30 minute read
Broker’s Best
[ JANUARY 2023 ]
BY RANDY WOODS / PHOTOS COURTESY OF INVINCIBLE BOATS
2022 Invincible 37' Catamaran
Speedy and sleek, this 37' Cat available from Schooner Creek Boat Works is a twin-hulled, twin-stepped fishing machine.
Sure to be one of the stars of this month’s Portland Boat Show, this 2022 Invincible 37', on offer from Schooner Creek Boat Works, has never been sailed and still has that lovely “new catamaran” smell. The 37' cat is a spacious center-console open fishing boat with beefy quad outboard engines—this one has four 300hp Mercury Verados, with top speed in excess of 75 mph, but there is room for Mercury 450s should you wish for an even bigger kick. Envisioned by the iconic Morrelli & Melvin Design & Engineering firm, this Invincible cat features the team’s semi-asymmetric, twin-hull template, giving the boat exceptional handling and nimble turning without negative trim. The 360-degree, walk-around layout, roomy 12’ beam, and 600 nautical mile range make it ideal for extended fishing excursions and has many amenities for the seasoned angler. With Seachest livewells above and belowdecks, the 37' cat includes bait prep and tackle stations, a fiberglass cooler with a sliding track system, and a whopping 20-plus rod holders on virtually every flat surface on the gunwales and console. Two side doors make it easier to reel in big tuna or marlins over the gunwales, where they can be stored in four fish boxes under the main deck or in the large coffin box forward of the console. At the helm, the boat is operated from triple custom Llebroc chairs with a built-in cooler and another set of back-to-back, aft-facing chairs. Twin 22” Garmin touchscreens provide clear visuals of all boat systems, which also has dual Icom radios, Mercury VesselView, and autopilot. The T-top housing around the helm includes an acrylic windshield on three sides to protect from the elements. The many seating areas include a U-shaped bench around the squarish bow, fold-out backrests, and two fold-down jump seats in the cockpit transom. The extended coffin box is also topped with cushioned sun pads with removable backrests for additional passenger seating or lounging. A JL Audio sound system provides tunes to the 14 speakers on board. Directly under the helm console is a deluxe electric head. For watersports activity, there is a dive door off the wide cockpit with a pull-out dive ladder, as well as a second pull-out ladder in the transom, located between the center outboards.
Specs & Info
LOA 37’0” Beam 12’0” Draft 1’8”
Tankage (Fuel/Fresh) 640 gal. / 39 gal.
Engines Four 300hp Mercury Verados
Contact Schooner Creek Boat Works Portland, OR Kevin Flanigan 503.735.0569 info@schoonercreek.com schoonercreek.com
BROKER’S BEST
BY RANDY WOODS / PHOTOS COURTESY OF WORTH AVENUE YACHTS
2002 80’ Symbol Pilothouse
Head out on Safari, a beautifully appointed, meticulously maintained Symbol yacht available from Worth Avenue Yachts.
For more than 20 years, this 80’ Symbol Pilothouse yacht has been meticulously maintained and upgraded by its current owner, a knowledgeable yachtsman. Well-suited for entertaining guests and extended cruises, Safari features three spacious staterooms and luxury accommodations for up to six guests, plus room for three crew members. Built in 2002, this large Symbol motoryacht is driven by twin Detroit Diesel 2000 MTU engines, each producing 915 HP and logging about 5,500 hours of use. The walk-around teak decks provide easy access to both the open-air bow section, with a sunpad and bimini, to the spacious aft-deck, anchored by a teak dining table, with upholstered Luxe Ingigo bench seating and four wicker swivel chairs. Two glass doors separate the aft deck from the salon, featuring an enormous distressed-leather sofa, two library chairs, a 36” live-edge wood cross-section coffee table, and a 48” smart TV within a built-in TV cabinet. Forward of the salon, the port-side galley boasts a wrap-around granite countertop, a KitchenAid refrigerator/freezer, a double sink with disposal, and an Insta-Hot water tap. GE appliances include a convection/ microwave and a five-burner cooktop. The galley opens to the pilothouse, which has a glass table with bench seating, and access to a day head. The helm station has a full suite of electronics and navigation equipment, such as Furuno NavNet 14” TZT display and autopilot, Icom VHF, Wesmar stabilizer controls, and a Maretron display.
