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The Revolutionary Electric Catamarans Introduce Zero Emission Cruising

With greater awareness about pollution, sustainable and emission reduction practices have become increasingly salient in the maritime industry. The International Maritime Organization envisions a reduction in CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030 across international shipping to combat climate change.

The nautical sector has found a promising solution with the invention of electric catamarans. These vessels are powered by electrical energy, offering a more ecological, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cruising.

Making The Switch to Electric Catamarans

Electric catamarans are propelled by electric motors that draw power stored in lithium-ion batteries. These massive batteries are replenished by solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogenators, or a combination of all, allowing electric catamarans to ply oceans with an extended range.

Sunreef Yachts Eco remains at the forefront of eco-friendly responsible yachting with their electric sailing and power catamarans . The shipyard has made impressive strides in pursuing green energy generation for sailing the blue waters, including the installation of battery banks of the future and utilization of renewable energies.

What Makes Electric Catamarans Convenient?

1.  questing for unpolluted waters.

Did you know that one litre of oil is capable of polluting one million litres of water ? What is more is that catastrophic oil spills only account for five percent of the total water pollution, the rest of the major chunk is avowed against engine emissions, oil leaks, and refueling from waterborne vessels. This oil contains hydrocarbons and heavy metals that damage the aquatic environment and adversely affects human health.

To avoid contamination, eco-conscious yacht builders and manufacturers, like Sunreef Yachts Eco, have launched electric catamarans that are less likely to harm wildlife or water users. With electric catamarans, there are no risks associated with spilling fuel as they need not make their way to an oil pump for replenishing.

Apart from rising concerns of water pollution, the traditional marine outboard engines are also known to have detrimental effects on marine wildlife due to the noises generated. This noise impacts breeding cycles, hinders navigation of partially sighted animals, and prevents fishes from hearing their predators. As counterparts, electric engines boast quieter operations, thus minimizing adverse effects on wildlife and making the voyages more pleasurable for yachting enthusiasts.

2.  Greater Environmental Sustainability

An electric catamaran’s engine contributes significantly to a reduced carbon footprint that combats climate change effectively without releasing exorbitant levels of toxic pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, which deteriorate air quality.

3.  Energy Efficiency

Electric propulsion systems tend to be more energy efficient than the traditional internal combustion engines. This is because the extraction of fossil fuels from deep within the Earth, refinement, transportation via great distances, and distribution to oil pumps, accounts for a staggeringly high consumption of energy.

Additionally, the overall energy efficiency of a diesel engine is often capped at 40 percent; the rest of the 60 percent is lost in the name of heat and friction. On the other hand, electric catamarans can be charged directly from the grid, providing renewable electricity, to be more environmentally friendly. This accounts for lower operating costs overall.

Sunreef Yachts Eco employs the latest in yacht building technology to ensure efficient power distribution and hull form. The lightweight hull of our electric catamarans guarantees instant power with little to no drag, resulting in least possible wasted energy.

4.  Lower Maintenance Cost

Electric catamarans require relatively lesser maintenance as they boast fewer moving parts that use low friction magnetic field for operations and experience close to zero vibrations compared to internal combustion engines. They eliminate the need for winterization maintenance, oil changes, and filter, gaskets, or impeller replacements.

Alongside this, replacing greenhouse gas emitters, such as petrol and diesel, is certainly more economical. This also accounts for electric catamarans having a greater resale value on the market.

Understanding The Role of Marine Batteries 

The primary reason why consumers avoided plowing waters with electric catamarans back in the day was the limited range that made variable sea states hazardous. What made the situation worse was their slow charging abilities at limited marinas around the world.

However, the electric catamarans of today offer smooth and silent operations, excellent maneuverability, and emission-free functioning. Additionally, they have torque from the second their shaft is engaged, enabling them to accelerate faster than conventional internal combustion engines.

Sunreef Yachts Eco envisions a more carbon neutral future for its catamarans. But apart from reducing emissions, the shipyard is also determined to find ways to significantly improve performance, range, and comfort onboard.

The Batteries on Sunreef’s Electric Catamarans

Sunreef Yachts Eco fully electric catamarans are equipped with custom engineered marine battery banks that offer prolonged battery life and more power despite compact size and optimized weight. With a density below 5.2kgs per kWh, these lithium-ion battery packs are recognized as 30 percent lighter than standard battery systems used worldwide. The reduced weight of the battery accounts for lesser drag, which translates to reduced energy being consumed by propulsion.

Additionally, the battery size is also smaller, leaving more room in the hulls to expand on living space. The ability to charge the batteries of this electric catamaran in harbors across the world, regardless of the voltage, adds a unique level of versatility and convenience for cruising.

It is important to note that Sunreef Yachts Eco equips each model within its range with custom marine lithium battery banks, scaling between 400 to 700V with pack sizes extending up to 1MW. Their capacity allows for nearly two days of air conditioning and house appliances use. These are fast charging, long-lasting batteries with a lifespan of up to 10 years; but even after years of service, 80 percent of the original capacity is maintained.

The Utilization of Renewable Energy on Yachts

Energy regeneration onboard an electric catamaran allows them to have an unlimited range without relying on external fuel sources, making them fully self-sustaining. Installing a clean green energy production to the catamaran’s existing battery pack makes it far easier to run the essential electric components onboard.

Renewable energy produces no GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions despite powering the world’s growing fleet of electric catamarans. To protect the oceans, here are the three major renewable energy types that can be harnessed onboard an electric catamaran:

1.  Solar Power 

The utilization of solar energy on electric catamarans has proven to be a significant step in decreasing the consumption of environmentally damaging fossil fuels such as gasoline. Sunreef Yachts Eco has successfully produced its in-house engineered, patent pending technology, solar panels that can be fully integrated into the composite bodywork of the electric catamaran. The energy produced is stored in lithium-ion batteries.

These are the industry’s lightest solar panels, that can be mounted on the superstructure, hull, or mast, for maximum power generation. In general, multihulls offer a more stable platform for accommodating a large solar array in comparison to monohulls.

2.  Marine Wind Turbines

Marine wind turbines (also known as wind generators or wind chargers) are mounted atop catamarans to maximize the conversion of kinetic energy of air in motion to electricity. This in turn keeps the battery banks charged in the absence of solar power; hence playing a vital role in the energy mix of electric catamarans.

It is generally a stable source of power throughout the day, regardless of whether the vessel is docked or under navigation. That being the case, the more wind pressure the catamaran encounters, the more power the turbines produce. Overall, wind turbines significantly reduce operational costs by minimizing fuel consumption.

3.  Hydro Generation 

Hydro generation allows you to create power whilst sailing in an electric catamaran. Simply put, harvesting the momentum of waves converts kinetic energy into electrical energy, which can later be fed into batteries to supply electricity to the ship.

