from Italian start-up Sealence.

The 100.2 part of the name celebrates Zagato’s second century in business, the new electric boat features a reverse bow, wraparound windshield, aft sunpad, rear bench-sofa and two front pilot seats, plus cuddy space beneath the foredeck.

However, it’s the ultra-efficient electric drivetrain that is likely to cause the biggest stir. The single 205kW Sealence DeepSpeed 420 steerable azipod is said to give the new boat a top speed of 43 knots and a cruising speed of around 24 knots, at which the range should be almost 50nm.

Persico Zagato 100.2 specifications

LOA:  25ft 11in (7.9m) Motor:  205 kW electric integrated jet pod Battery:  2x 83kWh Top speed:  43.5 knots Range:  47nm @ 24 knots Starting price:  TBC

Q-Yachts Q30

This Finnish yard was established in 2016 with the idea of developing an elegant electric boat that gave the same swift, silent cruising experience as a high-end sailing boat but without having to worry about sails and crew.

The result is the Q30, a stylish open day boat with striking minimalist looks and a super efficient hull shape that allows it to slip through the water at speeds up to 14 knots, making almost no noise or wake.

It’s powered by a pair of 10kW Torqeedo motors and a relatively meagre 30kWh battery but such is its efficiency that it will cruise for 10 hours at 6 knots or 5 hours at 9 knots.

Q-Yachts Q30 specifications

LOA:  30ft 6in (9.3m) Beam:  7ft 3in (2.2m) Motor:  2 x 10kW Torqeedo Battery:  30-40kWh Top speed:  14 knots Range:  60nm @ 6 knots, 21nm @ 14 knots Starting price:  €183,000 (ex. VAT)

Distinctive rebated topsides are a growing trend in small sportsboat design

Rand Source 22

Rand Boats claims its new Rand Source 22 is one of the most affordable electric sportsboats on the market, as well as one of the fastest.

Two electric boat options enable it to cover both these extremes in addition to a range of inboard and outboard petrol and diesel engines of up to 250hp.

When propelled by Torqeedo’s Deep Blue 50 outboard, it will carry a price tag of less than €100,000 but when fitted with Rand’s much more powerful 170kW electric inboard it will be capable of short-burst speeds of up to 50 knots and sustained cruising at 28 knots.

Rand Source 22 specifications

LOA:  22ft (6.7m) Motor:  170kW Battery:  TBC Range:  TBC Top speed:  50 knots Starting price:  €63,900

Read more about the Rand Source 22

Ripple Boats 10m Day Cruiser

Hailing from Norway and launched at the 2023 Cannes Yachting Festival, Ripple Boats is a new brand founded by Frydenbø Marine and Pascal Technologies.

They have raised over €4million of funding for their start-up venture and their debut model will be a 10m day cruiser developed by Thorup Design.

Key features from the initial renderings include an extendable hard-top bimini with inset glazing, plus the now ubiquitous folding balconies.

Should this debut model prove successful, Ripple Boats have plans to build a wide range of electric boats from 6-11m.

Ripple Boats 10m Day Cruiser specifications

LOA:  32ft 10in (10m) Beam:  10ft 6in (3.2m) Motor:  2 x 93kW Battery:  190 kWh Range:  45nm Cruising speed:  25 knots Starting price:  TBC

Only Riva could produce an electric boat that looks as pretty as this

Riva El-Iseo

As its name suggests the El-Iseo is an all-electric version of Riva’s entry-level sportsboat, the gloriously retro 27 Iseo.

The heart of the El-Iseo is a 250kW Parker GVM310 electric motor that spins a Mercury Bravo Three XR sterndrive leg. The prototype is capable of 40 knots, much the same as it delivers with its usual 300hp petrol or diesel engine options.

However, those who have driven the electric version say it’s the acceleration that really stands out. The quoted range figures are one hour at 25 knots or 10 hours at five knots, meaning a range of 25nm at planing speeds or 50nm in displacement mode.

Ferretti Group  CEO Alberto Galassi says that they will not start selling the El-Iseo or commit to a price until they have thoroughly tested the prototype and are certain it will deliver the performance, safety and reliability expected of a Riva.

The production model will be packaged with the latest electronics including a smart management system that reduces speed when the battery runs low and collision-avoidance software. “If it is going to be a Riva, it has to be perfect,” said Galassi.

Riva El-Iseo specifications

LOA:   27ft (8.2m) Motor:  250kW Battery:  150kWh Top speed:  40 knots Range:  50nm Starting price:  TBC

RS Pulse 63

RS Sailing is the first British yard to offer a production ready electric planing  RIB  in the form of the  RS Pulse 63 . With a super efficient hull design by Jo Richards, the man behind the hugely successful RS range of sailing dinghies, and styling by superyacht studio Design Unlimited, it looks like a really enticing package.