Safari has multiple 32” smart TVs installed in the owner’s suite, the flybridge, and the crew cabins, equipped with Dish TV receivers. The sound system consists of five Fusion receivers in the salon with speakers in the salon, aft deck, pilothouse, flybridge, and bow. Other communications equipment includes Iridium satellite phones and KVH satellite internet. The customized flybridge has a hardtop, a three-quarters enclosure, two Stidd captain’s chairs, and another driving helm station that was updated in a 2015-16 rebuild. For more entertaining, the flybridge has a dining table, seating for eight people, a Wolf two-burner cooktop, a 30” DCS propane BBQ, a 20-bottle wine cooler, and four teak loungers. Belowdecks, the owner’s suite features lush wood paneling, a full-beam king-size bed, a port-side vanity, a walk-in closet, and a starboard-side settee. The en suite double head has twin sinks and a shower enclosure. The VIP stateroom at the bow has a raised queen-size bed, a walk-in closet, and an en suite head and shower enclosure. The midship guest stateroom includes a raised double bed, access to a forward head and shower, and a washer and dryer. Over the last seven years, Safari has had multiple rounds of upgrades, replacing and repairing virtually every electronic and mechanical system. Other major installations include a new bulbous bow, a new SidePower hydraulic stern thruster, teak decking and interior carpeting throughout, and new drive shafts, props, and struts. Specs & Info
LOA 80’0” Beam 21’6” Draft 5’6”
Tankage (Fuel/Fresh/Black) 1,600 gal. / 400 gal. / 150 gal.
Engines Two Detroit Diesel MTU 8V2000s
Contact Worth Avenue Yachts Seattle, WA 206.209.1920 team@worthavenueyachts.com worthavenueyachts.com
BROKER’S BEST
BY RANDY WOODS / PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHUCK HOVEY YACHTS
2004 Westcoast 46'
Chuck Hovey Yachts presents you with a proven winner— this handsome, lovingly cared for Westcoast 46' that plied Northwest waters for almost 20 years.
This sturdy and handsome cruiser was built in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, and originally designed by Ed Monk Jr. for use in the Tollycraft 43 Tri-Cabin series before Forbes Cooper reconfigured the design for Westcoast. With loving care from the current owner, Spirit So Moves has cruised for years along the West Coast, with 1,900 hours on its twin Cummins 6BTA5, 270hp engines. The Westcoast 46' cruises at 16 knots and can go flat out at 20 knots. With two staterooms and two heads, the layout allows for generous living space and three separate outside decks. The full walk-around side decks are made of teak and are flush to the aft deck. Port and starboard sliding doors allow easy access to the main salon. Inside the carpeted salon is an L-shaped settee with a hi-lo table and an entertainment center with TV, DVD player, and stereo system. A granite-top breakfast bar features two bar stools and an icemaker. The L-shaped settee also folds out to sleep two people. The main helm to starboard includes hydraulic steering, Morse clutch and throttle controls, full instrumentation, engine-hour meters, a compass, and windshield wipers. Forward and down three steps from the helm you’ll find the U-shaped galley, with granite countertops, a double stainless steel sink, a Norcold refrigerator/freezer, a three-burner electric cooktop, and a convection/microwave oven. Aft of the salon, a staircase leads to the boat deck and flybridge, which comes with a full canvas enclosure. Flybridge settees, arranged in L-shape, wrap around an adjustable, triangular dining/coffee table that’s near a Magnum BBQ and a Nova Kool mini fridge/freezer. The upper helm station has Icom VHF radio, main engine and windlass controls, a Com Nav autopilot, GPSMAP 1020 series, Bennet trim tab controls, a Sirius XM weather and radio antenna, Garmin radar, a Fusion 650 stereo control, and two adjustable swivel chairs. The owner's stateroom, accessible down a few steps from the salon and main helm, includes a queen-size island berth, two end tables, a vanity, a deck hatch, and access to an en suite head with granite countertops and a separate shower. The VIP stateroom also has a similar layout, with access to a guest head with a Kohler sink and handheld shower. Attached to the flat transom is a 2011 Walker Bay Genesis tender, with a Yamaha 20 HP outboard motor and a Seawise hydraulic davit system. From 2020 to 2022, some of the recent upgrades to Spirit So Moves include the addition of a new Norcold mini-fridge midship, added thermal insulation in the salon, a canvas enclosure, a new radar arch, renewed varnish, a thorough cleaning of the bottom with new anodes, and a renewed gelcoat.