Sunreef Yachts Eco redesigned their sailing catamarans to draw power from the energy of waves rather than fossil fuels. Because regeneration can even come from the free spinning of propellers when the boat is under sail, it proves to be a viable method for procuring clean, green energy. Additionally, it has proven to be highly efficient on electric catamarans produced by the shipyard as the electric power can be recovered from two engines.

How Innovative is Sunreef Yachts Eco?

During recent years, the Polish shipyard , Sunreef Yachts Eco has grown increasingly aware of the urgency of protecting the environment. Our research and development team has launched ground-breaking inventions in the yachting industry with greener tech, efficient design, and cleaner manufacturing processes.

Air Conditioning

For starters, electric catamarans from Sunreef Yachts Eco are the only ones to boast an energy-saving, gas-based air conditioning system, providing notable energy efficiency for a sustainable yachting experience.

This system consumes 70 percent less energy than the standard air conditioning system. Not only is it capable of running on batteries throughout the night to guarantee a peaceful sleep onboard, but also provides top-notch humidity control in tropical regions.

Smart Water Management

Because freshwater generation is crucial for sustainable cruising, Sunreef Yachts Eco installs advanced water purification systems and highly efficient watermakers onboard electric catamarans. This guarantees unlimited access to clean water which reduces the need for plastic bottles onboard.

Another ongoing project by the research and development team at Sunreef Yachts Eco is the Zero Cat , a 90 feet catamaran with unique clean, green power generation capabilities.  This superyacht ’s fuel cell system will convert methanol to hydrogen onboard for zero-emissions cruising.

Sunreef Yachts Eco also aims to be the first shipyard to incorporate hydrogen on its electric catamarans as a substitute to conventional energy. Combining hydrogen power with electric propulsion would enable the 80 feet sailing catamaran to achieve unrivalled autonomy for eco-conscious cruising as it powers both onboard appliances and engines.

Future Plans

The idea encapsulated here is to continue making sailing more accessible for people around the world, but with minimal impact on seas and oceans. Sunreef Yachts Eco aims to commission 40 electric catamarans in 2024 that embrace latest propulsion technologies such as electric motors, advanced lithium-ion battery chemistries, and regeneration capabilities that rely heavily on renewable sources of energy to help protect the planet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes electric catamarans.

Sunreef Yachts Eco is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of electric catamarans, including both sailing and power multihulls. The shipyard is largely known for its production of bespoke luxury catamarans, stretching between 30 to 164 feet.

What is the range of the electric catamaran?

Sunreef Yachts Eco electric catamarans boast an unlimited range under favorable and sunny weather conditions. They are easily maneuvered, seaworthy vessels, with impeccable buoyancy even in rough seas. Featuring a mix of eco-energies, our electric catamarans also prove to be self-sustaining for extended periods of time.

Are there any electric powered catamarans?

In recent years, Sunreef Yachts Eco has launched several electric catamarans, powered by renewable energies for minimum ecological footprint. Furthermore, the shipyard has committed to 40 additional electric catamarans which will be launched in 2024, which includes multihulls from the newest range, the Sunreef ULTIMA .

EXPLORE OUR ELECTRIC CATAMARANS

Ultima range, previous post sunreef yachts and rosberg x racing renewed partnership, next post recharge at sea: solar catamarans harness sun-powered serenity.

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Rossinavi Launches 140′ Hybrid-Electric Catamaran

• By Caleb Revill
• May 30, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Yacht of the future

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

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

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

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

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

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Smart Cat E280

The ultimate practical electric power catamaran, discover the smart cat e280 – the pinnacle of innovation in electric power catamarans. building on the success of the s280 sailing catamaran, the e280 offers unparalleled long-range capability, fuel efficiency, silent cruising, and eco-friendly performance..

EXCEPTIONAL LONG RANGE

Say goodbye to chasing the wind! With the Smart Cat E280’s wide solar panels and generator power, you can embark on extended journeys at a steady speed. Travel farther than ever before with unmatched reliability and ease.

WHISPER-QUIET CRUISING

Experience the tranquility of silent cruising. The electric motor of the Smart Cat E280 operates as quietly as a sailboat, allowing you to immerse yourself in the soothing sounds of water splashing and the wind. Enjoy peaceful voyages without the noise of traditional engines.

UNMATCHED FUEL EFFICIENCY

Forget about high fuel costs. The electric motor of the Smart Cat E280 is exceptionally efficient, far surpassing conventional diesel and gasoline engines. Sail further while saving more with this cutting-edge technology.

ECO-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE

Protect the environment with the Smart Cat E280. This electric boat produces zero emissions and no oil spills, making it perfect for preserving pristine lakes, rivers, and intercostal waters. Join the movement towards a cleaner, greener future with this environmentally conscious catamaran.

*Disclaimer: Smart Cat E280 is still in process of development. Images and renderings shown are preliminary design. Some photos of S280 are shown for only better understanding.

Hard Top Options

• Perfect for tropical weather
• Convenient to accommodate larger number of passengers

• Good protection for climate changes
• More privacy for liveaboard usage

Layout Options

3 cabins and 1 head.

2 Cabins and 2 Heads

Specifications

28ft / 8.5m

Displacement

12,500lbs / 5.7tons

(4) x Lithium-Ion Battery – 48V (5.2kw) (Standard)

Higher Capacity Battery Pack – TBD (Option)

17ft-5in/5.29m

Fresh Water Tank

36 Gal. / 135 Liter

Solar Panel

(4) x Photovoltaic 300W (Standard)

Higher Capacity Solar Panel – TBD (Option)

2ft-10in / 0.89m

Holding Tank

23 Gal. / 88 Liter

Fischer Panda AC 5000, Diesel (Option)

Clearance Between Hulls

7ft-2in / 2.18m

(2) x Torqeedo Cruise 4.0 FP (8HP) (Standard)

(2)x Torqeedo Cruise 10.0 FP (20HP)(Option)

Testimonials

John Dial The Smart Cat was such a pleasant surprise!  When I first heard of the boat, I was skeptical. When I saw the boat, I LOVED it!  I am an experienced boater with over 30 years hands-on with all brands of boats both sail and power.  I went on the boat alone with no salespeople and… USCG Master Captain / United Yacht Sales

Ben Kaminsky One of the most interesting boat exhibiting at 2020 Miami Boat Show. The boat handled very well. The ride was pretty comfy due to the high length/beam ratio. I was pretty impressed with how it handled and performance was good for this kind of catamaran range. Catamaran Review

Learning the Lines I think it’s a really cool boat. I think this boat would be good for coastal cruising, week-ending and fun all-around boat. For 28 foot boat, this boat has a ton of accommodation. There is a lot of living space even though it’s just a 28 foot boat. This boat is very beamy which is… Youtuber

Questions/Inquiries

• Price Sheet

BROCHURE – SMART CATAMARANS

OPTION & PRICE LIST – SMART CAT E280 ELECTRIC

Introducing the most exciting performance-focused catamaran to hit the sailing world, the Open Waters 40 is an all-electric catamaran that leverages the latest in yacht construction technologies designed to maximize the thrill of sailing yet still provide the creature comforts of a multihull.

