Four-year-old Iguana Yachts is taking its famed amphibious craft farther, and cleaner. The French company has created the E-Iguana 29, an electric-powered version of its first model, with reportedly zero emissions and super-quiet operation.
The E-Iguana 29 shares the same profile as the outboard-powered Iguana 29 models (see above) introduced in 2012. Whether used as a tender or dayboat, she’ll turn heads on the water and when transitioning onto land. (A set of heavy-duty tracks deploy from the hull, and therefore don’t compromise cruising performance. Iguana Yachts holds design patents for this in multiple countries.)
Iguana Yachts says it’s been testing the electric-drive system aboard the E-Iguana 29 for a year. It incorporates heavy-duty electric motors adjacent to the wheel hubs. The batteries powering them are in a protective casing on the inside of the frame. Iguana Yachts says the setup doesn’t add weight in comparison to the conventional drive-train models. Especially noteworthy, the E-Iguana 29 can operate for 110 minutes before needing a recharge. It takes six hours to re-juice the system, the company says. Furthermore, the boat comes with a 3-kW quick charger.
The E-Iguana 29 still has the design features that made her sisters attract attention. The hull is a wavepiercer design, to handle messy conditions. The seating, for eight, absorbs shock for the same reason. You can choose from a variety of colors for the seat fabric, which is meant to hold up to sun and spray. Several hull colors are available, too. (To check out the options, visit the configurator at the Iguana Yachts website.) And, your captain or crew have a single screen displaying all necessary information. It brings together the GPS, depthsounder, charts, and even sound-system control.
To see the E-Iguana 29 debut, head to either the Cannes Yachting Festival or Monaco Yacht Show next month. Iguana Yachts will be running demos as well.
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