electric yacht engine

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Electric yacht: What are the options for going electric?

• Will Bruton
• July 17, 2020

The options for having an electric yacht or a hybrid-electric yacht are growing in popularity; we outline the current options for those making the switch

The Arcona 380Z is a standard production yacht that has been adapted for electric propulsion. Note the increased solar panel surface area with soft panels bonded to the sails. Credit: Jukka Pakainen

A modern electric yacht can come in all shapes and sizes, from the latest high-tech speed boats with recently developed high-performance electric engines, to a traditional tender with an electric outboard on the back. Increasingly yachts are going electric too as electric engines become increasingly capable of propelling boats weighing several tonnes, and with the rigging for sails, at a reasonable speed for an acceptable length of time. 

Since the invention of the marinised engine , there has never been the capacity to store enough fuel to cover significant distances in boats that are smaller than a tanker, with fuel capacity always being the limiting factor. As such the best way to cover long distances on a boat fit for a small number of passengers was, and remains, wind power. 

For all the many green attributes that using the power of wind offers, there is no escaping that for most, fossil fuels still represent some part of sailing – whether that be a diesel engine to motor in light winds, onto and off a mooring , or to generate power for onboard electronic systems. Even a small tender used to go from ship-to-shore is often fitted with an outboard motor.

Recent advances in electric power, however, have started to make electric propulsion a reasonable alternative to fossil fuel power. Range will always be an issue but that has long been true of a traditional diesel engine. Improvements in lithuim-ion battery performance is, and likely will continue to, increase range every year. 

Spirit Yachts 44e – the ‘e’ stands for electric

Additionally electric power and batteries offer the bonus of being able to be recharged via solar panels , a wind turbine or hydroelectric power – via a hydrogenerator mounted on the stern of a boat sailing. 

At first glance the electric yacht market could appear in its infancy, but like every revolution, the will of the people is driving forward technology that only a few years ago was seen as the stuff of fantasy.

The market has responded to demand, and battery and motor technology has come on leaps and bounds, driven in part by the rapid development of electric cars.

It may not be commonplace yet, but electric yachting is here, even available ‘off the shelf’, so is it time to get onboard?

The Spirit 111 is a bold hybrid yacht, promising 30 miles motoring under electric power alone. Credit: Ian Roman/Waterline Media

A cutting edge electric yacht

Like Formula One, it’s the cutting edge of electric yachting that trickles down into mainstream production in no time at all.

For Spirit Yachts, a builder defined by a unique blend of traditional and state-of-the-art, electric yachting has been driven by demanding clients that want their yachts to be at the cutting edge.

Spirit Yachts have now produced a number of projects aimed at the all electric luxury yacht market including the Spirit 44e electric yacht and a recent project, the Spirit 111, had all the hallmarks of a superyacht project and the team had to earn their keep delivering to brief.

Managing Director Nigel Stuart explained how it works.

‘The 111 combines several cutting-edge technologies to deliver a something that’s never really been done before. A lithium-ion powered electric drive system can be charged by hydrogenation and also two high-wattage diesel generators.

‘Each generator is 22kw, meaning they can pack a lot of power into the system in a short period of time, they don’t need to run for long to fully recharge.

‘The prop is both a means of drive and power generation, so no separate hydrogenerator is needed. She will be capable of motoring under electric alone for more than 30 miles.

‘When you take on a project that’s electric, it makes you think hard about efficiency so the air conditioning, water heaters and everything in the galley has also been carefully selected to use less power.

‘For her owner there is very little compromise and some major advantages.’

Whilst it’s a long way from the average cruising yacht, the trickle-down effect of projects like the Spirit 111 can’t be underestimated.

Calypso , a Contessa 32, was the yard’s first foray into electric-powered yachts. Credit: Jeremy Rogers

Traditional electric yacht

Jeremy Rogers’ yard in Lymington is the birthplace of the iconic Contessa designs and a veritable temple to long keeled , traditional craft.

Less well known is the yard’s interest in electric auxiliary engines, something they have been involved in for more than 10 years.

Their first project, the refit of a Contessa 32 called Calypso, was an experiment by the Rogers family to see what was possible.

‘ Calypso was a test bed in the technology’s infancy,’ explains Kit Rogers of this early electric boat.

‘Inevitably, we didn’t get it all right, but we learned a lot about the dos and don’ts of electric yachting. The end result was a hybrid. The more we did, the more interesting the project became.

‘It’s not just the obvious, silent peaceful propulsion; it’s also the things you take for granted about a cruising boat. For example, no gas, we didn’t need it because we had electric power.

The yard has also worked on an electric folkboat conversion for a foreign customer.

‘The client, first and foremost, loves to sail. He sees the electric as an auxiliary option, along with the rowing and is excited to own a boat that’s quietly different.

‘He’s looking for a more connected experience and an electric boat helps him achieve it. When you’ve been motoring in and out of marinas under chugging diesel engines for years, the electric motor is something of a revelation.

Arcona has installed solar sails on its latest 380Z electric yacht

Off-the-shelf electric yacht

Perhaps the biggest indication of the future of the electric boat is the willingness of production and semi-production builders to pin their flags to the mast and embrace it.

One of the first was Hanse, who developed a version of their 315 utilising a Torquedo electric pod system.

Providing around the same amount of power as a 10 horsepower diesel, a 4.4kWh lithium ion battery pack powers the system.

Arcona, Dufour, Elan and Delphia also have electric boat models and are each taking their own direction on entering the market.

Arcona’s 380Z (the ‘Z’ stands for ‘zero emission’) fully electric boat has solar panel covered sails, capitalising on the large surface area to top up batteries under sail.

In the multihull market, there is even more scope for solar, wind and hydrogenation due to the horizontal surface area available for solar charging.

What are the options for an electric yacht?

Pure electric.

Purely electric systems can be broadly divided into two categories, high and low voltage.

The latter is the simplest option in terms of how it works and requires less specialist knowledge to install.

Kit Rogers installed a 48v Ocean Volt system in his latest project and remarked on the experience.

‘The advantage of the low voltage system is its inherent lack of complexity. Whilst we’ve coupled it with lithium ion battery technology, it can also be wired up to conventional lead acid batteries. There are pros and cons to both. What surprises everyone is the size, it’s a tiny motor and is surrounded by lots of space where the engine would normally sit.’

High voltage systems are more advanced, and utilising lithium-ion technology, their capacity is improving year on year.

For larger yachts this is generally seen as a better option.

A partnership between BMW and Torqueedo has led to the development of the Deep Blue 315v high voltage battery.

Effectively the same unit as found in the BMWi3 electric cars now often seen on the high street, the system produces a lot of power and is being used on the Spirit 111 project as well as catamarans.

Electric hybrid

One big barrier to entry exists for most potential electric yacht buyers – range.

Even the most advanced set-ups are limited to a maximum of a few hours motoring at cruising speed.

‘The electric motors excel at two things in particular,’ explained Kit Rogers.

‘The first is as auxiliary power for getting in and out of marinas. The second is engaged at low power to very efficiently motor-sail in light airs. If you want to do more than that, at present, you need to add a way of packing in the charge into the battery quickly whilst at sea; which means a generator’ .

As with electric cars and as enthusiasm builds for the technology, a hybrid option, pairing a generator with an electric drive system, is already proving popular and is probably the most practical option for those planning to cruise any distance.

Using a large generator, charge can be quickly put into the system when needed.

Once under sail, the yacht’s propeller becomes a hydro generator, meaning that diesel power is not needed day-to-day.

Solar can also be used to add additional charging capacity.

‘When a fully integrated electric hybrid system is incorporated into a cruising yacht from the outset, its possibilities really become clear,’ explains John Arnold, UK manager at Torqeedo.

‘Sailing for days on end with no engine noise is entirely possible. There are other less obvious benefits too. Electric drives have no long rotating shaft, so can be used as pod drives as well, meaning the boat is far more manoeuvrable than even a yacht equipped with bow and stern thrusters.’

Spirit Yachts 44e

How much does it cost to convert a yacht to electric power?

The technology exists, but anyone seriously considering going electric will want to crunch the numbers.

In the case of taking out a traditional inboard diesel and replacing it with an electric system, it’s relatively easy to work this out.

However, unless you include an auxiliary generator, you will be limited to battery range alone.

For this reason, we’ve done a like for like comparison for a 35ft yacht engine refit, including the cost of a generator to make the system a practical hybrid.

Unsurprisingly, at the moment, there’s a big difference in cost, but at between three to six times the cost, it is gradually coming into the realms of possibility, and prices should continue to drop as technology develops and evolves.