Great handling and speed.

The ESC40 is a 40-ft catamaran designed to be two to three times faster than the typical cruising cat – using carbon fibre to reduce weight and provide increased hull strength.

The twin helm stations are covered by a solar cell-covered roof and come with a 59m2 main sail in addition to three headsails: Jib 26 m ² , FRO 65 m ² and Asail 121 m ² .

The hull is rated to handle boat speeds in excess of 20 knots. With curved retractable daggerboards providing better upwind handling and performance at speed.

The retractable rudders, together with the low draft of 2 ft, allow the boat to cruise in shallow waters and to be beached on the bow or stern.

Regenerative Energy

Thanks to the low weight, higher boat speed and the solar/hydro regeneration systems on-board. The boat is a 100% energy self-sufficient.

The twin electric drives and advanced battery technology allows for quiet, fossil fuel-free cruising.

Using 10 kW motors, the close-quarter power and handling is unrivalled. The folding propeller generates electricity while sailing together with the roof-mounted solar cells, recharging the battery while in operation.

The integrated drives, battery and battery management systems are intelligently inter-connected and provide real-time and predictive insights on power consumption, generation and operational range.

The boat comfortably accommodates four adults and two children, and is sure to bring you all modern comforts such as a 400L water reserve shower and an electric stove.

The hull interior boasts 6’4” of head room with the coach offering even more generous space with 6’8” of head room up to 7 at the aft dinette. The wet deck, spacious with 300 ft ² between hulls features the main stateroom.

Each hull features three deck hatches and six portlights for excellent ventilation while the trampoline across the beam is 305 ft ² of play, relaxation and dolphin viewing.

Our unique construction techniques allows us to manufacture the boat in Canada in a quarter of the time compared to traditional boat building.

We can also build and ship your boat in as early as four months, greatly surpassing the industry standard of 12+ months.

From order to build and delivery, our price compares very favourable to other fast cats.

Faster, cheaper delivery

The boat can be packed in a standard 40ft freight container and be shipped safely anywhere in the world at a much lower cost (up to $50,000 savings) and in a fraction of the time.

Boat owners can now also ship their boat one or both ways between North America, the South Pacific, Mediterranean or the Carribean for a one way cruise or an overwintering.

Vacuum Resin Infusion

Vacuum resin infusion is the process at the heart of our technology and is used for all parts.

The vacuum resin process removes all of the air between the fibres of a part prior to the introduction of the resin.

After the process, our parts are meticulously sanded with variable grit — allowing for maximum paint adhesion on surfaces and smooth, stylish edges.

Core Materials

Core materials are introduced into the part to increase stiffness without increasing weight.

The core is a structural-grade foam with a high shear strength characteristic: if the part is of a complex shape, we cut the foam into sections, thermoforming it to the required shape.

We use five different sizes and densities of foam on the boat, optimized for local strength requirements.

We purchase carbon fiber by the roll and over 35 rolls are used in each boat. We have engineered the laminate schedule to be most efficient in the various areas of the boat maximising strength and reducing weight.

Each meant to be the most efficient for their respective areas. The fabrics are stitched, instead of weaved.

Stitched fabrics do not need to bend over or under other fibre and lay flat, making a stronger part.

At Open Waters, it is our mission to make catamaran cruising more exciting and environmentally sustainable. We’ve set out to create a performance cruising catamaran that will be a joy to sail and that will raise the bar in environmental sustainability.

We have developed a unique  design and manufacturing process, selected high performance  materials that enable us to build a boat that uses less materials and is 50% lighter. As a result it is a lot faster and as a result it is able to generate and store the energy needed to propel it electrically for hours and provide enough energy for on board equipment.

We use high performance carbon fibre and a vacuum infusion process to maximize strength and reduce the use of resin and eliminate resin vapour emissions. We use 100% recycled PET foam core wherever possible and we see the opportunity for incremental use of bio-based epoxy and natural fibres in our future.

As we continue to develop our sustainability roadmap for our boats we will perform a full lifecycle analysis to identify other opportunities to minimize our carbon footprint. 

The unique processes and skills we have developed can be applied and licensed to other marine and recreational vehicles businesses.

Simon Angus

Simon Angus P.Eng is a professional mechanical engineer with a background in project management and a passion for sailing.

He spent his university summers travelling around Europe searching for the best combination of wind and waves in addition to teaching both sailing and windsurfing.

After moving to Canada in 2004, Simon bought a Catalina 27 in Kitimat BC and enjoyed sailing in the Douglas channel with his young family. A career move to Alberta paused his sailing career until he found the joys of chartering sailboats in the Caribbean.

After a 20 year career in industrial engineering and project management he decided to make a change and combined his passion and profession to launch Open Waters Design and Manufacturing in 2016.

He designed and manufactured an 18ft canoe and developed a plug and mold and his proprietary vacuum resin infusion process.  After the successful build of the canoe, Simon built a high performance 18ft A class foiling sailing catamaran out of  a Carbon fibre and refined the mold construction and vacuum resin infusion process.

After researching the various build steps, Simon started with CNC shaping of a plug, hand finishing and building the hull molds. He also built the mast, Z foils and the Tee foil rudders. After successful trials in Vancouver BC, Simon then set out on his next ambitious project, to design and build the boat he had dreamt about for years.

A boat that could be shipped anywhere in the world, sail on with his family and returned to Vancouver for summer cruising and would be electrically sustainable.

Simon was introduced to Hal Whitacre in 2019 which started a design relationship that has resulted in the creation of the Open Waters ESC40.

Hal Whitacre

Hal Whitacre, owner of Whitacre yacht design since 1984 and is responsible for some of the fastest and most luxurious boats ever built.

Hal is Open Waters Chief Naval Architect and has worked closely with Simon over the past 2 years to produce the detailed designs that make up the Open Waters ESC 40.

Hal has a distinguished career in Naval Architecture graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Naval architecture and Marine Engineering.

Throughout his career he has pushed the boundaries of naval architecture notably designing the Open Class 60 “Imagine”; breaking ground with the largest rig ever put on an Open 60.

Hal also owns and operates Bruce Roberts USA and in that capacity, he has designed over 100 steel and aluminium boat kits in addition to many fiberglass and  wood sail and power boats. Most recently, Hal was the chief Naval Architect for Gunboat Catamarans when they were built in the USA.

Since their move to Europe, Hal has completed 2 gunboat 55’s along with a conversation of a gunboat 55 to a powercat ferry which has recently conducted successful sea trials.

Hal and his wife Tammy split their time between Annapolis, Md and Sister Bay, Wi.  Hal continues to race Lasers during the winter and windsurfs/foilsurfs as much as possible.

