Plugboats WAVES (Watts, Amps, Volts, Electrons) is a regular collection of electric boat and boating news items that we have written about before and are updating, or items we are going to write about but are waiting for more information / developments – or items that are just tidbits we think you might find interesting.

Here is WaVeS #27, with electric boat and boating news about:

Australia’s Surf Lifesavers looking at electric outboards. Electric boats supporting the UK’s historic Boat Race Launch of the world’s largest battery electric ship First Polyboat Global Challenge Trophy awarded Silent Yachts launches closed deck version of the SY62 3-Deck solar cat Vessev hydrofoiling electric tour boat wins prestigious design award

Listen to WaVeS #27 as a podcast
Australia’s iconic Surf Lifesavers looking to use electric outboards.

The surf lifesavers who patrol Australia’s beaches have become such a national icon that they are celebrated in an exhibition at the National Museum of Australia. These volunteers have to fight ferocious surf and waves when called into action, so the boats they use – and the motors propelling them – are of vital import. 

An Australian manufacturer of electric outboards, EClass Outboards, took its electric motor and battery combination to the Surf Lifesavers Association (SLSA) Innovation Day last November and after positive reviews, worked with their local Belambi Beach lifesaving crew for further R&D and on-water experience.

Further official tests were then taken on March 22nd, with Michael Bonnici, the Manager of the Coastal Safety SLSA, attending. The two Belambi SLSC crews conducted IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) proficiency tests with both the EClass Outboard and a 25HP 2-stroke Mercury engine as control. Tests included speeds over 100 meters (≈100 yards), mass rescue loads, surf handling, weed hazards and figure eights.

The Crews were very positive about the electric alternative and particularly remarked on the advantages of a quiet motor as they could talk normally and hear the radio easily. Minor improvements were identified through feedback and EClass is now working through them to have their electric propulsion a certified option for any crew Down Under.

Check out the YouTube video below to see the kind of surf this e-outboard had to tackle.

EClass Outboards website

Plugboats Marketplace:  EClass Outboards and Repower kits

History made as electric boats support UK’s historic Boat Race

The Boat Race is a competition started in 1829 when the President of the Cambridge University Boat Club wrote to his compatriot at the University of Oxford with a challenge to “row a match at or near London, each in an eight-oared boat during the ensuing Easter vacation.”

Almost a century later, at this year’s competition, a couple of new boats appeared on the Championship course on London’s River Thames between Putney and Mortlake: three UK Electric marine companies – RS Electric Boats, RAD Propulsion and Zero Marine – joined forces to support the Race serving as chase boats.

The zero-emission RS Electric Pulse 63 RIBs with RAD 40 electric drive systems were deployed on race day with a crew that included skippers, umpires, and 247.tv live stream camera operators. They provided essential race support, escorting the competing teams and ensuring seamless event operations.

With the backing of the Port of London Authority, the introduction of electric vessels to the race sets a precedent for greater electrification on the Thames and represents a key milestone in the transition to cleaner waterways.

Paul Clarke, CEO of Zero Marine, who provide net zero marine services to clients in the construction and media industry, drove one of the Pulse 63 vessels on the day. He said “It is a privilege to support such an historic event. This is a great first step towards a more sustainable Boat Race and we hope more and more of the support boats will be electric in years to come.”

(PS: Cambridge beat Oxford in the Men’s Boat Race by 5.5 lengths in a race which sealed their six victory in seven years. Cambridge Women won their eighth title in a row, defeating Oxford by 2.5 lengths. theboatrace.org)

RAD Propulsion  RS Electric Boats  Zero Marine

Plugboats Marketplace: RAD Propulsion motors

Plugboats Marketplace: RS Electric Pulse 63

More history made with launch of world’s largest battery-electric ship

Hundreds gathered at the Incat shipyard in Hobart, Tasmania to witness a defining moment in global shipbuilding as Incat Hull 096 – the world’s largest battery-electric ship – was officially launched.

Hull 096 was constructed for South American ferry operator Buquebus and will carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles when she enters service as the ‘China Zorilla’ on the River Plate between Buenos Aires and Uruguay.

Buquebus President Juan Carlos López Mena said “When we were evaluating this new vessel, Robert Clifford (Chairman of Incat) told me, ‘The next ship I deliver to you will be 100% electric.’ I replied, ‘Then the next one must be the one we’re commissioning today.’ And with great courage, he said, ‘Together, we’re going to make history.’ That’s how we began reconfiguring the China Zorrilla – originally planned to run on LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) – into a fully electric vessel. It’s a true milestone achieved between private companies, driven by our commitment to sustainability and our ongoing pursuit of service excellence.”

The ship is equipped with over 250 tonnes (275 tons) of batteries and an Energy Storage System (ESS) boasting more than 40 megawatt-hours of installed capacity. The ESS, four times larger than any previous maritime installation in the world, is connected to eight electric driven waterjets and supplied by leading technology partner Wärtsilä. This combination of technology sets a new global benchmark for the shipping industry.

Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine, noted that “Ferries play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for environmentally sustainable transport options, with ship electrification a key solution to enable the sector’s transition towards net-zero emissions.”