Ocean Volt SD10 Motor system (including batteries, charger and 6kw generator): £30,825.16

Beta Marine Beta 20hp Marine Diesel: £4,100

If you enjoyed reading this….

A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .

Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .

YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water.

• Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts
• Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment
• Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.

HYBRID AND ELECTRIC MARINE POWER AND PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Zero Emission

No environmental restrictions

No high voltage risk

Remote System Interface

State of the art Lithium Ion battery technology

Safe installation and operation

Instant power output for maneuverability

Zero to full torque in an instant

No waiting for engine rev to settle

No pre-start warning beep

Best quality components available

Patented Technology

Hydro power regeneration

Superior thrust efficiency and energy capture

Remote diagnostics

Low maintenance

System Solutions for a Range of Marine Activity

THE FACTS ABOUT ELECTRIC POWER, BATTERIES AND PROPULSION

Today's electric motor technology has already moved from

the open road to the open ocean.

Instant High Torque

Electric motors are in constant ‘stand by’ mode; you can engage the control lever at any time for instant forward or reverse propulsion.

Electric motors achieve instant torque with Electromotive Force while internal combustion engines need to build RPMs gradually by increasing piston firing frequency.

Hydro Generation

At sailing speeds over 6 knots Oceanvolt systems are able to generate significant power for recharging the battery bank by activating at the touch of a button.

Power regeneration increases exponentially with each additional knot of speed.

Lithium Ion batteries are superior to other battery storage technology; highest storage capacity, high effective current delivery, high charge capacity resiliency and wide temperature range performance. In today's digital age, where everything is just a click away, 1xbet mobile takes a significant chunk of the online casino services sector. Starting as an online casino service in 2007, 1xBet expanded its services in 2014 to include sports betting. Fast forward to 2018, and they marked their entry into the Indian market. Their app and website, designed in a calming blue and white hue, are not just a treat for the eyes but are also super intuitive. With a support interface that covers 50 languages, including Hindi, the platform ensures that language is no barrier to placing your bet.

Oceanvolt highly skilled technical team ensures proper installation and system-optimization.  Only the highest quality Li-Ion batteries are used - to ensure performance and safety.

For those interested in a hybrid solution, generators are a highly efficient way to extend range while at sea.

DC generators have the advantage of rapid recharging capability.

AC generators are, generally, smaller and even portable which means that the generator can be aboard only in situations where longer motoring might be required.

Battery recharging is accomplished with shore connection, hydro generation (an integrated part of all Oceanvolt systems) and/or solar panels.

In Hybrid solutions , a generator (either AC or DC) can be used to recharge batteries / extend motoring range.

Integrated components

It is essential that all system components are properly selected and installed.

Our team of highly skilled technicians ensure that all components are compatible and that system management software is optimized.

Oceanvolt blog

Oceanvolt’s upcoming boat show appearances

WHITEPAPER: HYDROGENERATION

WHITEPAPER: HORSEPOWER VS KILOWATT

Owner testimonials.

Electric Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 “Moritz”

Maxi Dolphin MD55

RM Yachts RM 1180

• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Newsletters
• Sailboat Reviews
• Boating Safety
• Sails and Rigging
• Maintenance
• Sailing Totem
• Sailor & Galley
• Living Aboard
• Destinations
• Gear & Electronics
• Charter Resources
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

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.

• More: Green Wakes , Hands-On Sailor , navigation , print nov 2021 , sailboat review , Sailboat Reviews
• More Sailboats

Sailboat Preview: Elan GT6 Explorer

For Sale: 1984 Camper & Nicholsons 58

Alubat Updates OVNI Models

For Sale: Little Harbor 63 Ketch

North Sails Parent Company Buys Doyle, Quantum

Top Tools for Sailboat Cruising: Must-Have Gear for 2024

Sailing Avocet : A New Adventure Begins

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

JavaScript functionality for your browser has been deactivate. Please activate JavaScript so you can use all functions on this page.

Electric Boat Motors

Compact ⋅ efficient ⋅ reliable, 877-411-3526, the trusted solution for electric boating.

EP-5 Electric Outboard

EP-9.9 Electric Outboard

EP-14 Electric Outboard

EP-20 Electric Outboard

EP-30 Electric Outboard

EP-50 Electric Outboard

EP-6 Electric Inboard

Ep-12 electric inboard, ep-20 electric inboard.

EP-40 Electric Inboard

Ep-70 electric inboard, ep-100 electric inboard.

EP-200 ELECTRIC INBOARD

Award winning electric propulsion.

Elco Motor Yachts has been at the forefront of marine innovation, proudly boasting a rich history spanning over 130 years. The company supplied 55 groundbreaking electric launches at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The vessels, powered by Elco’s electric boat motors, swiftly captured the hearts of boating enthusiasts worldwide.

Today, Elco’s award-winning electric outboards and inboards are not only reliable and powerful but also embody the company’s steadfast commitment to sustainability. When you buy an Elco electric motor for your boat, you’re purchasing more than just a product—you’re investing in a cleaner, quieter boating experience.

Whether you need an inboard or an outboard, Elco has the best electric boat motors for sale for you when you’re ready to switch to electric propulsion. Our electric marine motors outshine traditional gas-powered motors. They’re quieter, they’re kinder to the environment, and they’re quality choices. Experience the superior performance and environmental benefits of our electric boat motors today.

Electric Outboards

Traditional on the outside, cutting-edge on the inside

Electric Inboards

All torque, one moving part, and no transmission

Port Elco Club

Check out our latest news and updates from our Port Elco community.

Elco's Story

Our legacy stretches back more than 130 years ago to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

ELECTRIC BASS: Outboard Technology Promises a Bright Future For Urban Bass Anglers

Planing on electric.

Electric Boat Drives

Commercial Fleet

Quick Shopping Links

• Electric Outboard Motors
• Electric Outboard Motor 5 HP
• Electric Outboard Motor 9.9 HP
• Electric Outboard Motor 14 HP
• Electric Outboard Motor 20 HP
• Electric Outboard Motor 30 HP
• Electric Outboard Motor 50 HP
• Electric Inboard Motors
• Electric Inboard Motor 6 HP
• Electric Inboard Motor 12 HP
• Electric Inboard Motor 20 HP
• Electric Inboard Motor 40 HP
• Electric Inboard Motor 70 HP
• Electric Inboard Motor 100 HP
• Electric Inboard Motor 200 HP

Battery Chargers

• NOCO GEN 2 Deep Cycle Battery Charger
• NOCO GEN 3 Deep Cycle Battery Charger
• NOCO GEN 4 Deep Cycle Battery Charger
• NOCO GX2440 Lithium Battery Charger
• NOCO GX4820 Lithium Battery Charger
• EV- AGM / Lithium Battery Charger
• Electric Boat Motor Batteries & Accessories
• Elco Classic Launches
• Elco in the News
• Customer Stories
• Press Releases
• Get Updates
• Benefits of Going Green
• Our Technology
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Honoring Heroes
• Tell us about your boat
• Dealer Application
• Dealer Log-In
• Return Policy

© 2024 Elco Motor Yachts. All Rights Reserved. Sitemap.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

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.

Dynamic title for modals

Are you sure.

Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance

• THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
• Email Newsletter
• Yacht Walkthroughs
• Destinations
• Electronics
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

The All-Electric Yacht Evolution

• By David Schmidt
• January 13, 2022

The powerboat drivers idle near their starting lines off Monaco, waiting for the signal to punch the throttles. But they’re different from those who have raced here since 1904: These nine boats are competing in the Solar Class at the 2021 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.

Every July, the Monaco Yacht Club organizes this race, which features next-generation technologies. This year, after five days of competition—including a 16-nautical-mile-lap race, slalom racing and a championship race—the Dutch-flagged Sunflare solar team claimed top honors in the sun-powered class.

Is their boat’s top speed of about 29 knots going to break any world speed records? No. But the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is a harbinger of recreational boating’s not-so-distant future.

That future, of being carbon-free, has been a long time coming. German inventor Moritz von Jacobi created an early electric boat in 1839, a 24-footer that could carry 14 passengers at roughly 2.6 knots. In 1882, Anthony Reckenzaun, an Austria-born electrical engineer, built Electricity , a steel-hulled launch with onboard batteries that was considered one of the first “practical” electric vessels. Other innovations continued until circa 1910, when Ole Evinrude’s gasoline-fired outboards began their own revolution.

Now, a century later, electric yachts harness technologies such as solar panels, electric drivetrains, lightweight construction in carbon fiber, lithium-based batteries and, in some cases, hydrofoils. These boats’ performance, comfort and range can rival some traditionally powered yachts—and they are clean and quiet. Much like Teslas, they sometimes also come with memorable acceleration curves.

