We’ve seen knife bows on megayachts, but how about on tenders? That’s one of the highlights of Elektra, a lovely little launch from Patterson Boatworks in the UK. But a bigger highlight is her status as an electric boat: She runs on a Lithium battery pack.
Why Lithium? Patterson says it weighs one-third that of lead-acid batteries and has a longer lifespan, about 3,000 recharges. The team is apparently still testing the 23-kW Lithium setup, but initial sea trials saw a 15-knot top speed, which they maintained over the course of an hour. Her best cruise from an efficiency standpoint is down around 6.5 knots, which should result in a range of 75 to 100 miles.
Patterson Boatworks was founded to build and restore modern racers as well as traditional and composite boats for yachtsmen who prioritize performance and style. The build team, Simon and Hamish Patterson, embraces both contemporary and classic design and build principles. They’ll use the latest technologies in composites, yet marry components made with this method to ones constructed of wood.
That’s what they did with Elektra. The carbon fiber and foam hull is married to a decking of English oak, cherrywood, and Douglas fir. The pale-blue paint job does a fine job of making the beautifully crafted wood (check out this wheel) stand out.
To get a better look at her, here’s a video clip from her sea trial.
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