Work will now continue completing the China Zorrilla’s interior, which includes a 2,300 square metre (25,000 sq ft) duty-free retail deck – the largest shopping space on any ferry in the world. Final fit-out, battery installation, and energy system integration will take place ahead of sea trials later this year on Tasmania’s River Derwent.

Incat

First Polyboat Global Challenge Trophy Awarded

In April of 2024 the year-long Polyboat Challenge (PBC) was launched and after a year of boats participating the international judges have presented the first Challenge Trophy to Dolphin Eco Recreation of India, known as the ‘makers of the most colourful electric boats in the world.’ The Challenge invited electric boatbuilders, boat owners, and boat rental companies to have fun and help the environment by taking electric boats on as many different types of community cruises as they could.

These included outings and on on-water occasions and events like Gourmet Cruises: Wine, Beer, and Cheese Delights, Educational trips, Plastic Fishing (plishing) to protect waters, Wildlife water trails, History trips, Costume Cruises and Fleet excursions.

The PBG concept was conceived by Kevin Desmond, a passionate advocate for electric boats and author of ‘Electric Boats and Ships: A History’. Recognizing the prevalence of electric boats for luxury and transportation purposes, Kevin saw an opportunity to introduce a versatile and eco-friendly alternative for a wider audience, but each on their home waters.

In awarding the trophy to Mr Ataluya Bajaj and his worthy team at Dolphin Eco Recreation, Mr. Desmond said “The company has used their fleet of boats for a very wide variety of cruises – from marriages, to pilgrimages, to school trips, for political campaigns, for dinner cruises, holistic cruises, hotel outings and more.” Mr Bajaj accepted the trophy with a very simple statement: “We want to bring the pleasure of electric boating to the common man.”

To find out how you can compete in the 2025/26 Polyboat Challenge, Mr. Desmond invites you visit the PBC website through the link below.

Polyboat Global

Silent Yachts launches closed deck version of its SY62 3-Deck

Silent Yachts, pioneer of solar powered catamarans, introduced their SY62 3-Deck Open at the Cannes Yachting Festival last September and it immediately grabbed attention by winning the World Yachts Trophies ‘Most Efficient Yacht’ award.

Now the company is expanding on that success with the launch of the SY62 3-Deck Closed version, designed to bring added comfort to passengers sailing in the world’s hotter regions.

Silent-Yachts was founded in 2009 and was instrumental in showing the world how solar power and luxury cruising could work hand in hand. The original owners were under some financial pressure after the COVID disruption and in 2022 a new ownership team acquired the assets, intellectual properties and shipyard. The first project undertaken completely by the new owners was the SY62 3-Deck Open.

Read Silent-Yachts: new ownership, new 3-deck solar catamaran (2022)

“The incredible work we have put in to build the brand back into serious business health has paid off, and the arrival of the new Closed version of the SY62 3-Deck is a really proud moment for us,” Silent Yachts CEO Fabrizio Iarrera told International Boat Industry magazine.

“This new addition – alongside the plans we have to deliver 10 new yachts in 2025, including nine SY62s and our new flagship SY80 – highlights the quality and innovation of our range, which stand as the world’s most advanced solar-powered serious cruising catamarans.”

Silent Yachts

Vessev VS–9 Electric Hydrofoil Wins Prestigious Red Dot Award for Product Design

Vessev, whose VS–9 electric hydrofoiling tour boat/ferry recently went into service in Auckland, New Zealand, has won the prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025, an international seal of excellence for outstanding design and innovation.

The Red Dot Award is one of the world’s largest and most respected design competitions, with winners selected annually by an independent jury of experts, who said “The VS–9 hydrofoil impresses with its functional simplicity and clean lines. The industrial design and wraparound cabin glazing create a striking visual identity.”

“Winning a Red Dot is a powerful validation of what we set out to achieve with the VS–9” said Alain Brideson, Lead Designer at Vessev. “When form truly follows function the result isn’t just a vessel that flies, it’s a vessel that inspires.”

Vessev co-Founder and CEO Eric Laakmann previously served as a development lead for the original Apple Watch. “One of the things I loved about working at Apple was the weight that the design team had within the product development cycle” he said, “and we are bringing some of that magic into the design ethos here at Vessev.”

Read “New Zealand’s win-win-win electric hydrofoiling tour boat”

The VS–9’s design focuses on delivering both performance and passenger experience. Its carbon fibre hull, retractable hydrofoil system, and panoramic glazing are engineered to maximize efficiency, reduce wake, and provide greater comfort on the water.

It carries up to 10 passengers, reaches a top speed of 30 knots, and offers a range of 40 to 50 nautical miles. By combining electric propulsion with hydrofoiling efficiency, it delivers a smoother ride, zero emissions, and significant operational savings compared to traditional petrol or diesel-powered boats.

Fullers360, New Zealand’s largest ferry operator, has already integrated the VS–9 into its fleet, marking the world’s first private commercialisation of an electric hydrofoiling vessel, and supporting the transition to lower-emission marine transport.

Vessev

The post WaVeS #27 electric boats and boating news: May 8, 2025 appeared first on Plugboats.