ONBOARD Magazine summer 2019

CLEAN
ENERGY
CRUISING
DESIGNERS OF ELECTRIC TENDERS ARE PUSHING THE
BOUNDARIES OF TECHNOLOGY AND AESTHETICS IN
THEIR QUEST TO DELIVER ECO-FRIENDLY TENDERS TO
SUPERYACHTS WORDS: MICHAEL HOWORTH
Demand is growing for the marine industry to provide clean,
quiet, and affordable alternatives to combustion engines
for use in tenders. Experts in the field of clean energy are
confident that the new breed of electric motors coming onto the
market will satisfy both boat builders and end user requirements.
As a result, there is an air of excitement among boatbuilders
who believe clean and quiet alternatives are about to change the
way tenders are built and used on board superyachts.
Electric engines are designed to be a direct replacement for a
traditional diesel engine both in size and cost. Already several 48
volt DC electric motors, designed to replace small diesel engines
are available for boats up to 10 metres and larger canal craft.
Companies are manufacturing and marketing marinized chargers
and inverter/chargers which, when working alongside lead acid and
lithium batteries, complement and facilitate the use of electric
motors to drive water jets and conventional propellers.
The efficiency of these new style drives means that there are
new tenders emerging onto the market that offer an excellent
range as well as being easy to service and maintain on board
the mothership. Without the need of water cooling systems or
gearboxes and with their direct connection to shafts, electric
tenders are, right now, at the cutting edge of technology. Several
are now beginning to emerge onto the market that feature
motor direction, throttle and navigation controls in one digital
colour touch screen display that really look like the future has
already arrived.
For those looking to reduce both noise and emissions, the
affordable electric option offers really efficient and reliable
electric that are sensible alternatives to the traditionally powered
superyacht tender.
Rim-driven and brushless motors capable of delivering more torque
using less energy are becoming available to boat builders and with
new lithium batteries capable of storing a higher charge from
deep cycle charging which crucially can be repeatedly undertaken
without damage, the electric boat scene is gathering momentum.
One of the most recent breakthroughs in the world of electric
50 | SUMMER 2019 | ONBOARD