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By Michael Verdon, Kevin Koenig
Courtesy of Say Carbon
Even two years ago, the idea of electric-powered watercraft was confined mostly to cool-looking sketches. The notion didn’t carry much credibility in the boating world, since water’s high drag caused batteries to deplete quickly and severely limited range. And who wants to be stuck offshore with dead batteries?
Technology may have finally caught up to the concept, with more than two dozen builders (and counting) having recently launched new EV runabouts. Range remains the restricting factor, but these inshore craft now make sense to four-wheeled EV owners who understand the charging routine. In return: no emissions, instant acceleration and silent running, likely acceptable tradeoffs for boaters who typically use their vessels for only limited periods, anyway. Which means right now we’re watching electric boats come of age in real time. Here are 14 models leading the pack.
Navier 27 Foiler
The Navier 27, which is being built at the Lyman-Morse shipyard in Maine, promises to be a ground-breaker when it launches next fall. The electric boat is built on three retractable hydrofoils (one at the bow and two at the stern) that provide speed, range and efficiency. Navier founders Sampriti Bhattacharyya and Reo Baird, two MIT-educated engineers who both have backgrounds in aerospace, decided to put their knowledge to work with the 27. They’ve assembled a team of experts in hydrofoil design, software engineering and hull design to create what they think is a sustainable dayboat (with an overnighting cabin) that will appeal to most boater profiles. The Navier 27 will have a top speed of 30 knots, and at 20 knots, it will have a 70-mile range. The futuristic boat retails for $300,000.
Vita Lion
With a length of nearly 35 feet and top end of 40.2 mph, the Lion shows that electric boats can be authentic weekend yachts. The first production model, currently in build at Maine’s Hodgdon shipyard, will be available in late summer. The boat has a propietary Vita V4 operating system that recharges in under an hour, with electric motors that generate 590 hp and a modern touchscreen interface at the helm. Its open layout, double sunbed aft and open stern, with steps down to the water, reflect contemporary dayboat designs. The boat also has a cabin that can be outfitted with a berth and head. With a base price of $1.5 million, the Lion is an exciting new trend for owners that want an authentic sustainable boat for coastal cruising.
Say Carbon Yachts 29 E
This sleek hot rod is the electric version of the popular 29 from Say Carbon, the German yard known for lightweight, ultrafast sport boats with minimalist, luxury interiors. Built from carbon fiber, the $450,000 29 E clocks in under 4,400 pounds and is powered by a 360 kw Kreisel electric motor and 120 kw battery. The company claims it’s the world’s fastest electric boat under 33 feet, with a top speed of 57 mph. Of course, all that velocity comes at the expense of range, but at 25 mph it delivers a respectable ambit of 31 miles. Meanwhile, the built-in charger completes a full recharge in six hours.
Q Yachts Q30
Designed with aesthetics over speed in mind, this 30-footer from Finnish builder Q Yachts is an ideal lake boat. Top speed is just 16 mph, but at 7 mph it delivers a range of 70 miles, or 10 hours of running time. Starting at $208,000, the Q30 has a cabin for overnighting, complete with fridge, water and electric toilet. Plus, it can be charged with a standard plug.
Marian M 800 Spyder
This new bowrider has a retro, almost Riva-esque look, and since the Austrian yard Marian builds only electric boats, it has the advantage of a hull designed specifically for extended range. The M 800 Spyder can be outfitted with four different power options, from a 60 kw motor meant for puttering around a lake up to an electrifying 150 kw inboard with 125 kw lithium-ion batteries that delivers a top speed of 39 mph and enough torque to allow the M 800, priced from $270,000, to double as a towboat. At a more leisurely 18 mph, expect a range of up to 30 nautical miles.
Rand Escape 30
Designed as a high-performing electric boat with a wave-piercing hull, this 30-footer was also built light to maximize range: Rand claims the Escape 30 has 30 to 50 percent lower electric consumption than similar-sized boats. Its motors run the gamut from 105 to 460 kw, all paired with correspondingly sized lithium-ion batteries. The open-bow 30-footer starts at about $195,000, can carry up to 12 people and has five different seating areas, including a rear-facing lounge over the swim platform, plus an overnight cabin with head. The hard-top design makes the Escape 30 more of a serious coastal boat than others on this list, though your range will vary depending on engine size (and your personal need for speed).