We’re hiring!

Join us on our mission to make catamaran cruising more exciting and environmentally sustainable.

Marine Experience Marketeer

You are well versed and have experience in nearly everything digital marketing. You’ve either grown up boating, lived the life of a cruiser, traveler, racer or practice an other lifestyle action sport and know what makes people tick. You’re an avid content creator and storyteller and you can work your magic with the tools of the trade. Lights, camera, sounds, action. 

Join us for a seamless blend of work and play as we test and trial the boat, document BC cruising experiences and host prospective customers from around the world. While a lot of time is spent on the boat you’ll also be responsible for the creation, editing and delivery of all digital content via influencers, communities, social and traditional media and marketing channels. 

If this sounds like you, please email me at [email protected] tell me why you’d love to join us in BC this summer and include a few links to the amazing content you’ve created and shared. I look forward to our chat.

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Marine Electric Engines: How They Work

By François Meyer | January 2024

Last season’s boat shows allowed us to visit and test several electric and hybrid-electric catamarans. It is now a reality: catamarans no longer necessarily have diesel auxiliary propulsion but can be equipped with electric motors.

But how do they work and how do we compare their performance to more traditional power units? Electric, hybrid, power, voltage, charging, autonomy: there are many questions that arise from these configurations.

The aim of this article is to explain the various technologies and see things more clearly. For example, we will take a look at Electric Engines vs Diesel Engines and compare serial and parallel hybrid power systems.

Definitions

Range and Power Density Range and autonomy play a key role within cruising catamaran capabilities. Diesel delivers a huge range because of the high power density of this fuel.

For diesel, one 20 litre jerrycan of diesel (25 kg including the can) contains 204 kWh energy, which is very substantial compared to a battery bank. If you wanted to store 204 kWh energy in a battery bank, it would weigh more than 1200 kg.

The high power density of fossil fuels is one of the main reasons for the dependence of the industrialised world on this fuel. Conserving power within batteries costs a lot of weight and money and requires powerful inboard charging.

Diesel Engines

Because of the high power density of fossil fuels used in combustion engines, the efficiency of diesel ones, was not such an important consideration, especially in boating.

The average overall efficiency of a diesel engine rarely goes beyond 40%. It means you “lose” around 60 % of fuel within the process. Lots of internal mobile parts generate friction and heat which is the main loss.

Furthermore, most catamarans use saildrives. This transmission choice, saves space inside the hulls, but comes with around 10% more losses (gears) compared to a shaft drive.

So at the very end of the day, from an energy point of view, a catamaran fitted with diesel saildrives is not very efficient.

Efficiency of Diesel Engines

Electric Engines

On the other hand, there are not as many moving parts in an electric engine that uses a low friction magnetic field to operate. Their overall efficiency is much higher, higher than 90% in the case of the Permanent Magnet electric motors used in marine vessels.

Better efficiency means also avoiding waste! For that reason, most newbuild catamarans are choosing shaft drives, not saildrives, to achieve better overall efficiency. Electric saildrives, like Oceanvolt Servoprop, are mainly designed for saildrive designed boats whose bilges are simply too small to receive a shaft.

Efficiency of Electric Engines

Downsizing : Diesel and Electric Power Engine Comparison

You may have already noticed this, but electric catamarans are commonly fitted with engines whose power rates well below diesel ones. Firstly there is the conversion factor between horsepower and kilowatt. This is just maths, as 1 kilowatt (kW) is equivalent to 1,36 HP.

The big difference is in torque availability. A diesel engine has its nominal power and torque (the ones that are advertised) at high RPM, at a much higher speed than an engine should be used.

On the graph below, we see power and torque of both diesel and electric engines. For a traditional setup, the power is represented by the dark purple curve at high RPM of a diesel engine (max at 3200 RPM).

If we look at the light purple curve (electric engine), this shows the power of an electric motor is almost constant, after starting.

Let’s now have a look at the torque curves. Torque is the force which turns the propeller and propels the boat.

At 1800 RPM, both motors benefit from 100% of their torque. To achieve 150 Nm of torque, the electric motor needs only 20 kW while the diesel requires 42 kW!

The combination of high torque-low RPM and better overall efficiency mean that you can downsize electric engines when compared to diesel ones. The downsizing sits between a factor of two and three.

System Tension

One of the basic rules of electricity involves the relationship between power, voltage and current.

Power (W) = Voltage (V) x Current (A). The higher the voltage is, the lower the current. Lower amps means, on a boat, smaller diameter cables. But higher voltage also means lethal danger.

There is a physiological limit for a human being (above 120V DC): the heart can be stopped by electrical shock. In wet conditions, this limit goes to 60V DC. That is why most hybrid catamarans are wired at 48V, well below 60.

Some boatbuilders, like Fountaine-Pajot with the Smart Electric Series (Aura 51, Elba 45…) use a 400V DC setup. It is a boatyard choice, but only very educated and skilled tradesman will work on such systems when any marine electrician will be happy to work the more common 48V system.

Electric, or hybrid?

Electric catamaran An electric catamaran is a vessel whose principal propulsion is provided by the wind and whose auxiliary propulsion is provided by an electric motor. On board a 100% electric catamaran there is no combustion engine and no other energy than electricity.

There are not many 100% electric catamarans around as their range, dependent on battery capacity and onboard chargers, is too low for cruising.

The story of Jimmy Cornell’s Outremer 4.Zero is interesting as the renowned sailor decided to go, against the will of the yard, with a full electric (ie. not carrying a diesel genset). In the end, power consumption and power production were not in balance and the fossil free circumnavigation project failed. Relying only on a small sized solar panel array (1,3 kWh) and relatively inefficient regeneration, the boat’s energy consumption was simply too high.

On that boat, fitted with 2 x 10 kW Oceanvolt Servoprop saildrives and 17,5 kWh of batteries, the range, motoring, at mid RPM is less than two hours. Regeneration was delivering around 300 Wh, (0.3 kWh), too few to refill the batteries while using all of the electric appliances.

Hybrid Catamarans A hybrid catamaran is a vessel whose principal propulsion is provided by the wind and whose auxiliary propulsion is provided by different means including an electric engine. Its system uses two or more power sources on board.

Hybrid catamarans can be equipped with an auxiliary main diesel propulsion, assisted by a secondary electric one (parallel hybrid or bi-motorization), or with auxiliary electric engines relying on batteries that can be recharged under way by a generator (diesel, hydrogen, methanol), ie a serial hybrid. This greatly increases the range.

Because of the requirement for a good range, most of the so-called electric catamarans like the Windelo 50, HH44, Fountaine-Pajot Smart Electric Series, O-Yachts Class 66 Eco are hybrid catamarans.

Serial Hybrid Catamarans

A serial hybrid catamaran is propelled by two electric motors. Those motors get their power from batteries which are being charged while sailing using various means.