Specs & Info
LOA 46’6” Beam 14’3” Draft 4’3”
Tankage (Fuel/Fresh/Black) 420 gals. / 200 gals. / 120 gals.
Engines Twin Cummins 270hp 6BTA5s
Contact Chuck Hovey Yachts Seattle, WA Martha Comfort 206-624-1908 martha@chuckhoveyyachts.com chuckhoveyyachts.com
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
For its 76th installment during February 3-11, the Seattle Boat Show is freshening up its seminar slate with a boatload of brand-new, on-trend offerings.
It’s almost time: The 2023 Seattle Boat Show comes into port next month. The beloved Northwest event will fill almost every corner of Lumen Field Events Center and Bell Harbor Marina, and feature over 800 of the latest and greatest model vessels, almost 300 exhibitors, and 110 hours of informational seminars covering almost every aspect of the maritime pastime. A longtime hallmark of the show, these sessions have always been a popular draw amongst boaters looking to boost their knowledge—and this year, the offerings have been bulked up with a wide array of fresh seminar topics. (In fact, thanks to effort by the team at the Northwest Marine Trade Association, 25% of this year’s seminars are brand spankin’ new.) Here, several of the experts preparing for the show give NWY readers an exclusive sneak peek at their seminars, which focus on forward-reaching fields such as marine communications, electrical refits, hybrid propulsion systems, safety innovations, and more. Prep your calendars, then sit back and enjoy the show.
GOING HYBRID
ALEX WILKEN Electric & Hybrid Propulsion Systems: Range, Efficiency, and Peace Of Mind February 4 @ 3 p.m.
[In a Nutshell] “Seattle Boat Works has been doing custom conversions from diesel to electric propulsion for over a decade,” states Wilken. “I will share my experience with boaters by going over the concepts of electric versus combustion systems, benefits of electric propulsion, types of and improvements in battery chemistry technology, and understanding hybrid systems.”
[Expert Resume] “The seminar is based on real world installation examples I have done over the past 10 years as part of my business (Seattle Boat Works) that have given me an in-depth understanding of electric motors. I'm also a certified marine mechanic, accredited installer for several electric propulsion brands, USCG Captain, and a full-time, live-aboard boater myself. My own boat has been my home for 36 years!”
[Why Now] “Boaters are often unaware that marine electric motors have been around for decades, from the state ferries to US Navy submarines. We often have to tell our customers we’re not inventing electric motors from scratch, just helping them put together a system from tried and true manufacturers that works for their boat and needs. The new thing is that the demand for electric and hybrid systems has gone through the roof, and LiPO4 batteries, which are safe for marine use and have become much cheaper, hold so much more power in a much smaller space. Overall this means there are more and more options for a range of boat sizes, and investing in an electric system doesn't just have to be for the commercial boaters. Most boaters think electric propulsion is about saving the planet or a green option. While it can be, the real secret is that the benefits are in the improved experience and expense. Maintenance, clean-up, and noise reduction can be the most difficult parts of a boater's experience, and electric or hybrid systems can solve so many of those problems.”
SAFETY FIRST
MARGARET POMMERT 20 Favorite Boating Innovations February 8 @ 1 p.m.