Contemporary electric boats range in size and complexity. There are displacement monohulls such as Zin Boat’s 20-foot Z2T and Z2R and X Shore’s 26-foot Eelex 8000. There are hydrofoilers such as the upcoming Navier 27 (see sidebar). There are also boats like those contesting the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, as well as bluewater cruisers with multiple hulls.

“The first advantage is space,” says Michael Köhler, CEO of Silent-Yachts . “Catamarans have more surface area, which benefits the number of solar panels that can be installed.”

Other advantages of multiple hulls in electric-boat design include increased form stability (no ballasted keels) and reduced drag. “This low resistance means they’re better suited for electric motoring, as they need a lot less energy to move than monohulls,” says Nicolas Lapp, Sunreef Yachts’ strategy consultant for research and development.

One key to reducing a yacht’s energy requirements involves reducing its displacement. “The lighter the yacht, the less energy is needed to move it,” Köhler says. “For this reason, our yachts are made of lightweight carbon fiber.”

While all of the yachts discussed in this article can be charged via shore-supplied AC power, cruisers typically want greater autonomy. To that end, Silent-Yachts and Sunreef Yachts use solar panels. The team at Silent-Yachts specs its panels from California-based SunPower, while Sunreef Yachts created the marine industry’s first flexible solar panels, which are flush-mounted on hulls, masts and superstructures.

Aesthetics matter in yachting, and not everyone wants to cruise aboard a solar farm. Here, Lapp sees an opportunity. “If you want sustainability to be cool and attract the attention of new generations, the appeal of the product is something you cannot neglect,” he says. “Seamless integration of the solar panels was a way for us to prove that sustainability [can] generate green power [and] cool looks.” (After all, no one buys a Tesla because it looks like a Chevy.)

While the Caribbean and Mediterranean are blessed with abundant lumens, other world-class cruising grounds—say, the Pacific Northwest—aren’t equally illuminated. Because of this, electric cruising yachts typically also include redundant systems to ensure that the navigation lights stay on without heading to a marina.

“Every Silent yacht is equipped with a backup generator,” Köhler says. “This makes sure you never run out of energy, even when facing longer periods of unfavorable weather conditions.”

Rainy-day alternatives can include other green-power solutions. Sunreef Yachts typically specs dual wind generators atop its yachts’ rooftops. However, Lapp is realistic about their capabilities.

“Wind turbines can only supply a small fraction of the energy that our solar panels can,” he says, explaining that, in the right conditions, Sunreef’s panels typically generate 40 times more juice than the turbines. “What’s nice about working with wind is that your generators work all the time.” That includes under navigation, at the dock and throughout the night.

Energy sources aside, these experts say that high-quality batteries offering high performance are critical. Larger-capacity battery banks ensure more power reserves, but adding them can affect a yacht’s performance.

“The weight of the battery banks is also an important factor, as it can reduce or increase the overall efficiency,” Köhler says.

Battery performance is also critical for electric-powered coastal craft. One example is X Shore’s Eelex 8000, which has a high-performance 225 kW electric motor and dual 63 kWh lithium-ion batteries that can be charged anywhere there’s a power socket, or supercharged using the same technology as electric cars.

“The batteries can be charged in five to eight hours with three-phase power plugs and one to two hours with superchargers,” says Elias Wästberg, X Shore’s project manager.

While superchargers don’t exist in the middle of oceans, builders of electric-powered bluewater boats have already done this math. Silent-Yachts says its power catamarans are built to offer transatlantic autonomy, but a lot depends on how the owner uses the boat to minimize energy consumption.

“During sunny conditions, a general rule of thumb is that cruising at 6 knots maintains a balance between consumption and production,” Köhler says. “This basically means unlimited range. …The main thing that owners can do to increase range is reduce speed and turn off any appliances.”

This begs the question: Do owners need to downshift their expectations for onboard comfort when going electric?

“There’s no need to make any sacrifices or closely monitor energy levels,” Lapp says. “A lot of energy saving is done automatically. For example, at night, the air-conditioning system focuses solely on selected areas and cabins. … It consumes 70 percent less energy than most systems.”

And should the battery banks get thirsty, there’s always the generator.

Cruising with zero emissions might be a selling point for some customers, but one need not squeeze trees to embrace yachting’s future. “Running costs and maintenance levels are much lower compared to regular-motor catamarans,” Köhler says.

Then, there are unquantifiable returns. “You get to enjoy the absolute luxury of cruising in total silence and without disturbing the marine life around you,” Lapp says, adding that this experience helps owners create “better connections with the environment.”

Finally, there can also be the grin factor. “The Eelex 8000 can accelerate from 0 to 20 knots in 4.2 seconds,” Wästberg says. “The software captures 150 data points every second, allowing for real-time analytics of battery and engine performance, including temperature, humidity, pressure, location and the craft’s system status.”

While electric yachts boast some impressive capabilities, free lunches are unicorns. Electric yachts don’t emit carbon dioxide, but their carbon footprint likely deepens with stem-to-stern life-cycle assessments of their photovoltaic panels, carbon-fiber hulls and lithium-based batteries. Then there’s the inconvenient financial truth that all batteries have a finite number of charge cycles and eventually need refitting. Also, for now, diesel mechanics greatly outnumber certified electric-boat technicians, especially in remote locales.

Still, few people gifted with foresight would have bet against Evinrude’s outboards in the early 20th century. The same holds true for today’s electric boats. One only has to look at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to realize that some of the brightest minds in the marine and technology fields are committed to a carbon-free future.

Couple this trend with the fact that electric yachts are already providing better performance and compromise-free cruising, and yachting’s future is looking bright (green).  

Navier Boats teamed up with Paul Bieker, an America’s Cup-winning naval architect and hydrofoil expert, to create the Navier 27. It delivers 30-plus-knot top speeds or a 75-nautical-mile range at slower speeds. While impressive, hydrofoils require active control, which is a crux that Navier solved by creating an autonomous foil-control system.

Sunreef 100 Eco

It’s one thing to build a solar-powered vessel for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge; it’s a different challenge to build an electric 100-footer that can accommodate 12 guests and five crewmembers. The Sunreef 100 Eco’s flexible solar panels mean this cat can accommodate 2,610 square feet of solar-farm space and generate up to 46 kilowatts per hour of DC power, which should keep its high-performance lithium-ion batteries topped off. 

Hands on the Helm

While the Navier 27 will initially require human hands on its helm, down-the-road software releases are expected to enable autonomous driving.

Panel Planners

While photovoltaic panels can be fitted to any yacht, catamarans present themselves as an ideal platform, given their beam and broader coach-roof space.

• More: Electric , Electric Boats , Electric Motors , Electric Yachts , Silent-Yachts , Sunreef Yachts , Yachts , Zin Boats
• More Yachts

Halo 470 Reviewed

Superyacht Collision, Sinking Incident, Takeaways and Lessons

Riviera to Unveil 6800 Sport Yacht at Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Heesen Reveals “Santosha” Details

For Sale: 2006 84′ Lazzara

Azimut Launches the Fly 62

For Sale: 2015 Beneteau Swift Trawler 50

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• Spirit 1.0 Plus
• Spirit 1.0 Evo
• Pod Drive Evo
• E-Series Battery
• G102-100 Battery
• Find a Dealer
• Have a Dealer Contact Me
• Product Registration

• Support Center: FAQ & Guide
• Video Tutorial
• Download Center
• Performance Bulletins

Electric Sailboat Motor: Range, Cost, Best Kits for Conversion

Today, owning a completely green sailboat has been made possible with electric sailboat motors.

Imagine cruising with the silence of an electric sailboat motor and the ease of use with a simple press on the start button. What’s better is there are no exhaust fumes at all with significantly less maintenance.

It’s so appealing that a lot of sailing liveaboards have made their electric sailboat motor conversion.

However, some sailors are still on the fence, worrying about the range and price of the electric sailboat motor.

If you are one of them, you are in the right place!

This post will guide you through every aspect you need to know about electric sailboat motors to help you make an informed decision.

Besides, you will get professional insights on how to make the electric sailboat motor conversion for your own boat and learn the best electric sailboat motors (with honest reviews).

Table of contents:

• Electric Sailboat Motors: Confusion Explained

Electric Sailboat Motor or Combustion Motor

• Electric Yacht Motor Conversion: Two Solutions
• How to Size an Electric Sailboat Motor

Best Electric Sailboat Motors (with Reviews)

Electric Sailboat Motor: Confusion Explained

Can you go cruising with an electric sailboat motor? Can you put an electric motor on a sailboat? Are there any limitations?