Solar (photovoltaic) panels account for an important share of renewable energy in the energy mix. Hydrogeneration does not depend on light and can deliver power at night, when sailing a passage.

Serial hybrid catamarans always have a back-up power generator to fill the batteries when needed. The generator can be diesel, or in the future hydrogen, ammonia or methanol (fuel cells).

The Windelo 50 is probably the most efficient serial hybrid sailing catamaran on the market.

Light and fast, she sails well and her two 20 kW electric engines with shaft drive deliver the best efficiency possible. Wired in 48 VDC, with 53,8 kWh of battery capacity (propulsion, 6 kWh house bank), the boat boasts a 5,5 kWc photovoltaic array.

Under sail, on a passage, the boat produces enough power to cover its consumption and slowly charges its batteries. Solar gives her between 20 to 30 kWh per day (depending on latitude) and hydro regeneration, around 24 kWh per day when sailing 10 knots.

But, if needed, the generator can be started, delivering 17 kWh to the battery bank to replenish it within hours. Or, if they are empty, to provide 6 knots motoring speed, the genset is used.

Combining those three methods of charging, the yard claims a 1100 NM range, which is twice the range of a Lagoon 42 with its two 57 HP diesels.

Nevertheless, the Lagoon 42 still has the advantage of power as it can increase its RPM when motoring against waves and tide to cruise at 7 knots while burning more fuel. The Windelo cannot do that, and, in such conditions, its motoring speed will lower.

The Lagoon retains a second advantage as if one diesel fails, the boat still has the other to motorsail.

If Windelo loses its genset at night with depleted batteries, she will have to rely on her sails. Some owners choose a 2 genset configuration for redundancy, but that does add weight and cost.

Parallel Hybrid Catamarans

This set-up uses an electric motor mounted on the diesel engine, both capable of moving the propeller. Where the serial hybrid has two functions (moving and regen), the parallel has four.

The diesel engine can propel the boat. While doing that, it can also move the electric engines which will produce some power, acting as a generator.

The electric engine can move the propeller, diesel off. And, in emergency cases, both electric and diesel engines can move the prop, in a kind of boost mode.

The parallel hybrid yachts do not need any generators as their engines behave as powerful ones. This setup fits particularly well for cruising catamarans as you can enjoy the joy of silent sailing or electric motorsailing but you can always rely on your trusty diesels if needed.

The two systems do not rely on each other and offer an interesting case of redundancy.

A catamaran like the HH44, charges 5,4 kWc from solar and has two 30 HP diesel + 2 10 kW electric motors using a 43,2 kWh battery bank. While diesel motoring, the boat delivers 10 kW to charge the batteries. A sunny day can also fully charge the bank.

Those 43,2 kWh can propel the yacht at 6 knots for a couple of hours. Total range (diesel) is around 628 NM, according to the yard, a range which comes with a good dose of redundancy.

Bi-motorised hybrid catamaran

This third hybrid mixes 2 independent propulsion systems, a diesel one and an electric one.

O-Yachts offers, in its Class 66 Eco, a bi-motorised setup for example. One hull has a conventional diesel with shaft and the other an electric engine with a shaft-drive.

As the two systems are totally separated, the redundancy is there. The boat can be sailed with one engine, diesel or electric, and a small 5° rudder correction will drive the boat straight. Diesel alternator, regeneration and solar replenish the batteries.

This setup, although interesting, suffers from a disadvantage. As the two engines are different, they behave differently and this can cause issues manoeuvring in the marina. The skipper will need plenty of experience in different conditions before fully mastering the boat.

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The first Outremer catamaran with an electric engine

The Outremer 4.zero is the first series cruising electric catamaran. Without fossil fuel on board (diesel or gas), it can be used without any CO2 emissions. Designed for long distance sailing, its ability to produce energy by the engines when the boat is sailing gives it autonomy without limits other than the weather.

This innovative green catamaran created for the preservation of the environment allows the sailor to navigate with favorable winds, thus reconnecting with nature and his boat, whilst maintaining the comfort and safety necessary for a family trip.

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An optimized energy balance

With a high-performance electric catamaran, can we manage to balance energy consumption? To answer this question, we have carried out several tests, integrating a solar panel and hydrogenation pair.

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A large 17,5KWH battery bank, with an energy density never reached before, is installed on the 4.zero to ensure maximum autonomy when sailing across the ocean.

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With its two 10KW engines, the Outremer 4.zero electric sailing catamaran has a power equivalent to that offered on the thermal version, with a much higher torque

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When will the 4.zero be available, why did you decide to initiate this project with jimmy cornell, how does the outremer 4.zero differ from the 45.

Beyond building your boat, Outremer brings your dreams to life by being by your side at every stage of your project. To always better support you, we have created Outremer Services. This structure, integrated within Grand Large Services is able to meet all your needs, from the start of your project to the resale of your catamaran.

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Electric engines.

Enter a world of vibration and fume-free navigation. Sunreef Yachts’ eco-friendly electric catamarans feature advanced electric engines offering the best of autonomy and performance for a responsible yachting experience. Thanks to innovative green propulsion solutions, the shipyard’s eco-friendly catamarans combine fuel savings, low-maintenance, and ultra-silent operation.

Electric propulsion not only is the green choice for conscious yachting but also brings more freedom, peace of mind and luxury on board.

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Sunreef Yachts electric catamarans have the option to be equipped with ultramodern hybrid propulsion systems as well. Besides significantly reduced CO2 emissions, hybrid engines take eco cruising to the next level by combining the best of electric motoring with the advantages of thermal engines. Hybrid engines not only offer reliable propulsion but can also be used to recharge the yacht’s battery bank for even more energy-efficiency.

Eco-friendly hybrid catamarans by Sunreef Yachts are a guarantee of solid performance, low-maintenance, and Atlantic-range.

Relying on wind as an essential source of propulsion is the most natural way to think about yachting. Sunreef Yachts’ sailing range of electric catamarans offer top quality rigging and fully recyclable performance sails. Wind can also be a precious support when it comes to motor yacht propulsion. The shipyard’s range of power eco-friendly yachts can be fitted with high-performance kites to combine the advantages of eco motoring with wind propulsion. Frequently used for towing large container ships, kites are an extremely powerful support for leisure crafts.

Sunreef Yachts’ motor yachts equipped with kites enjoy oceanic range, massive fuel savings, more visibility and safety.

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Electric Catamarans Pros, cons and a new option on the horizon

Electric Catamarans

Pros, cons and a new option on the horizon

Electric boats, and specifically electric catamarans, aren’t new but newly-designed and efficient models are making this technology more accessible and more popular every day. Electric catamarans are driven by electric motors which draw on power stored in massive (usually lithium chemistry) battery packs. These batteries are in turn replenished by onboard combustion engine generators, wind generators, solar panels or some combination of all. If it’s a sailing cat, regeneration can even come from the free spinning of the propellers while the boat is under sail.