[In a Nutshell] “Boating is a relatively safe sport, and most hazards can be controlled with proper equipment and training,” Pommert asserts. “I will discuss innovations in a variety of areas, including rescuing crew overboard, navigation, first aid afloat, fire safety, weather awareness, and emergency communications. The focus is not bleeding edge technology, but innovative tools proven effective by Pacific Northwest boaters.”
[Expert Resume] Pommert has been a longtime safety advocate in the region. “I chair the US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal Award Committee, a national award which recognizes a significant accomplishment in seamanship that has saved a life, and collects case studies in rescues for analysis by the US Sailing Safetyat-Sea Committee. As VP for Safety at Sea for The Sailing Foundation, I organize our annual hands-on Safety at Sea training in which lessons learned from recent incidents are shared. I’m an appointed member of the Washington State Boating Program Advisory Council, providing recommendations on ways to enhance boating safety across Washington. I’m also a very active instructor for several of the larger Pacific Northwest sailing and power-boating schools.”
[Why Now] “With inflation, many of us are looking for ways to safely enjoy boating on a budget. Several of these innovations help do just that,” she says in conclusion. “And some of my favorites are even free!”
WIRED FOR SUCCESS
NANCY ERLEY & JO ABELI Considerations for a State of the Art Electrical Refit of Your Boat February 4 @ 6 p.m.
[In a Nutshell] Nancy Erley, an ocean sailor, and Jo Abeli, a marine electrician, will tackle the planning process and new technology available for upgrading your boat’s electrical system. Collaborating on the electrical modernization of Erley’s 1982 Orca 38 Tethys, they share the choices they made and why. States Erley: “You will see how to weigh the many considerations to achieve a balanced and elegant refit of your boat. Bring questions!”
[Expert Resume] “As a boat owner for 47 years, I’ve [Erley] fixed numerous electrical problems during two circumnavigations. Now it’s time to modernize my boat’s electrical systems and I’m so pleased to work with Jo Abeli, an ABYC certified marine electrician, and just the right person to bring Tethys into the modern age. Jo has worked on projects ranging from full repowers of live-aboard yachts, to bonding systems on wooden fishing vessels, to programming app-integrated vessel monitoring and switching.”
[Why Now] “The innovations in marine electrical systems, batteries, and solar panels have moved at a quick pace—faster than most boat owner’s projects. This new generation of marine electricians have been trained on the latest systems and technologies, whether it’s lithium battery technology, Bluetooth enabled sensors, or solar panel options. The components we will be installing as part of Tethys’ upgrades have been around for several years, and many boat owners will be familiar with them or at least heard of them. What some vessel owners may not know is just how accessible and user friendly a lot of the technology has become, and how many options are out there. For example, improvements in monitoring of electrical systems via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth can provide a record of history and trends over time. This can be useful for boat owners to improve safety on board and maintain the parts they invested in, and they can be powerful troubleshooting tools for technicians.”
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
RICHARD ANDERSON How to Work Re’BOAT’ly’: Advanced Internet for Entrepreneurs, Remote Workers & Digital Nomads February 3 @ 6 p.m. + Internet Everywhere: Satellite Internet in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond February 9 @ 4 p.m. + Everything You Need to Know about Starlink for Boats February 11 @ 1 p.m.
[In a Nutshell] In the first of three seminars that Anderson offers over the course of the week, he offers his best tips for sailors seeking to work reboatly: “This particular seminar is for business owners, entrepreneurs, remote workers, and digital nomads who need the internet for their income. We will discuss how to combine Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite technologies into a single reliable internet connection for phone calls, video conferencing, web browsing, and other business needs. Their clients will never know they are on a boat!” Mid-week, he tackles the more specific aspects of satellite connections available to boaters while cruising the Pacific Northwest waters: “This high level seminar covers the satellite options available today and in the future, including Starlink, as well as how the region, geography, and vessel itself affect the performance of each option,” he says. “We will place special emphasis on the latest options for the U.S. West Coast, the Inside Passage, Southeast Alaska, and Mexico, as well as global options for the intrepid explorers in our midst.” And finally, Anderson tackles arguably the industry’s buzziest new tech for his last seminar: “It covers everything you ever wanted to know about Starlink and its use on boats—how it works, where it works, what is costs, differences between plans and hardware models, how to power it, how to mount it, limitations, risks, and how to enhance the reliability of the service with additional hardware. All of my clients are asking about it, wanting to know if they should get it, which version to get, how it works, and what else they need. It’s a very hot topic!”
