BY ADAM QUANDT

“ Come gather ‘ round people , wherever you roam and admit that the waters have grown … For the times they are a-changin ’.”

Now most of us know Bob Dylan wasn ’ t talking about the recreational boating industry when he released his 1964 track , however the words certainly strike a chord as the industry moves through times of evolution .

Is the boating industry going to all-electric options at the flip of a switch ? No . Will the recreational fleet of boats in the marketplace be made up of only electric-powered boats ? No – at least not anytime in the near future . However , that doesn ’ t mean alternative power sources , especially electric , aren ’ t gaining more traction in boating .

A 2022 report from Allied Market Research stated that the global electric boat market was valued at $ 5 billion in 2021 and expected to climb to $ 16.6 billion by 2031 . As consumer wants continue to evolve and the spotlight increases on sustainability , manufacturers are placing more and more emphasis on electric solutions in the boating industry .

The stage for electric-powered boats seems to be growing at an exponential pace . The 2023 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show debuted a brand-new electric pavilion , featuring some of the newest technological advancements in the marketplace – including fully-electric boats , outboards , personal watercraft and accessories in between .

The new pavilion was in part the brainchild of Top 100 dealer Nautical Ventures out of Fort Lauderdale , Fla . and their efforts to partner with some of the major manufacturers in the space . “ We launched a dedicated electric boat and ‘ yacht toy ’ division back around 2016 with the mindset that ‘ orange is the new green ’ and we ’ ve been exploring new partnerships in the market ever since ,” Nautical Ventures CEO Roger Moore said .

Partnerships have been the name of the game in the electric marine arena . Manufacturers like Torqeedo , Ingenity – a Correct Craft company – Mercury Marine and others are quickly stacking up partnerships to bring electric propulsion to more and more boaters .

At the close of 2022 , Beneteau premiered two new electric sailing yachts , the Oceanis 30.1 and the First 44 , which feature electric propulsion systems from Torqeedo . “ The partnership between Groupe Beneteau and Torqeedo continues to bring exciting new vessels to the marine market , expanding the opportunities for boaters to go 100 % emission-free ,” Torqeedo CEO Fabian Bez said at the time of the announcement .

After debuting two models in back-to-back years , Ingenity launched a new partnership with Hacker-Craft in late 2022 . In the agreement , Ingenity signed a multi-year supply and marketing agreement to provide and install all-electric drivetrains in a variety of Hacker-Craft boats .

“ I have admired Hacker-Craft ’ s products from afar for many years , and the Ingenity team is humbled to be part of this project ,” said Sean Marrero , President of Ingenity . “ We stand on the shoulders of the giants who started these companies a century ago . Now it is our turn to lay the foundation for

24 august 2023 www . boatingindustry . com