Benefits and Drawbacks

The benefits of electric solar-powered catamarans are many. Electric boats are quieter and run cleaner with reduced or zero emissions. There are no diesel or gasoline fumes and little or no engine vibration. Electric motors require no idle speed so they’re more efficient and have torque from the second the shaft is engaged so they tend to accelerate faster than traditional combustion engines. Electric catamarans require no oil changes, less winterization maintenance, and no filter or impeller replacements. They may also have greater resale value. Electric motors are also usually smaller so they take up less space in the hull. (Some of this last benefit is offset by the need for more space for larger battery packs.) Finally, there’s no risk of spilling fuel at the pump because electric cats don’t go to the pump.

The largest drawbacks have to do with purchase price and range. Electric propulsion can be expensive initially, but the cost of ownership is usually lower over time. The second drawback is range. How far can an electric catamaran travel on a charge and are there available charging stations along the way? Much like with electric cars, range per full charge is usually limited and that’s made worse on a boat by a variable sea state. Charging facilities may be limited to marinas and charging can be fairly slow. The key to unlimited range is onboard energy regeneration as described above that can make the boat fully self-sustaining.

Some Popular Electric Catamarans

Electric and solar-powered catamarans are already plying the waters and some have even crossed oceans with regeneration systems that provide an extended range. One sailing catamaran version is the Polish-built Sunreef 80 Eco that has solar panels embedded into the composite structure of the hulls, coachroof and flybridge top. Another promising model is the Island Spirit 525E sailing cat that will be available to buy in charter as well as for private use via Navigare Yachting in 2023.

A Closer Look at the Island Spirit 525E

Island Spirit Catamarans in Thailand launched their first 38-foot cat a decade ago and has distributed 100 units since. Their commitment to cutting-edge systems has led them to the next anticipated introduction – their first electrified solar sailing cat, the  Island Spirit 525E .

The new cat is roughly 52 by 27 feet so it’s a substantial platform. Living aboard will happen on three decks – lower (accommodations/cabins), main (salon and forward and aft cockpits) and the flybridge. The boat will be available with twin 57-hp or 80-hp Yanmar diesels with SD60 Saildrive transmissions and a 264-gallon fuel tank. However, this new cat was thought out from the start for electric propulsion so you have a cleaner option. Expect to see an electric drive that uses twin 65kW (approximately 88-hp) electric permanent magnet motors, and a 55kWh main battery generator or “range extender”. (The boat is expected to cruise at eight knots using only 37kW of power.) This version will run 24V DC with a 48kWh house battery bank and 210 kWh e-drive storage bank. To keep the batteries topped off, there will be 2000 watts of solar panels on the Bimini top.

Of course, the Island Spirit 525E is primarily a sailing cat with a massive sail area of 1,905 square feet between the mainsail and the easy-to-manage self-tacking jib. The inverted wave piercing bows give her an appearance of speed even at rest, and the construction is a vacuum-infused sandwich cored with closed cell foam (no heavy plywood) that keeps the boat light and able to perform even in low wind speeds.

The IS 525E will be available with 3-6 cabins each en-suite with head and shower. Two optional cabins will be available for crew in the forepeaks and  Navigare Yachting expects to offer this boat in both crewed and bareboat charter in its fleet . It is also the appointed distributor for Europe and North America.

Some highlights include a walk-through salon with large windows for an abundance of natural light and large sleeping cabins. The galley is spacious with commodious storage for dishes and provisions and there are options in how the interior furniture is laid out.

A door leads directly from the salon to the forward cockpit with its generous lounge, cocktail table and integrated sun shade. The aft cockpit connects to the salon as well via large glass sliding doors and a window. With the forward door and aft slider open, a fresh breeze cools down the interior quickly even if the boat was closed up for an extended time. The most popular dining place aboard will undoubtedly be on the massive flybridge where wraparound seating and twin tables can accommodate 10 for dinner and the views are unsurpassed.

Also on the flybridge is the helm with a double seat and good access to winches and clutches for line handling. The visibility forward and along the starboard side is excellent. Steps lead down from the helm directly to the starboard deck for a fast transit if the captain needs to help with dock lines.

Overall, the focus of the IS 525 is on guest comfort, privacy, multiple gathering areas and copious storage options.

The Future is Electric

Approximately 2% of boats today are powered by electric or hybrid propulsion (a combustion engine generator combined with electric propulsion motors) but this trend is expected to grow by as much as 50% in the next 20 years. The automotive industry is leading the advances, but multiple progressive boat builders like Group Island Spirit are already embracing advanced propulsion technologies with electric motors, superior battery chemistries, and regeneration capabilities that lean heavily on passive technologies like solar to provide a “free” cruise and to help protect the environment.

If you’re looking to charter or purchase a solar-powered electric yacht, your options are growing, especially with Navigare Yachting, so take the plunge – the water’s  great.

Do you have any questions? Ask away! We are here for you.

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The first 100% electric hydrogen catamaran

8 April 2023

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The Samana 59 X REXH2

A hydrogen catamaran forerunner of future 100% carbon-free solutions..

In partnership with EODev , a specialist in industrial solutions using  hydrogen , Fountaine Pajot has recently developed the world’s first production cruising catamaran with 1 00% electric propulsion  which uses  hydrogen as an energy source . This prototype, the  Samana 59 Smart Electric X REXH2 , demonstrates the capacity of the  Fountaine Pajot  group to be far ahead in innovation, and shows its long-term vision on the  energy transition  strategy it wants to engage.

The Samana 59 Smart Electric X REXH2, named after the  electro-hydrogen generator  it carries, the REXH2 , is now able to offer a  100% zero-emission navigation experience . Its system is based on 3 operating modes:

• The first mode allows the Samana 59 to be used in  100% electric mode . Its on-board battery of 60 kw/h, powered by a very large surface of solar panels of 42m² and a capacity of 8500 watts, as well as its hydraulic energy function, like the Aura 51 Smart Electric , allows it to be autonomous at anchor and during several hours when sailing.
• The second mode of operation integrates, in addition,  hydrogen as a source of energy  storage and thus allows for  hybrid electro-hydrogen operation . Hydrogen, under pressure, feeds a fuel cell with a capacity of 70kw which will supply electricity to the electric motors. This fuel cell technology, in addition to being an efficient decarbonisation solution, allows for an increased life span of the system, equivalent to 3 times the life span of traditional diesel equipment. In use, the operation remains similar to that of a conventional hydrogen hybrid car, with recharging possibility at port via hydrogen terminals. This mode, coupled with the use of solar panels and hydrogen generation, provides a comfortable autonomy at anchor for several weeks, and 5 hours of motor navigation at a speed of 7 knots.
• The third mode is  Diesel Hybrid operation . The Samana 59 Smart Electric X REXH2 has a back-up generator that will take over during situations that require prolonged use of the engines with no possibility of recharging with hydrogen.