[Expert Resume] “I have 20 years of corporate IT and IT sales experience, including satellite networking, prior to quitting my old job and going cruising on a sailboat with my family. We actually ran three businesses remotely from the boat using a variety of Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite technologies.”
[Why Now] “Since Covid started so many people have chosen to change their lives, get out of traditional office work or jobs, and travel or live aboard boats (as well as RVs, and et cetera). But these same boaters need some of the traditional things we take for granted at home like reliable internet. Many new boaters are also not retired and still need to work to support their families and their new lifestyle. It’s possible to create a reliable office-like connection to conduct business from practically anywhere and continue to generate income even when you aren’t in your office.”
OFFSHORE OUTFITTER
JOHN NEAL Beyond YouTube: Lessons Learned from 400,00000 Miles February 4 @ 2 p.m.
[In a Nutshell] John Neal sailed from Seattle on a Vega 27 in 1974 and has never looked back. “If you’ve gotten the adventure bug from watching YouTube sailing channels, this seminar shows you how to get from dreaming to experiencing your own blue water sailing adventure,” he says. “Here, learn how to find, purchase, and outfit a boat, how to qualify for insurance and how to sail it safely anywhere in the world.”
[Expert Resume] “I’ve sailed the equivalent of 16 times around the world and helped more than 11,000 people achieve their own dreams of worldwide sailing adventures.”
[Why Now] “This seminar is cutting edge because since Covid there are thousands of people dying to get on their own boats and sail off into the sunset. I cover all of the latest developments in gear and electrical systems. Plus, a detailed two-page checklist is included, and a 270-page textbook is available.”
> GET YOUR TIX
Plan ahead and snap up the $99 seminar package which entitles you to a multi-day pass to the show and access to all of the seminars both live at the show and online after for 90 days. (With the $119 package you’ll also receive a 2023 Waggoner’s Cruising Guide.) For the most current details and a complete roster of this year’s Seattle Boat Show seminars, which include boating and fishing options, plus Boat Show University, as well as general information on the full event that runs from February 3-11, go to: seattleboatshow.com.
CRUISE CONTROL
SARAH & WILL CURRY Bluewater Cruising Now Panel: Trends, Revolutionary Gear, and Timeless Tips February 4 @ 11 a.m. + South to Mexico & West to Australia February 5 @ 1 p.m. + Self Steering Windvanes: Your Best Crew Member February 4 @ 1 p.m.
[In a Nutshell] The Currys will help lead a Saturday panel that features experienced cruisers, including John Neal: “We love to talk about the incredible world of cruising: what’s better than traveling the ocean with your home? We chat about boat and passage planning, sailing trends, offshore gear, and timeless tips for life at sea. The passage down the Washington/Oregon coast can be a first and intimidating one for many. We share options for safe passages south to Mexico, and inspiration for making the decision to go... and go further.”
[Expert Resume] “We hatched a plan to sail to the South Pacific on our very first date. During our years of planning and saving, I [Sarah Curry] listened to every cruising seminar at the Seattle Boat Show… multiple years in a row! Since setting off from the Pacific Northwest in 2013 we’ve owned three sailboats, had countless experiences, and made a mistake or ten. Our current adventure (with our growing crew, 3½ -year-old twin boys) has us starting a little further east: a catamaran in Greece.”