Whether electric sailboat motors are a good fit for your boat is not a YES or NO question. Here we will explain your top worries with statistics and facts. That way, you can make a wise decision according to your situation.

You may hear some complaints about the batteries and range of the electric propulsion.

However, their experience may not suit electric sailboat motors.

In fact, even small electric engines work pretty well in many sailboats. That’s because most of the time, the wind can power the boat, and the motor is just used for docking or in rare times when there is no wind.

Therefore, it makes more sense to learn electric sailboat motor performance in real-world applications.

Here is a test report of a 3 HP electric sailboat motor on an RS21 racing sailboat:

As you can see, the small electric sailboat motor can run at 5.5 mph top speed for one hour continuously.

And there is a big difference in terms of range vs speed for electric sailboat motors:

If you lower the speed, the range and runtime can be greatly extended. The slower you go, the further you’ll get. For example, if you cut your speed in half, the electric sailboat motor can last 7 hours and go 20 miles within one charge.

That’s pretty sufficient if you use the electric yacht motor mostly for docking or as an auxiliary engine.

Faster top speed (and more range) is available with higher power electric sailboat motors depending on your specific requirements. Contact a specialist to design your electric sailboat motor solutions.

Also, don’t forget to get the electric sailboat motor with regeneration (See recommendations below).

That’s to say, when there is a lot of wind and you’re moving rapidly via your sails, they regenerate and store electric power on the batteries to keep you moving at other times. Solar recharging is also a plus.

Essentially, the range depends on how many batteries you have, so it’s not a limitation of electric sailboat motors but energy and batteries.

If you are still worried, you can offset this by getting a diesel generator, which is more efficient than a diesel engine. And it is a range extender when you need it, but for 90% of your motoring that you don’t need the range, you can rely on the electric sailboat motor.

Some of you might be concerned about the extra weight of the batteries.

In fact, an electric sailboat motor with lithium batteries weighs less than a diesel engine, particularly if you include the fuel weight.

If you want a lightweight electric sailboat motor solution, make sure you get one with LiFePO4 batteries . Compared with other marine batteries, they are more compact in design with much less weight and higher energy density.

Some more advanced electric motors for small sailboats (such as Spirit 1.0 Evo) feature an integrated lightweight battery. So you don’t need to worry about the complex wiring to hook it up or extra space to store the battery.

This is a huge plus if you want to use the electric sailboat motor on a tender or dinghy.

Here is also a chart that collects the weight of some popular electric sailboat motors for your reference:

For many people, another big problem with electric sailboat motors is the cost.

It’s true that a gasoline outboard with similar power is a lot cheaper to buy. However, the electric sailboat motor eventually wins in long-term operating cost. That’s especially the case if you are going to do a lot of motoring.

Electric sailboat motors save on fuel and maintenance costs, which can build up to a large amount over time.

Here is a chart that compares the cost of a 3HP electric sailboat motor (coming with a built-in battery) with its combustion counterpart:

That’s to say, you will cover the price difference for electric yacht motors eventually as long as you use it long enough. Click to check the details of the calculation .

What makes the electric sailboat motor even more worthwhile is it saves you a lot of hassles, especially for sailors who only use the engine in and out of the harbor. Dealing with the maintenance of the gas outboard for a 10 minute motor out of and into the harbor is disproportionate and painful.

*The higher horsepower electric sailboat motor may be different in terms of the cost calculation. Check out the outboard motor pricelist by HP for more information.

As you may have already noticed, electric propulsion has already been widely used in the marine industry:

It’s quiet while motoring, clean to handle, environmentally friendly, with less maintenance and operation costs.

The electric sailboat motors are easier to use with dramatically fewer moving parts to break and no worries about being a diesel mechanic to deal with the hard pulling start. You can have it always on, so it is ready whenever you need it.

And it makes even more sense in sailing applications:

You don’t really need to motor much if your plan is to actually sail. If you are completely becalmed, you will probably just need to motor at 2 knots to keep making way, which is easy for electric sailboat motors.

If you mostly use the motor to get into and out of the harbor, the electric sailboat motor also works great for you.

You can always charge up at the dock, motor out of the marina (or even motor to your sailing area or race start), then hoist the sails and when you’re through, the batteries are charged again.

The electric sailboat motor is also useful as a backup (kicker) motor in case your system goes down. That’s why you can see people pushing a lot of big boats with small electric motors. (Click to learn more information about kicker motors .)

Personally, it’s really nice to have an electric auxiliary in the boat – no smelly, messy diesel and motor oil to deal with, a much simpler system with less maintenance, and much, much quieter operation.

However, powerboats tend to have much higher requirements in terms of both power output and runtime. In that case, an electric sailboat motor can be hard to satisfy your needs.

How Do You Size an Electric Motor for a Sailboat?

As a rule of thumb, you will need approximately 1 HP per 550 lb of the displacement of your boat.

Generally speaking, a 3 HP electric sailboat motor can push a sailboat up to 25 ft and a 9.9 HP motor is sufficient for a 30 ft sailboat to motor at a satisfying speed.

However, bear in mind the horsepower you need always depends on your needs and applications.

It’s better to check the data from real-world tests to decide whether the electric sailboat motor is suitable for your specific needs.

For example, the 9.9 HP electric sailboat motor Navy 6.0 allows you to go at 6.9 mph (11.1 kph) on a 30 ft sailboat, and the range can be extended to 46.4 miles if you decrease your speed to 2.9 mph (4.6 kph).

Click to see more test reports with other electric motor and sailboat combinations, and find the electric sailboat motor that suits you best.

If you are still not sure about the size of the electric sailboat motor for you, feel free to leave us a comment and we will get back to you ASAP with professional suggestions.

Electric Sailboat Motor Conversion

Basically, there are two ways for you to convert your sailboat to a clean and quiet electric drive system:

You can either convert your current vessel to electric or buy an engineless yacht and install an electric sailboat motor on your own.

#1. Repower Your Sailboat with Electric Motor

If you decide to replace the diesel engine with an electric motor, you will need to do a lot of preparations:

The DIY approach requires an electric sailboat motor kit (including motor and controller), batteries, a good level of mechanical ability and basic electrical knowledge, as well as some common tools such as a voltmeter.

You will need to take the old engine out for the new electric sailboat motor installation. It’s not an easy task that involves removing the engine mounts and the drive shaft (dealing with the numerous hoses and cables), taking out the engine, exhaust system, fuel tank, and its attendant tubes, etc.

Remember to balance the boat to avoid listing during the electric sailboat motor conversion.

Then in with the new electric sailboat motor. The installation process can be straightforward if you choose the electric sailboat motor kit wisely (See steps below). Furthermore, you can set up solar charging for your electric sailboat motor with solar panels and charger.

Many sailors have recorded their electric sailboat motor conversion process and experience. Be sure to check them out to get some inspiration. For example, Ed Phillips has documented everything which can serve as a guide for newbies to get started.

Mind you there can be a whole heap that can go wrong in designing and maintaining the electric sailboat motor systems. You really need to be totally on top of it if you want decent performance or reliability.

If you are not that technically inclined, it’s better to talk to a specialist first to discuss your plan for a smooth electric sailboat motor conversion.

#2. Install an Electric Motor in a Sailboat

If you own an enginless sailboat, the electric sailboat motor conversion is much easier for you.

All you need to do is to find a reliable electric sailboat motor and install it in simple steps. The whole process can be easily done, even for beginners. Here we take the popular 6 HP electric sailboat motor Navy 3.0 as an example to show you the installation process:

• Step 1 : Rotate the clamps or use the screws to fix the outboard onto the sailboat.
• Step 2: Mount the steering system in the proper position.
• Step 3: Install the tiller on the electric sailboat motor.
• Step 4: Connect the batteries to the electric sailboat motor system.

Click to check the video tutorial that guides you through each step of the installation.

If you are worried about aesthetic issues and want higher horsepower options, an electric inboard motor can be a better suit for your sailboat. If you prefer an inboard motor for your sailboat, contact our OEM team to get an electric propulsion solution tailored to your needs.

Note : You might find some electric trolling motors rated by #s of thrust on the market. Actually, those electric trolling motors for sailboats can only provide limited speed and range. If you are heading into the wind, the trolling motors for sailboats are definitely not an ideal solution.

Once you’ve evaluated if electric sailboat motors are right for you, there are a lot of options for electric systems.

Here are some popular electric sailboat motors with positive reviews from customers worldwide. Fast charger is available for all the models recommended to reduce your charging stress.