Power comes from a brand new 40kW RAD propulsion system, that claims to be safer and more efficient than an exposed propeller, linked to a bespoke 46kW Hyperdrive battery pack.

This delivers a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 25-100nm miles depending on speed but can be further increased with the aid of an optional extra 23kWh battery pack.

RS Pulse 63 specifications

LOA:  20ft 8in (6.30m) Motor:  1 x 40kW Battery:  46kW Top speed:  23 knots Range:  25-100nm @ 20-5 knots Starting price:  £82,800 (inc. VAT)

Watch our sea trial video of the RS Pulse 63 https://www.youtube.com/embed/RDZl94GcrPU?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1

SAY Carbon Yachts 29 E

As the name suggests, this German yard is renowned for its ultra light, high performance carbon fibre craft and it’s these same properties that make the SAY Carbon Yachts 29 E such a compelling electric craft.

This slender, low draught speed machine weighs less than two tonnes all up, including a powerful 360kW Kreisel electric motor and 120kWh battery. Hardly surprising then that it also holds the record for the world’s fastest production electric boat (under 9m) after scorching to a top speed of 50 knots on an Austrian lake in 2018.

Use the power more sparingly and the yard claims a range of 25nm at 22 knots, while a built in 22kW charger delivers a full recharge in just six hours.

SAY Carbon Yachts 29 E specifications

LOA:  29ft (8.85m) Motor:  1 x 360kW Battery:  120kWh Top speed:  52 knots Range:  25nm @ 22 knots Starting price:  €396,460 (ex. VAT)

Silent 28 Speed

Silent Yachts ’ electric-powered Silent 28 Speed grabbed headlines at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival thanks to a claimed top speed of more than 60 knots and an impressive range of 70nm at 30 knots. The secret to its performance is a foil-assisted hull with unique surface-piercing propellers.

Pushed along by twin 100kW eD-QDrive electric motors hooked up to a 100kWh lithium-ion battery bank topped up by built-in solar panels, it demonstrates that serious performance is no longer the preserve of petrol powered boats. No price has been announced.

Silent 28 Speed specifications

LOA:  28ft (8.6m) Motor:  2 x 100kW Battery:  100kW Top speed:  >60 knots Range:  70nm Starting price:  TBC

SpiritBARTech35EF

A marriage of gloriously retro styling and cutting-edge foiling technology, this electric foiler was commissioned as a chase-boat toy by the same European owner that took delivery in early 2020 of  Spirit Yachts ’ largest and most technologically advanced project to date, the 111ft super-sloop  Geist .

She was drawn by Spirit Yachts’ CEO and chief designer Sean McMillan, who admits to taking his principal inspiration from a slightly smaller twice Gold Cup winning hydroplane of mid-1920s America called  Baby Bootlegger , which sported a similar near-plumb bow, long varnished foredeck and a two-seat cockpit.

The vessel encompasses a modified electric motor, developed for motorsport, and three integrated foils. The claimed top speed is 30 knots, but the usual fast cruise speed will be in the low 20s, at which the quoted range is 100nm.

This was put to the test on July 17, with the SpiritBARTech35EF setting a new electric boat record for fastest circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight, covering 51m in 1hr 56mins at an average speed just shy of 23 knots.

Spirit 35 Foiler specifications

LOA:  35ft (10.6m) Motor:  TBC Battery:  TBC Top speed:  28 knots Range:  100nm at 20 knots Price:  Available on application

Read more about the SpiritBARTech35EF

Super Air Nautique GS22E

Based on the petrol-powered GS22 wake surf boat, the Super Air Nautique GS22E is packed with the best features available. These include a hydraulic folding wake tower, custom finishes, a configurable cockpit, and a customizable running surface that can change the characteristics from ski boat to wake surf or wakeboard use via a simple touchscreen at the helm. The boat can even be optioned with an electric stern thruster to make docking a doddle.

As well as being virtually silent underway, this electric boat version can offer up to three hours’ use on a single charge. The huge flat torque curve of the electric power plant perfectly suits tow sports use and onboard telemetry constantly monitors and reports the engine’s performance.

The significant $140,000 premium over the petrol powered version means this model will not be for everyone, however the emissions-free GS22E is the first of its kind and potentially the  wake surf boat  of the future.

Super Air Nautique GS22E specifications

LOA:  22ft / 6.7m Motor:  1 x 220kW Battery:  124kWh Top speed:  37.5 knots Range:  2-3hrs usage Starting price:  $312,952

Vita isn’t just a boat-building company, it also hopes to sell off-the-shelf electric drivetrains to other yards. Given the impressive performance and range of its own flagship LION model, this could prove a very smart move.