An industrial challenge

The first challenge in this project was to integrate a  complete hydrogen system on-board  a production pleasure boat. The second and most important issue was  safety , by having a boat that meets all the standards and technical compliance requirements for the implementation of a hydrogen system. It is a technical and industrial challenge shared with partners who are  pioneers in the decarbonisation  of cruising and whose future will depend on the evolution of international hydrogen infrastructures, which underlines the fact that the project is so pioneering..

Let’s meet in studio, Romain Motteau, Deputy CEO at Fountaine Pajot and Jérémie Lagarrigue, CEO at EODev, who tell us more about the functioning and the genesis of this ambitious project.

Premier catamaran de croisière à hydrogène : tout savoir sur la technologie embarquée !

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the first electric catamaran

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The Innovative, fully electric SeaQuest Catamaran

Performance sailing and offshore cruising ability combined like never before so you can sail faster and voyage further..

A NEW LEVEL OF COMBINED PERFORMANCE, STYLE, AND CAPABILITY

The synergy between elite design, build excellence, and progressive technology achieves a completely new level of combined performance, style, and capability. Advanced hull design, semi carbon-fibre construction, and acute attention to weight throughout, deliver performance without compromising an ounce of comfort.

LET NATURE FLOURISH

Switching to electric propulsion makes a huge impact on the oceans

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Utilizing new hybrid resins and high-density foam core, this sandwich construction is vacuum infused, maximizing resin to fibre ratios. A combination of carbon and E-Glass construction culminates in an exceptionally light, fast, and sturdy catamaran.

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• July 6, 2023
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Bali 5.8: Setting New Standards in Luxury

Introducing the Unveiling of the World’s Largest Sportfishing Yacht

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Palma de Mallorca, 2nd July – The electrification of maritime transportation is making significant progress. The concept of an electric boat that doesn’t require battery charging and offers all the comforts for leisure activities may seem far-fetched, but it’s already a reality. Millikan Boats, a shipyard with extensive experience in constructing cutting-edge electro-solar boats, has achieved a remarkable feat with its Ecolo Station refit project. This 7.5-meter catamaran has been sailing the Mediterranean for nine years without the need for any significant refurbishments since its launch in 2015. Building upon their years of experience in solar-powered sailing, Millikan Boats has now designed and developed the M9, a weekender catamaran that pushes the boundaries of electric sailing. With its innovative features and a length of nearly 10 meters, the M9 offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective sailing experience, coupled with the tranquility of a sailboat. One of the standout features of the M9 is its solar wings, which not only provide a unique appearance but also increase the boat’s power by 20% when deployed. These wings are operated by two simple yet powerful marine cylinders, held in place by a tip and a cleat. They do not interfere with navigation or visibility. When returning to port, folding the wings is a straightforward process. By pulling the end, guided by a hoist and secured by the cleat, the wings are neatly stowed away, similar to lowering a sail. The M9 boasts an innovative function called the “virtual anchor.” By utilizing GPS and computerized engine management, this feature emits low-power light energy pulses, keeping the boat stationary for hours or even days. This allows passengers on board to engage in other activities without concern. Equipped with two 15 kW motors, providing the power equivalent of a 50 hp engine, the M9 intentionally utilizes limited-capacity batteries (2×16 kWh), similar to those found in rechargeable hybrid cars. This decision ensures a reasonable weight for the boat and enables the shipyard to offer a competitive price in the market. The batteries serve as a supplementary power source to the solar panels, enabling the M9 to achieve an appealing cruising speed of 9 knots, with a top speed of 12 knots. At a speed of 6 knots, the boat has an unlimited range, allowing for a day of sailing from 9 am to 8 pm. The deck cabin of the M9 is an innovative marvel in itself. When in port or at anchor, the wings fold to adapt to the shape of the hull and roof, enclosing both sides of the boat. The roll-up canvas attached to the sunroof unfurls, closing off the bow and stern and revealing a spacious deck cabin spanning approximately 12 square meters. This 100% French-built catamaran features a bathroom, toilet, galley, and two interior cabins equipped with all the necessary comforts and amenities. Remarkably, this electro-solar catamaran not only produces its own energy but also has the capability to generate power for others. The M9 includes a power outlet, allowing the electricity generated by its solar panels to be injected into the port’s grid and subsequently sold.

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Electric Catamarans: Is Carbon-Free Safe & Successful?

When thinking about electric catamarans over the years, I have often wondered how green a sailor can be without compromising safety and requisite redundancy on a cruising catamaran.

Sailboats are by their very nature already green or relatively low-carbon since the primary source of propulsion is wind.

Having done extended cruising and ocean crossings over the last 28 years, we have encountered most situations that seaman come across. While, luckily and surely, we have not seen it all, weather, equipment and system failures, human error, and other perils like pirates have thrown down gauntlets along our adventures. In almost all of these challenges, having access to ready sources of energy whether it be fossil fuel engines or other greener sources of power was the key to the safety of our boat and our crew. Certainly, an  energy management plan aboard is prudent, safe, and affordable but also a step in the right direction for our planet’s health. (We are huge fans of Silent Yachts and follow their progress with bated breath).

But is a carbon-free catamaran safe? Can it take us successfully through an average extended cruising scenario?

OUR EARLY ELECTRIC CATAMARAN EXPERIENCE

From a practical standpoint I do not like giving up options and redundancy when doing extended cruising. For me this is a safety issue. The creature comforts like refrigerated food storage for fresh food over weeks, hot meals, and warm showers are hard to give up.

But, in the past 2 decades, advancements in electricity generation aboard vessels has made impressive strides. As I never quit thinking about electric catamarans, when we recently completed crossing the Atlantic as part of the ARC Rally , we decided on an energy management plan that incorporated multiple system solutions instead of reliance on one main energy or battery-charging source.

Our power solutions for the ARC Rally and for future years of living aboard our Bali 5.4 include:

• Solar – the factory installation is 850 watts, we increased this to 1,200 watts
• Watt & Sea hydro-generator – since our energy plan utilized multiple energy generation solutions, we opted for the 300 model instead of the 600. I am not a fan of regenerating power through the main drives because of all the moving parts. We chose the Watt & Sea hydro-generator as it is much more efficient and super reliable with less drag.
• Large additional alternator – 125 amp on each engine to maximize charge when running the engines
• We opted for a smaller diesel generator, of 13.5 KW rather than the standard 21 KW offered by the factory. And we have a 3 KW inverter charger that gives about 80 amps charging capacity
• The last piece of our energy generation puzzle will be to replace our current AGM batteries at the end of useful life with 1200 A/H of lithium-Ion batteries. Craig at Maz Ocean install lithium batteries on catamarans and are experts in this arena. Their team will likely recommend and install Lithionics or Victron Li-ion batteries. 