#1. 3 HP Spirit 1.0 Evo

If you are looking for an electric motor for a small sailboat, be sure to check out the ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Evo. It’s suitable for large daysailers or small cruising sailboats under 25 ft.

With the Spirit 1.0 Evo electric sailboat motor, you can go 5.5 mph (8.8 kph) at top speed on the 21 ft RS21 sailing boat, or troll for 20 hours continuously at 2.2 mph (3.5 kph) according to our test .

This electric sailboat motor with regeneration allows you to recover energy from the prop while under sail. It will start to generate power automatically when the sailing speed reaches 2 knots.

As an electric auxiliary sailboat motor, it can also be easily installed on your tender boats or yacht dinghies since it’s portable and easy to transport (with a lightweight integrated battery).

Features You Will Love:

• Come with the industry-first hydrogeneration capability
• Direct-drive technology makes it maintenance-free
• Portable with a 1276Wh large integrated lithium battery for long range
• Safety wristband keeps you safe in case of MOB
• Digital operation keeps you informed of the battery status

Spirit 1.0 Evo Electric Sailboat Motor Reviews:

“Great weekend with my 17′ sailboat powered by the Spirit Evo. This is great. Quiet and reliable. Went at 3/4 throttle for about 1.5hrs when taking it back to boat ramp.” – Robert Taylor

“Very happy with our Spirit Plus. Pushing our Kolibri 560 a 750 Kg sailboat, with ease. Doing about 5.8 km/h at 500W.” – Frank van Asten

#2. 6HP/9.9 HP Navy Evo Series

If you want a little more juice on the electric sailboat motor, check out the ePropulsion Navy Series. It offers 6 HP and 9.9 HP models for your selection and it provides sufficient power for sailboats up to 30 ft.

According to our test , the 6 HP electric motor Navy 3.0 can push the Catalina 25 sailboat (25 ft) at 6 mph (9.6 kph) top speed, while the Olga 33 sailboat (33 ft) can go at 7.5 mph (12 kph) with the 9.9 HP Navy 6.0 motor.

The Navy series electric sailboat motor also comes with regeneration features which can be recharged with hydrogeneration, wind turbine, and solar panel.

• Four controls to fit your sailboat installation and your boating style
• Accompany LiFePO4 batteries (need separate purchase) are more energy efficient
• Digital display offers real-time monitoring of the power and battery
• Magnetic kill switch and safety wristband keep you safe on the boat
• Electric start saves you trouble pulling the cord to start

Navy Series Electric Sailboat Motor Reviews:

“I have a Navy 3.0 with E80 on a Catalina 25 sailboat. It is working well. Currently I am using about 4% battery to go in/out of the marina by boat.” – Aaron Young

“Just finished my 8 weeks sailing journey in the Baltic Sea. The two Navy 3 outboards provide enough power for my 33ft catamaran. The 400W solar panels provided enough energy for engines and all other energy consumed on board with 2-6 persons. The two Navy Batteries provide power for engines and all other on-board electric devices. I never had to use shore power, so totally self-sufficient electric system.” – Martin Hildebrand

Recent Posts

ePropulsion Partners with 37th America’s Cup to Supply Sustainable Electric Power for Autonomous Race Marks

Why Do Boats Porpoise & How To Stop Your Boat From Porpoising

Understanding Propeller: Prop Diameter & Prop Pitch

Join the discussion cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

This site uses cookies to personalize your experience and analyze site traffic. By clicking accept or continuing browsing the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. See our Privacy Policy here .

View the Serial Number

• 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE
• Email Newsletters
• Boat of the Year
• 2024 Freshwater Boat and Gear Buyers Guide
• 2024 Boat Buyers Guide
• 2024 Water Sports Boat Buyers Guide
• 2024 Pontoon Boat Buyers Guide
• Cruising Boats
• Pontoon Boats
• Fishing Boats
• Personal Watercraft
• Water Sports
• Boat Walkthroughs
• What To Look For
• Watersports Favorites Spring 2022
• Boating Lab
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

Four Electric Boat Motors Compared

• By Randy Vance
• Updated: September 17, 2020

Electric marine propulsion is rapidly advancing in market share while providing a fun and unique boating experience not available from internal combustion power.

Electric Motors Then

You might be surprised to learn that electric boats have been around since 1838. Inventors from Prussia, England and America began making vessels with lead-acid batteries—tons of lead-acid batteries per vessel—to move passengers quietly and efficiently. But the internal combustion engines invented in the late 1800s were more powerful and convenient, and with the exception of Elco electric motors, electric power fell away in popularity. In 1934, Minn Kota manufactured the first electric outboard. Then, in the 1960s, bass tournament fishing popularized big-horsepower gas engines for speed, and electric trolling motors for precise boat handling. You might say the fishermen were ahead of the curve by about 60 years on hybrid boats.

Electric Motors Today

We are focusing on production models that can be easily installed by a do-it-yourselfer or OEM without special training. Lithium-ion batteries can be volatile if not properly installed, so some companies require their trained tech to do that.

Electric outboards are expensive, and while we’ve listed the purchase cost, the batteries available are too numerous to name or price, and can cost more than the motor.

A mathematic equation easily converts kilowatt-hours to horsepower, and our math revealed the calculated horsepower to be considerably less than the equivelant horsepower suggested by manufacturers.

Torqeedo provides completely integrated motor, battery and controls. Electronically controlled systems give its motors greater range per battery capacity and, similar to a fuel gauge, help operators conserve energy when needed or tell them when they can splurge on maximum throttle. The batteries are provided by BMW, but it is Torqeedo’s control system that manages output, heat and recharge operations to protect and optimize battery capacity and motor performance.

Range of Power: Outboards from Ultralight 403 at 400 W (about 1 hp) to Deep Blue at 50 kW (about 80 hp equivalent with 20 percent hole-shot boost), and inboards up to 100 kW (about 135 hp).

Most Popular Motor: Torqeedo’s Cruise 10 ($8,999) puts out 10 kW, or about 14 hp, but performs comparably to a 20 hp outboard thanks to Torqeedo’s software. In remote control, it is popular among pontoon boaters in particular, and commonly installed on pontoons used on neighborhood lakes requiring electric propulsion. Through digital controls, peak output is boosted beyond nominal output for a short time to improve acceleration at the hole shot, then returns to nominal output for optimal heat, range and speed control. A side- or top-mount controller—akin to the throttle—will cost $1,399, by the way.

Best Battery: The Torqeedo 48-5000 (5,000 Wh) lithium-ion battery ($5,159) is rated IP67 waterproof; connecting two or more in parallel extends the range.

Battery Compatibility: Compatible with any lithium-ion or AGM battery bank providing 48 volts, the Torqeedo can only operate in smart mode, measuring discharge, heat and other factors to dynamically manage power with Torqeedo batteries. With nonproprietary battery banks, Torqeedo motors mathematically, and less accurately, estimate range and consumption.

Chargers: The 2213 charger ($899) can recharge a 48-5000 battery in under 10 hours. It is rated IP65 water-resistant. The 2212-10 charger ($2,199) can recharge it in two hours.

Elco Motors

Elco has been building electric outboards for over 100 years—a figure that seems implausible to boaters who are beginning to see electric propulsion for the first time. The company’s engineering philosophy has remained the same: build plug-and-play systems, relying on battery power preferred by the customer, and design its motors to fit existing motor mounts, or provide standard transom clamps to make repowering simple and seamless.

Range of Power: Elco builds electric outboards with tiller or remote controls from 3.7 kW (about 5 hp) to 37 kW (about 50 hp). Elco’s inboards range from EP 6 to EP 100, with horsepower equivalents from 6 to 100.

Most Popular Motor: The EP 70 inboard ($15,995) can replace inboard diesel kickers and trawler motors, providing a top speed of 8 to 10 mph (7 to 8.5 knots) and a range of 23 to 41 miles. Its peak output is 51.5 kW (about 69 hp), and continuous output is 29.75 kW (about 40 hp). It needs nine 8-D 12-volt AGM batteries for a total of 108 volts. Lithium-ion batteries are also compatible in comparable volts and amps.

Best Battery: Battery banks from Lithionics are most commonly selected for new builds, and an EP-12 Victron AGM Deep Cycle 12V/220Ah bank is ideal ($5,409).

Battery Compatibility: Elco batteries are completely brand agnostic and connect with any quality battery bank providing the motor’s power demand. However, lithium-ion batteries still provide the most efficiency, along with full power to complete discharge. Even though their upfront investment is often more than double that of AGM batteries, the cost per charge is comparable while also lightening the boat and bringing better performance and range.