This elegant 10.5m day boat packs roughly the same amount of battery power as four Tesla 3 models and, thanks to a pair of 150kW electric motors linked to a single Mercury Bravo sterndrive, it goes like one too.

In fact Vita has to limit the amount of torque the motors put out to stop it shredding the gears. Despite this it maxes out at around 35 knots and can cruise for 90 minutes at 22 knots or almost 10 hours at 6-7 knots.

Vita LION specifications

LOA:  32ft 9in (10.5m) Motor:  2 x 150kW Battery:  235kWh Top speed:  35 knots Range:  33-70nm @ 22-7 knots Starting price:  £750,000 (ex. VAT)

Watch our full sea trial review of the Vita LION

Voltari 260

Typically, the brand new Voltari 260 electric boat is all about going fast. With its high-torque 740hp electric motor juiced by a 142kWh bank of lithium-ion Evereadys, it can slice and dice the waves at an impressive 52 knots.

But when there’s a world record to be broken, it’s worth a compromise or two. So, to claim the gong for covering the longest overseas distance in an electric “vehicle” on a single charge, the Voltari streaked along at a heady… 4.3 knots.

That meant covering the 91-miles between Key Largo, Florida, across the often-boisterous Gulf Stream, to Bimini in the Bahamas in what must have seemed an endless 20 hours. But it got the job done, and on a single charge.

Voltari 260 specifications

LOA:  28ft 11in (8.6m) Motor:  551kW Batteries:  142kWh Top speed:  52 knots Range:  91 miles @ 4 knots Starting price:  $450,000

Read more about the Voltari 260

The big claim for the new X Shore 1 is that it’s the first all-electric 30-knot sportsboat to be priced at under €100,000 ex taxes, making it the cheapest electric planing runabout in Europe.

With an LOA of 21ft 4in (6.5m), it is around 5ft shorter than the original  X-Shore Eelex 8000  and €150,000 cheaper. It is powered by a 125kW electric motor with a single 63kWh Kreisel battery (the Eelex has a 225kW motor and two 63kWh batteries) but thanks to the 1’s smaller, lighter hull it boasts the same top speed of 30 knots and a similar range of 20nm at 20 knots or 50nm at 6 knots (the Eelex can do 100nm at low speed).

The X-Shore 1 is available either as an open boat with a half height windscreen or a semi-enclosed Top version with the aid of an extended windscreen, a small hard top and canopies protecting the helm. Unlike the walkaround Eelex, it also has an enclosed foredeck with a cuddy underneath for overnighting.

X Shore has also started branching out into the realm of commercial boats. Based on the Eelex 8000 platform, the first X Shore Pro is being used for school transportation in the Swedish archipelago.

X-Shore 1 specifications

LOA:  21ft 4in (6.5m) Motor:  125kW Battery:  63kWh Top speed:  30 knots Range:  50nm @ 6 knots Starting price:  <€100,000 (ex. VAT)

Watch our full video tour of the X-Shore 1

ZIN’s waif-like sportsboat has a claimed range of 100nm at 13 knots

Seattle-based start-up Zin Electric Boats claims an astonishing range of up to 100nm for its pretty little Z2R sportsboats. Its secret is a super-lightweight all-carbon fibre hull that allows it to plane efficiently at just 13 knots.

As with many of these boats it is powered by Torqeedo’s 55kW electric motor linked to the same company’s 45kWh battery adapted from the BMW i3 electric car.

The first prototype reached a faintly terrifying 48 knots flat out but the production version is being limited to 30 knots to extend the range. Acceleration should still be lightning quick though thanks to the motor’s impressive torque.

Zin Z2R specifications

LOA:  20ft 0in (6.1m) Motor:  55kW Torqeedo Battery:  40kWh Top speed:  30 knots Range : 100nm @13 knots Price:  $250,000 (ex. VAT)

Zodiac 450 e-jet

French RIB specialist Zodiac is developing an entire range of small, affordable electric RIBs in conjunction with Torqeedo, but in the meantime it has already started building a state-of-the-art electric jet-RIB, predominantly for use as a superyacht tender.

Powered by a 50kW Torqeedo Deep Blue motor with a 40kWh battery from the BMW i3 car driving a low drag water jet, it can reach a max speed of 30 knots.

It also boasts a useful 90 minutes of cruising time at 24 knots, equating to a range of 36nm. High quality Neoprene tubes, retractable seating and hand-sewn quilted seats help justify its price and intended target market.

The new 3.1m and 3.4m eOpen range won’t be quite as quick but will have a range of around 10nm at 12 knots, and with prices from €25,200, they’re more affordable.

Zodiac 450 e-jet specifications

LOA:  14ft 9in (4.5m) Motor:  50kW Torqeedo Battery 40kWh Top speed:  30 knots Range:  36nm @ 24 knots Price:  €140,800 (ex. VAT)

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