PRODUCTION STARTS

Mercury Marine has begun serial production of its new 20e and 35e Avator electric propulsion systems, and will formally launch them later this summer.

“We are thrilled to take the next step in our electrification journey as we continue to deliver on our commitment to being the industry leader in both internal combustion products and electric propulsion,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine president. “Consumer feedback from the Avator 7.5e has been very positive, and we are confident the same will be true for the 20e and 35e once they enter the marketplace.”

Mercury launched its first electric propulsion product, the award-winning Avator 7.5e, at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and recently began shipments to dealers worldwide. Mercury has committed to the introduction of five Avator products in 2023.

Barrus will show Avator electric propulsion systems on the Mercury stand at the Southampton International Boat Show next month.

The 6.3m R630 has been designed in conjunction with RS Electric Boats with efficiency in mind. It features a cathedral hull, pushing less water and getting on the plane effortlessly at lower speeds than a normal RIB of its size. It is the first in a new range of RIBs which Cheetah Marine will be bringing to market in the next few years.

 Rolls-Royce has opened a €30m assembly plant in Germany for its mtu Series 2000 yacht engines. The mtu 2000 series is regularly used on luxury yachts and superyachts.

 Did you know the Falkirk Wheel now has a hire fleet of four eBoats as part of its visitor attractions, powered by ePropulsion’s silent Spirit electric outboard motors? In further news from the manufacturer, ePropulsion made its UK debut at Seawork, winning a European Commercial Marine Award in the ‘Innovations Showcase Category Award’ for its I-Series electric inboard. The awards recognise the highest levels of innovative marine technology.

 OXE Marine UK and Ireland distributor, Proteum is supplying North Star with 10 OXE Diesel 300hp diesel outboards. This follows successful sea trials of the twin OXE 300hp supplied to North Star’s first UK-built hybridpowered SOV workboat Grace Darling, last September. Cox Marine has also announced a new OEM partnership to supply the CXO300 diesel outboard to XO Boats, which will be supported by Cox Marine’s Scandinavian distributor, Diesel Power.

ePropulsion says…

“The electric vehicle boom is not just about cars, it is also about millions of boats. The electrification of boats has attracted not only start-ups but also traditional industry heavyweights, making the electric propulsion market highly competitive with various players entering the market. The number of companies offering electric propulsion options is increasing and competition between brands is becoming fierce. While major brands aim to gain market share by differentiating on product quality and features, the industry is also seeing a trend toward price reduction.”