Chargers: The ElCon UHF3300 (1x) charger (starting at $825) takes three to four hours to restore battery banks, and the PFC 5000 fast charger reduces the time to two to three hours.

ePropulsion

This company boasts five electric propulsion systems engineered at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and entered the market in 2013. HKUST is also known as the incubator of many electronic products, including the DJI drone. Persistent engineering has brought new innovations to the marketplace.

Range of Power: The smallest offering from ePropulsion is a strap-on stand-up-paddleboard motor. Mainstream power includes two large outboards boasting 1 kW (about 1.35 hp) and 3 kW (about 4 hp) power, two pod drives of the same output, and the most popular portable Spirit 1.0 Plus.

Most Popular Motor: The Spirit 1.0 Plus ($1,999 including charger) is ePropulsion’s top-selling motor, ideal for small vessels, square-stern canoes, tenders and more. It’s a 1 kW motor that the company says offers 3 hp equivalent power with an industry-first direct-drive brushless motor. That’s a quiet arrangement, making the motor lighter and more efficient. It’s got a 75-minute run time at full speed, making 22 miles on a quickly exchangeable, integrated and included floating battery. Take a spare battery ($899) for longer range.

The Navy 3.0, ePropulsion’s latest motor, is 3 kW, or about 4 hp, though ePropulsion claims 6 hp equivalence. It’s available in tiller-steered and remote-control models. Its direct-drive, no-gear-case motor was a breakthrough in electric outboards, using a brushless motor that produced less sound and drag, and increased power and efficiency, offering a more serene experience.

Best Battery: There are three E-Series 48-volt batteries offered: The E40 ($1,200) provides 2,048 Wh, the E80 ($2,000) provides 4,096 Wh, and the E175 ($4,000) offers 8,960 Wh. The data-cable connections in ePropulsion batteries give battery management, enhancing range and speed.

Read Next: ePropulsion Lithium Iron Batteries

Chargers: Chargers available from ePropulsion are 10-, 20- and 30-amp modes ranging from $300 to $620.

Read Next: Learn About Garmin and Lowrance Electric Motors

Minn Kota Motors

Minn Kota has been making electric outboard motors since 1934, and its first model was a gear-driven, transom-mounted motor with a tiller. As time progressed, it improved motors slowly until the tournament bass-fishing craze began in the early 1960s. In that time, the motors have been popular as primary propulsion for dinghies and utility boats used for tenders, or positioning the boat for casting.

Range of Power: Models today range from simple tiller- steered motors to digitally remote-controlled motors complete with autopilot features and smartphone compatibility. The Vantage is the company’s primary propulsion motor.

Most Popular Motor: The Vantage ($1,549.99) is not Minn Kota’s most popular motor, but it’s a top contender in the boat market where electric propulsion is desired or required. The tiller-steered Vantage is ideal for use as a kicker for trolling, or propulsion for a tender or small johnboat. The variable-speed motor is digitally controlled to manage and conserve power for optimum range. Forward, neutral, reverse, and power trim to raise it are easily accessible on the tiller of this 24-volt motor. For some reason, Minn Kota does not list specs such as amps, kilowatts or watt-hours.

Best Battery: Minn Kota doesn’t offer batteries, but the motor is compatible with any battery bank producing 48 volts.

Battery Compatibility: Lead-acid, wet-cell batteries are still the most commonly used for small electric motors, but AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries are more durable, offer more charge cycles, and are quickly replacing wet-cell batteries. Lithium-ion batteries shave 75 percent of the weight of lead-acid batteries, deliver full power to total discharge, and are actually more economical per charge cycle in spite of a 100 percent premium over AGMs.

Chargers: An MK 345 PC Precision Charger ($449.99) provides three-bank charging at 15 amps per bank.

• More: Boats , elco , electric boats , Engines , epropulsion , minn kota , torqeedo

Bayliner 2024 D Series Deckboats Debut

Is Your Trailer Right for Your Boat?

Genesis Marine Technologies 24: Our First Impression

Five of the Top Power Catamarans

Boating’s Deals of the Week

Midseason Sterndrive Maintenance

How to Properly Splice Wires on Your Boat

Sharing the Lake With Wakeboaters

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Boating may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Boating Firecrown . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

• Green Propulsion
• Renewable Energy
• Energy efficiency
• Sustainable materials
• Eco Insights
• News & Events
• Sunreef News Magazine
• Press About Sunreef

• 60 Sunreef Power
• 70 Sunreef Power
• 80 Sunreef Power
• 100 SUNREEF POWER
• Sunreef Supreme Power
• Sunreef Ultima Range
• Sunreef 44 Ultima
• Sunreef 55 Ultima
• Sunreef 66 Ultima
• Sunreef 77 Ultima
• Sunreef 88 Ultima
• Sunreef fleet

• SUNREEF ZERO CAT
• SUNREEF 100
• Sunreef Fleet

• SUNREEF 35M
• SUNREEF 43M
• 49M SUNREEF POWER
• 210 Sunreef Power Trimaran
• Sunreef Explorer
• 40M SUNREEF EXPLORER
• 40M SUNREEF EXPLORER ECO
• 50M SUNREEF EXPLORER
• Superyacht Fleet

Electric Yachts

As yacht owners and builders become increasingly aware of environmental issues, electric yachts have come to be one of the nautical industry’s most dynamic trends. With most luxury crafts still relying on fossil fuel use, the impact of yachting on the environment remains a major issue. Fossil fuels damage the environment severely through greenhouse gas emissions. Their extraction process degrades natural ecosystems, while oil spills pollute the oceans with toxins and carcinogens. In the pursuit of sustainable propulsion solutions , shipyards across the globe are more and more eager to introduce green alternatives to conventional combustion engines. The benefits of electric catamarans are numerous, both for the environment and yacht owners.

Electric catamarans can substantially reduce fossil fuel use by relying on sun and wind for energy generation. Yachts equipped with electric engines allow for quiet journeys and provide for a more relaxing environment on board thanks to a silent, vibration and fume-free operation. On top of environmentally friendly propulsion, electric engines offer significant cost savings as they do not consume fuel and require less maintenance than diesel engines.

EXPLORE OUR CATAMARANS

Sailing yachts, power yachts, superyachts, discover the green side of yachting.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

• Sailing Yachts
• Power Yachts
• Superyachts
• Making a Change
• Green Concept

Copyright © 2024 Sunreef Yachts . All rights reserved.

• Whistleblowing
• Privacy Policy

Sunreef Venture S.A.

Sunreef Yachts Shipyard

ul. Tarcice 6

80-718 Gdańsk, Poland

+48 58 769 77 77

• Competitions
• British Yachting Awards
• Southampton Boat Show
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues
• Advertise with us

Your special offer

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting today!

Save 32% on the shop price when to subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting!

Save 32% on the shop price when you subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Electric yachts – the future is here

Can you run your yacht, including her motor, entirely from renewables jake kavanagh finds boat owners who are doing just that.

Imagine being able to cruise the far corners of the Earth without ever having to search for a cylinder of cooking gas, or a refill of diesel. Nowadays, this is quite feasible, because your galley and powerful main engine can be entirely electric, and the modern lithium-ion battery bank can be quickly recharged by a combination of solar panels, wind generators, and a freewheeling propeller under sail.

We’ve always had yachts capable of generating their own electricity from renewables, of course, and as the domestic appliances on board have multiplied, so have the demands for off-grid energy. But the ultimate goal of reliably replacing the diesel engine with an equivalent electric motor has so far proved elusive. Although a yacht requires very little horsepower to achieve hull speed in calm conditions, it will still need about 3hp per ton when bashing into a heavy sea. Many yachtsmen also prefer to have plenty of grunt in reserve, so a modern 40ft (12m) yacht will usually pack anywhere between 55hp and 80hp (72–104kW).

Feeding a relatively meaty (10kW/13hp+) electric motor for any length of time requires a large bank of batteries, and high loads can quickly drain them. To date, the problem with dedicated electric propulsion has been one of range, so a practical compromise has been reached with a hybrid installation. A small-to-medium-sized combustion engine takes over the propulsion duty in periods of high demand, or when the batteries are depleted. The engine also spins the electric motor as a generator. Once the batteries are topped off, the electrics are once again available for silent running. Because of the need for an additional ‘range extender’, electric propulsion has usually been an add-on for a cruising yacht, and not the sole provider.