We tested our  multi-source energy management plan for our catamaran as we sailed 3,060 NM from the Canaries to St. Lucia. Total fuel consumed was 46 gallons. Averaging it out, we used less than 2 fluid ounces of fuel per Nautical Mile which I think one could certainly consider very green.

The power consumption for the boat with all the electronics going, the watermaker keeping tanks topped off for crew use, all the fridges cooling while running off inverters (keep in mind Bali’s American-sized fridge!), and the galley in full swing with microwave, panini maker, coffee pot, and more to perpetually feed our crew of 8, the average hourly draw was 35 amps.

During the day when the solar and hydro-generator were topping up the batteries with power, we had a positive input of around 7 to 8 amps. At night when the solar went dark, we had the navigation system and interior lights which created a shortfall of around 12 to 15 amps.

The big meal of the day was early evening dinner when the galley would have all sorts of appliances going. So, consequently, we ran the diesel generator for one to two hours during that point of high use by the crew. During this time, the batteries charged up for the night and we made water to keep the tanks topped off and heated the water for showers. Since we were not motoring for most of the trip, the engines were not heating the water.

When we planned this voyage, we decided that we would not be that boat that had to camp, be conservative, or rough-it in any way. We have done this enough over 20+ year sailing career. The Bali 5.4 is a large comfortable catamaran and we kept it that way ensuring our crew could use water at will to shower, drink, cook, and clean. The fridge is a double-door stand-up fridge/freezer which has its own dedicated inverter and was full of food. Also, a flybridge fridge for drinks was in operation.

The take-away from this 16-day trip with eight crew on board is that the power generation and management worked well. We proved it could function providing a safe and comfortable voyage for an extended period.

When just Estelle and I are cruising, we have a much smaller power consumption requirement even with keeping our favorite creature comforts. We love to sail and, whenever possible, the engines are shut down and under sail even if it is a slow trip. But at below 4 knots, I run one engine to keep way on so the autopilot does not have a hissy fit. So, this energy management plan that most would call low-carbon or green sailing is working beautifully for us until the next great ideas reduce my concerns of current green energy generation and storage methods to make a truly carbon-free electric catamaran possi

Electric-Powered Catamaran Concerns

Here are my concerns with the trend to all-electric sailing based on experience and what I have witnessed over the years.

Loss of Redundancy Imperils Safety

• Both engines working.
• If one engine goes out, there is a backup.
• If both engines go out, you still have the sails.
• Electric propulsion from a generator as the batteries must be charged because the batteries will only give you a short period of propulsion until the generator kicks in.
• If the generator goes out, you are down to sails. I would never want to be in a situation where I am on a lee shore or need power to get out of trouble and find that I have no engine propulsion to get me out of a bad situation. I have seen several electric boats stuck with a failed generator and unable to move until repaired. Why would a cruiser want to give up all these options and redundancy away?

While I run my engines as little as possible, they give me redundancy. Diesel engines remain the most reliable form of propulsion. It will take time, before an electric solution becomes more reliable.

Loss of Redundancy Reduces Charging Options

The diesel engines not only provide propulsion. With a large alternator, you have two good sources of battery-charging capability. And they heat water, while not vital for survival, cruising while taking cold showers in cold weather is not my idea of paradise.

Let’s look at charging sources on a conventional catamaran with an energy management plan that provides five independent battery-charging sources:

• Two engines with large alternators and smart regulator on each one count as two sources as they are independent.
• Hydro-generation

On an electric catamaran, you could have combinations of solar, water regeneration through the main drives, and a generator. 

If the generator goes down at night when there is no solar generation and no wind to propel the boat to regenerate power to charge the batteries, you are basically dead in the water. 

Batteries will only last a short while especially since the entire boat relies on the battery bank to function

Forget the All-Electric Catamaran ...For Now

In my humble opinion, one can be extremely green with a conventional catamaran. The level of carbon elimination or “green-ness” depends on the individual crew and how they operate their boat. The more environmentally aware will tend to make choices that move them toward a lower carbon footprint.

With current technology (batteries, systems, and hardware), I do not believe a zero-emission boat is possible. That is, unless you have at least a crew of seven and six long oars and a drum.

My assessment of the lack of viability for carbon-free cruising was recently vindicated as I read Jimmy Cornell’s account of the challenges he faced while attempting to circumvent the globe carbon free in NauticMag.com (article no longer available to link to). In his own words: “The only conclusion I could draw was that in its present form, the regeneration system, and implicitly the entire concept, was not working”.

He had a lot of courage to initiate the Elcano circumnavigation project with his zero-emission electric Outremer catamaran . Side note: Learn more about the Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation expedition from 500 years ago that Jimmy’s project commemorated.  He set out to do this already being fully aware of the reality of actually “walking the walk” and how much sailors rely on systems and propulsion. His account of the reasons why he had to abandon the project support my concerns.

Jimmy’s experience and information will go a long way to helping with the improvement and further development of this electric sailing technology which I am sure will one day be widely used. This is Oceanvolt’s rebuttal (supplier of the electric system on Jimmy’s cat) to Jimmy’s “shock” article about his experience with the all electric catamaran. 

When a reliable solution for zero-emission propulsion with good redundancy arrives as it surely will, we will be first in line to convert. In the meantime, we continue to operate our boat in a manner that leaves the smallest ecological impact possible to help protect our environment and way of life.”

On a side note: The famous YouTube couple, Sailing La Vagabonde , is also teaming up with Oceanvolt, who will supply the electric propulsion for their new emissions-free boat project! Yes, they are selling their Outremer and will go all-electric on their next boat. We are really excited to follow their progress and we will hopefully soon follow in their famous footsteps! Click to check out the announcement.

This from one of our followers:  “I enjoyed your description of how you utilized your boat during the Arc Rally and I wonder what would have changed if you had electric engines? You would still have had to run the generator to supplement your renewable energy sources but then when you used the electric engines you would not have had the benefit of your alternators. I wonder if you might have ended up using even more diesel?

Interesting take from S/V Fagari: How do two 30-something-year-olds convert a 43-year-old sailboat to electrical propulsion and beat nearly 5,000 nautical miles eastward in the Caribbean? With a lot of luck, some hard work, and a fair bit of painful learning along the way –  5,000 Miles Against the Trades with an Electric Motor

What do you think? Please comment below. We would love to hear your input on the subject!

Want to know your vessel energy usage? Use this estimator below. 

Estelle Cockcroft

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2 thoughts on “Electric Catamarans: Is Carbon-Free Safe & Successful?”

Why not have 2 diesel generators so you have some redundancy in case one fails?

Ron that’s definitely an option

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Balance Catamarans, renowned for its  commitment to innovation in the marine industry, proudly announces a groundbreaking partnership with Integrel Solutions. As the inaugural OEM boat builder to embrace the revolutionary Integrel E-Drive power and propulsion system, Balance Catamarans is poised to redefine the standards of eco-friendly boating.

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