X Shore Eelex 8000
The instant thrust of this Swedish-built 26-footer, thanks to its 225 kw Brusa electric motor, was an absolute thrill when running the boat on the Intracoastal Waterway off Palm Beach, and the highly respectable 34.9 mph top end competes with many traditionally powered vessels in the same class. The hull was made of recycled plastic and flax fabric (an upgrade from the standard fiberglass/carbon-fiber weave), and instead of teak soles, X Shore used cork, which provides uncompromising grip while being more ecologically sustainable. Twin 60 kw lithium-ion Kreisel batteries can be replenished in under two and a half hours with a supercharger. Even blazing down the ICW, the 8000, priced from $329,000, sounds more like a sailboat than a runabout.
Boesch 750 Portofino Deluxe
If it’s classic runabout looks that invoke a certain feeling of dolce vita that you’re looking for in your electric boat, then look no further than the 750 Portofino De Luxe from Boesch. With a spacious sunpad aft, a retractable soft top, and an automotive-inspired windshield, the boat checks a lot of boxes for both style and practicality. At 25 mph this boat has a battery life of 70 minutes, making it an excellent choice when you need a steed to guide you towards a crisp Aperol spritz and a delicious lakeside nosh.
Correct Craft Ingenity 23E
With room for up to 11 people, the Ingenity 23E is built for a party—with minimal environmental impact. The boat’s bow features round-robin seating that enhances conversation, while the transom is open for unencumbered movement, to and from the water. The bow also offers easy access to sandbars and beaches. A 126kW engine allows the 23E to travel for 14 hours at slow speeds, though if need be the boat can reach 30 mph.
Spirit Foiler
British builder Spirit Yachts has collaborated with America’s Cup veteran BAR Technologies for a hydrofoiling electric vessel with a Torqeedo engine that lends it a relatively leggy 100-mile range. The boat will get up on its foils at 16 mph, cruise at 25 mph, and hit a very respectable top end of 34 mph. Added benefits of the foils include a smoother ride not susceptible to rougher waters, as well as aided efficiency. What’s more, the Spirit’s super-sleek, raceboat profile will immediately make it pop out at near any port of call.
Hermes Speedster E
It’s tough to beat the Greek-built Hermes Speedster E when it comes to looks. The sleek, retro-inspired design has loads of tumblehome and comes in a large variety of customizable colors. A design motif that is reminiscent of mid-20th century Porsche roadsters has made the Speedster a runaway hit at recent boat shows. Now outfitted with a 134kW electric motor that offers an unexpectedly brisk top speed of 45 mph, the runabout promises to gain even more new fans. With room for four and notably low trim angles, the Hermes is an excellent pick for a fun cruise up the ICW—just don’t expect not to attract any attention.
Candela C-8
The C-8 from Swedish builder Candela is instantly recognizable at sea because of its hyrdofoiling technology that has it literally floating above the water. The foils mean the boat is more efficient because it has less drag and is not particularly vulnerable to rougher conditions. And it barely leaves a wake. At 27 mph, the boat has a range of 50 nautical miles and the engines can charge in just two hours. The Candela also sleeps two adults and two children, which makes it a true family boat.
Magonis Wave e-550
At first glance, this electric bowrider has an almost 1970s Mini Cooper sensibility—a small 16-foot hull with as much interior space as possible. The boat made its public debut last summer at the Venice Boat Show, powered by a 10kW Torqeedo electric motor. It recently upped the power by 300 percent with a 30kW Mag Power motor. That turned it from a canal cruiser into a coastal vessel that reaches 22 knots. The boat was designed around the engines to perform well at both low and high speeds. At three knots, it has a range of 10 hours. Despite the small hull, the designers used every inch to maximize the experience, from the open stern to the open-bow configuration. Fit and finish is excellent, with options like a full teak deck, fridge, shower, and telescopic table. Instead of the typical helm console, Magonis substituted a 13-inch, waterproof iPad that can stay with the owner at all times. The starting price is about $36,500.
Zin Z2R
Minimalist is a good descriptor for Zin’s 20-foot Z2R runabout. Fast is another one, since the runabout boasts a top speed of 35 mph. The company says the boat’s average range is 80 to 100 miles, and in an uncharacteristic display of transparency, claims it only costs $6 to charge. Compare that to the gallons a similar-sized gas powerboat would consume on a Saturday afternoon, especially in these times of rising fuel prices. The boat is powered by a Torqeedo motor and BMWi3 battery. It has carbon-fiber construction for light weight and structural stiffness, and is trailerable. The flat foredeck also makes it easy to get on and off the Z2R from the bow, and an 18-inch draft lets it come up to the beach on a secluded island.
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