Rise of technology

But all that is changing, and a fossil-fuel-free boat is now possible thanks to huge advances in the electric vehicle market. New rim-driven and brushless motors deliver more torque for less energy, whereas new lithium batteries can store a higher capacity and, crucially, deep cycle repeatedly without damage. Making the most of all these assets is the new generation of digital controllers, which manage the ebb and flow of energy with predictive intelligence. All this has meant that every amp possible is teased out of the renewable system, carefully stored with minimal waste, and then used wisely by the motor.

To prove the science, a group of French students has just circumnavigated the globe in a yacht retrofitted with an entirely electric propulsion system, and designed to recharge primarily from movement through the water. Meanwhile, firms such as Oceanvolt (Finland) and Electric Yacht (California) have been set up to provide entirely electric solutions for boats up to 60ft (18m) in length. Dozens of yachts have already been electrified, and with each successful conversion, more lessons are learnt.

For the owners of these converted yachts, it’s not really about saving money. As the EU-funded Hymar project revealed, there aren’t many cost savings involved with fitting a hybrid system, mainly because the kit remains relatively specialised, and still quite expensive. Instead, it’s about the joys of gentle, silent cruising with zero emissions, minimal ongoing maintenance and a large reserve of electrical energy for domestic loads. Another bonus is the instant delivery of drive, which can take a yacht from switched-off to flank speed in a few seconds, useful in collision situations. It can also be useful to spin the prop at just a few rpm without engaging a clunky gearbox for precision manoevures.

Developing battery technology

In the marine market, Dutch manufacturer Mastervolt was the first to pioneer the full-size lithium-ion battery, available in 12V or 24V, and now in its second generation, the Ultra range. These batteries are claimed to have a lifecycle of at least 2,000 deep discharges of up to 80 per cent drain, but with one third of the weight of an equivalent lead-acid design. Complex electronics over each cell ensures perfect balancing, and no risk of overcharging.

Elsewhere, scientists have made a breakthrough with the lithium-air battery, that uses oxygen as one of the reagents. The claim is a battery that can eventually be made for a fifth of the price and a fifth as light as lithium, but could make phones, cars and boats operate five times longer.

Other research is probing the physics of other materials, like magnesium, gold ‘nanowires’, sodium-ion, and the carbon formulation, graphene. The Spanish company Graphenano has developed a graphene polymer battery called the Grabat, which it claims is 33 per cent the weight of lithium ion and four times the energy density. Better still, the batteries are claimed to recharge 33 times faster than lithium ion, and retain over 80 per cent of their capacity after thousands of cycles.

In addition, hydrogen fuel cell technology has also been advancing.  The version ST saw was working in a 5kW motorboat, providing 5 knots for a full day of motoring.

Advances in electric motors

Breakthroughs continue in the world of electric motors, with one of the most recent being by Siemens. Unusually, this motor has been designed for the aeronautical industry, and with a weight of just 50kg delivers a continuous 260kW (348hp), about five times more power than equivalent systems. Additionally, this is delivered at just 2,500rpm, so it can be connected directly to the propeller without transmission.

Some marine motors still require their own cooling systems, both in drive and regeneration mode, but others, such as pod drives and rim drives, operate outside the boat, so are case-cooled and, as a bonus, steerable.

The outboard motor market has also seen a number of innovations, particularly by the Austrian company Torqeedo, which can now offer brushless (synchronous) electric motors of up to 80hp. Torqueedo launched no fewer than six new propulsion systems this year, responding to the growing demand for low voltage outboard and pod drives for both leisure and commercial craft.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

America’s Cup Boats: What it’s like helming an AC75

How to Sail on a Budget: Tom Cunliffe’s Column

Anchoring Masterclass: How to Anchor like an Expert

Offering a wealth of practical advice and a dynamic mix of in-depth boat, gear and equipment news, Sailing Today is written cover to cover by sailors, for sailors. Since its launch in 1997, the magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice.

• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

Electric boating Powered by Evoy®

Evoy® brings “irresistible boating” to the modern boater. An experience by delivering long-lasting Electric Boat Motor systems ranging from 120-400 hp continuous, accelerating the transition to emission free, blissfully quiet and sustainable boating.  

Norway has led the world's adoption of electric cars. Evoy and Norway will lead the world's adoption of electric boats.

A combustion engine has on average over 2000 parts. An Evoy® motor has only 4 moving parts.

Fast-charging

Offering flexible charging solutions from standard AC to fast DC – charging in less than an hour.  

Remote support & maintenance, location services, updates and charge status at your fingertips.  

Evoy® Electric Outboard Motor Systems​

Ready to turn heads at the local marina?  The Evoy high-power outboards set the new standard for recreational boating.  The continuous power is equivalent to 120 hp or 300 hp with peak power of 185 hp or 600 hp, motor depending. Available Series – Breeze 120+ hp and Storm 300+ hp.

Storm outboard 300+ hp

Breeze outboard 120+ hp

Evoy® electric inboard motor systems.

Evoy®’s turnkey inboard electric system is a robust system designed for 1000+ hours per year. Due to the over-the-air updates and programmable system, we can monitor, troubleshoot and update the software onboard. The system is nearly maintenance-free and very affordable to use. The system can be connected to a stern drive, water jet, or shaft.   Available Series, Breeze 120+ hp, Storm 300+hp and Hurricane 400+ hp.

Ready to turn heads at the local marina?  The Evoy high-power outboards set the new standard for recreational boating.  The continuous power is equivalent to 120 hp or 300 hp with peak power of 185 hp or 600 hp, motor depending. Available Series – Breeze 120+ hp, Storm 300+ hp and Hurricane 400+ hp.

Hurricane inboard 400+ hp

Storm inboard 300+ hp

Breeze inboard 120+ hp

Meet up with us.

We know boaters love nothing more than a test drive on the water! We attend several events each year and love to connect with likeminded boaters. Find out where to meet us next and let us introduce you to the world of electric boating. 

The shift to electric boating is happening now, powered by Evoy®

Accelerate to Silent Boating

Accelerate to Zero E missions

Accelerate with Evoy

Hurricane - 400+ hp Inboard Electric Motor System

Evoy®’s turnkey inboard electric system is a robust system designed for 1000+ hours per year. Due to the over-the-air updates and programmable system, we can monitor, troubleshoot and update the software onboard. The system is nearly maintenance-free and very affordable to use. The system can be connected to a stern drive, water jet, or shaft.  

The continuous power is 400+ hp and the peak power is 800 + hp.   

Breeze - 120+ hp Outboard Electric Motor System

Ready to turn heads at the local marina?  The Evoy Breeze sets the new standard for recreational boating.  The response to our launch has been tremendous.  The continuous power is equivalent to 120 hp or even 150 hp ( in cold waters) with a peak power of 185 hp.   

Hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen!  

Evoy Florø, Norway

Founded in 2018, Evoy® designs, develops and distributes powerful 100% electric motor systems for commercial and leisure boats, bringing the superiority of electric voyaging into new markets with Evoy’s®ground-breaking technology. 

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Enter your email *

• Order E-System
• Media & Press

© Evoy AS 2023

Privacy Policy

get the news first!

Join our newsletter to get the latest updates from Evoy!

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Chase United
• Disneyland Resort
• Gateway Bronco
• Royal Salute
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

A Fleet of Candela’s Electric Foiling Yachts Is Rolling Out to the Red Sea in 2025

The eight p-12 vessels will help commuters get around a new tourism destination in saudi arabia., rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

• Chanel Now Owns a 25% Stake in Swiss Watchmaker MB&F

This Revamped 161-Foot Trinity Superyacht Could Be Yours for $16 Million

• This Blinged-Out Patek Philippe Nautilus Was Seized by U.K. Police. Now It’s up for Auction.
• Share This Article

Candela is taking its flying yacht to new heights.

Related Stories

• Acura Is Working on an All-Electric Sports Car to Replace the NSX
• BMW Just Sold More EVs In Europe Than Tesla for the First Time
• ‘They Should Feel Like They’ve Risked Death’: The Hypercar Startup That Wants to Deliver Old-School Fear on the Road

Announced in June 2022 and launched in November 2023, the P-12 is the fourth model in Candela’s fleet, following the C-7 , C-8 , and P-8 Voyager that debuted in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. (The yard also launched a C-8 Polestar Edition in July.) The zero-emission 39-footer “flies” above the waves using computer-guided hydrofoils that are adjusted 100 times per second to ensure smoothness and stability. Candela says the P-12 uses 80 percent less energy than conventional shuttle ships and will emit 97.5 percent less CO2 during its lifetime than a traditional diesel-powered vessel of the same size.

Equipped with two of Candela’s electric C-POD motors and four 63 kWh batteries, the P-12 has a top speed of 30 knots and a range of 40 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 25 knots. The yacht also creates a minimal wake and is well-suited to coastal cruising. The fleet serving the Red Sea will be able to carry 30 passengers around the northwestern shores of Saudi Arabia.

“We’re extremely proud to provide a vessel system designed with both passengers and the environment in mind,” Hasselskog adds.” Short waiting times, quick connections, and a very enjoyable experience without taxing the environment with wakes, emissions, and noise will revolutionize how we travel on water.”

The P-12 will debut as part of Stockholm’s public transport system this fall. The NEOM fleet will then be delivered in 2025 and early 2026.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

Read More On:

• Electric Yacht
• Saudi Arabia

More Marine

Rescuers Find Remaining Missing Aboard the Sunken ‘Bayesian’ Superyacht 

Tech Mogul Mike Lynch and 5 Others Are Missing After a Yacht Sinks in Italy

This New 116-Foot Pocket Explorer Will Make Larger Expedition Yachts Jealous

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

6 Electric Surfboards That’ll Help You Catch Your Next Wave

‘La Dea II’ Superyacht in Photos

More from our brands, the most expensive celebrity engagement rings: jackie o’s 40-carat harry winston sparkler, grace kelly’s emerald-cut cartier bauble and more, commanders commit to a new, improved sean taylor statue, inside the tony awards: from jay-z’s lobby act, an accidental f-bomb to overzealous ushers, here’s what you didn’t see on tv, christie’s first sale at new asia headquarters led by $35 m. monet, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

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.

Related Video:  

More Information

Popular vehicles, popular new vehicles.

• 2023 Ford Bronco
• 2024 Toyota Tacoma
• 2024 Toyota RAV4
• 2024 Lexus GX 550
• 2024 Ford F-150
• 2023 Toyota Tacoma
• 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
• 2023 Toyota Camry
• 2023 Jeep Wrangler
• 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

Popular Used Vehicles

• 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• 2022 Ford F-150
• 2014 Honda Civic
• 2014 Honda Accord
• 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
• 2018 Chevrolet Camaro
• 2022 Toyota 4Runner
• 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• 2021 Toyota 4Runner
• 2022 Honda Accord

Popular Electric Vehicles

• 2024 GMC HUMMER EV Pickup
• 2023 Tesla Model 3
• 2024 Tesla Model 3
• 2024 Tesla Cybertruck
• 2016 Tesla Model S
• 2023 Lucid Air
• 2024 BMW i5
• 2025 Rivian R1T
• 2017 Tesla Model S
• 2022 GMC HUMMER EV

Popular Truck Vehicles

• 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• 2024 Toyota Tundra
• 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
• 2024 Chevrolet Colorado
• 2023 Ford F-150

Popular Crossover Vehicles

• 2024 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2024 Chevrolet Trax
• 2024 Hyundai Tucson
• 2022 Toyota RAV4
• 2024 Subaru Outback
• 2025 Chevrolet Trax
• 2023 Toyota RAV4
• 2024 Ford Bronco Sport

Popular Luxury Vehicles

• 2022 Lexus IS 350
• 2024 Land Rover Defender
• 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• 2019 Chevrolet Corvette
• 2024 Lexus RX 350
• 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• 2024 Porsche 911
• 2024 Mercedes-Benz Maybach S 680

Popular Hybrid Vehicles

• 2024 Toyota Sienna
• 2024 Ford Explorer
• 2025 Toyota Camry
• 2023 Ford Explorer
• 2022 Ford Explorer
• 2024 Toyota Venza
• 2023 Toyota Sienna

Popular Makes

Featured makes, product guides.

• The Best Electric Bikes
• The Best Car Covers
• The Best Portable Air Compressors
• The Best Car GPS Trackers

Choose a Display Name

Please enter a display name

Sign in to post

Please sign in to leave a comment.

The Musings of a Hopeless Wanderer

Engaging in the eternal search for the meaning of life...or a good time.

• Netherlands

Monday, September 3, 2018

Tackling moscow by train and boat.

Our first full day in Moscow started fairly late since we were still catching up on sleep.  Around 1, we finally were able to get our act together and get out the door. 

We stopped by a cafe to get some breakfast and headed over to the Red Square.  Since the festival is going on, we had to go through metal detectors.  Once we cleared security, we reached the State Historical Museum which provided an entrance to the Red Square.

We walked the length of the Red Square, passing by the Kazan cathedral.

Under normal conditions, the Red Square is a large walking area with the State Historical Museum on one end and St. Basil's on the other end.  On the sides is the Kremlin wall on one side and then the GUM shopping mall and the Kazan cathedral on the other side.  Presently, the walking area has been considerably narrowed and the fesitval grounds occupying a large space between the Kremlin and the mall.

We even asked a stranger to take our picture!

After walking around the Red Square, we had to leave to meet up with our Metro Tour.  

Moscow has famously pretty metro stations so metro tours are quite popular.  We booked a relatively inexpensive tour through a tour group which met outside of the Red Square.

On our way, we passed by the Kremlin gardens and the tomb to the unknown soldier and the eternal flame.

We soon met up with our group which, fortunately, was only 5 people.  Our guide told us that we were going to visit 8 stations during the 1.5 hour tour.  

Honestly, a lot of the stations blended in to me so I won't be able to give you a detailed description of all of them.  However, I did learn that there are 222 metro stations and the trains come every 2-3 minutes reliably.  For that reason, Moscow > DC. 

One of the first metro stations we visited had bronze statues all over of various depictions.  Many of the statues had superstitions tied to them.  For example, for a statue of the dog, it's held that if you rub the nose of the dog, you'll have good luck.  Consequently, most of the statue is tarnished - except for the nose.  I joked to Tomas that they probably rotate the "good luck" portion of the statue to ensure the entire statue gets polished.

However, I do remember some of the stations.

Novoslobodskaya is a station adorned with stained glass on the walls.

There was also Belarusskaya, which paid tribute to Belarus.

Another station which name I cannot remember but had pretty mosaics in the ceilings.

My favorite station was Komsomolskaya.  It's the busiest station and a hub for other connecting trains.  It was built during Statlin times and he wanted the station to embody beauty to set a good first impression to Russia.

I'd seen pictures of it beforehand since it's the most famous but it's so much more impressive in person.

Look at these ceilings!

Overall it was a very interesting tour.  Not sure of any other city which could offer a metro tour.  DC certainly can't...

After the tour, we headed back of the hotel to rest for a bit.  We had purchased tickets to a tour hour boat down the Moscow river.  The tickets were good for any time on any day and the boats left every 20min.  We decided to knock the tour out that day and headed over to the pier.  

We arrived at the pier and saw a boat by the company we had purchased from boarding.  We approached and they shook their head and said it wasn't the right boat. 

So we waited for another boat.

Another boat came along by the same company we had purchased from so weapproached them.  Again - we were told it wasn't the right boat and the boat we were looking for was coming.  

A third boat came along which was NOT by the company we had purchased from.  By this point, it had been longer than 20min waiting and I was starting to suspect that the correct boat was actually one of the ones which turned us away.   We approached the 3rd boat to ask if they knew which boat we should be on.  However, when we approached,  they waved us aboard without scanning our tickets.

So, we boarded the 3rd boat....which was definitely not ours.

We settled into an upper deck, open air table to take in the views.

We passed by pretty buildings.

The somewhat impressive cathedral of Christ the Savior.

This random statue.

After about hour on the cruise, Tomas remarked that it had been about an hour so we should be turning around soon.  I reminded him that we actually had no idea how long this cruise was or where we would be dropped off.  Since we were on the wrong boat.

Fortunately, it did turn around and took us back to the pier.  

For dinner, we decided to go to this burger place, Black Star Burger, which our guide told us about.  Tomas really liked his - I thought mine was OK.  It was a decent size patty with a mountain of Cole slaw on top.  We've realized that apparently Russians dislike getting their hands dirty while eating so some restaurants will give out gloves to use.  This particular restaurant gave out black gloves.

Tomas modeling our dinner.

Since little mum has been asking about pictures which show my feet, I assume she wanted to see my new shoes.  I recently bought Allbirds which are suppose to be super comfortable walking shoes which you wear without socks and can be washed.  I didn't wear them too extensively beforehand, so that was probably my first error.  I also didn't bring another pair of good walking shoes,  which was likely my second error.  The Allbirds were great the first two days without socks.  Midway through the third day, my right foot was quite unhappy. Left foot was a trooper. So, now I have a bandaid on the heel of my right foot and wear socks.  

No comments:

Post a comment.