[Why Now] “The year 2023 is being defined by the obtainability of cruising as a lifestyle. You don’t have to have the perfect boat. You don’t have to leave a career at home; perhaps you work remotely (Starlink is the biggest technical innovation in years). The trend that has been flourishing is an attitude thing—young cruisers (and the young at heart) are inspired to see the world and are taking the ocean by storm. It’s a beautiful and exciting way to live and there’s a huge community of like-minded sailors waiting to welcome you. Our seminars are not all fluffy. We understand the seriousness of sailing offshore, and present about self-steering systems and emergency steering too.”
>> MORE ON THE DOCKET: Go to nwyachting.com/welcome-to-the-show/ for an exclusive look at even more new seminar topics, covering everything from new boating apps to advancements in green tech.
POWER
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PURE WATERCRAFT
OLD MEETS NEW: A CLASSIC RUNABOUT EQUIPPED WITH A PURE WATERCRAFT SYSTEM FLIES ACROSS THE WATER.
Charged by their line of electric outboards, POWER Seattle’s Pure Watercraft hopes to revolutionize e-boating with a little help from automotive MOVE battery tech.
BY RANDY WOODS
Gliding along the waters of Lake Union on a sunny fall day, the RIB tender gave hints that it was a bit unusual compared to most other small watercraft in Seattle. It was moving at a stately pace of two or three knots, but there were no engine sounds. Only the slight breeze and trickling bow waves could be heard. This boat has some kick. One flick of the throttle and the RIB sprinted forward, reaching 20 knots in about three seconds. The wind and wave sounds grew louder, but the electric engine emitted a barely audible hum. Long as one held on tight in the lake’s chop, an onboard conversation could easily continue without raising voices. At the helm was Gabe Johnson, head of marketing for Pure Watercraft, a Seattle-based manufacturer of electric outboard motors that launched in 2011, catering mostly to sport fishing boats and open-bow runabouts. “It’s not like a gas engine, it’s just pure torque,” Johnson said of the electric motor powering our ride that afternoon. “The power’s instantly there, so you just leap out of the water.” The RIB tender, a 12-foot Highcraft, was created in cooperation with Pure Watercraft, but the chief product of the company over the last decade has been the sleek, low-profile powerplant in the stern. The 25-kilowatt outboard, weighing 112 pounds, uses a series of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to deliver the rough electric equivalent of a 40 to 50 hp gasoline engine, but produces zero emissions and requires no regular maintenance. “Any boat that can take an outboard can become electric,” Johnson said. “You can just remove your Mercury, drop in our motor, and bolt it onto the back. There’s nothing special about the boats.” Yet something quite special will be happening this year regarding Pure Watercraft and boats. Sometime in the second quarter of 2023, the company will begin delivering a new line of boats that could revolutionize the use of electric motors in the United States and bring affordable battery-powered marine propulsion into the mainstream. Get ready to meet the Pure Pontoon boat. And while the thought of spreading electric power to the world via lumbering aquatic party platforms may not initially seem to get the pulse racing, there is a strategic plan behind this pontoon.
Raising the Platform The key is market share, said Andy Rebele, the company’s founder and CEO. “Last year, about 70,000 pontoon boats were sold around the country,” Rebele said, which represents about 20% of U.S. recreational boat sales—a figure that has been growing by more than 20% annually. “They’re not fast, so they’re usually used as fishing boats for short excursions.”
-PURE WATERCRAFT’S GABE JOHNSON
AN EARLY PROTOTYPE OF THE PURE PONTOON CRUISES AROUND LAKE UNION; AT LEFT, A RENDERING OF THE FINAL VERSION TO HIT THE MARKET LATER THIS YEAR.
CRAFTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIGHFIELD, THE CO-BRANDED TENDERS ARE SPECIALLY MADE TO MATCH THE PURE OUTBOARD POWERTRAIN, INCLUDING UNDER-SEAT AND BOW LOCKERS.
More importantly, more than 50% of bookings for pontoon boats were for inland waterways last year, making them attractive beyond the usual boating hotspots on the coasts. “And since Covid began,” Rebele added, “pontoon boats have sold particularly well.” These trends have not gone unnoticed by some deep-pocketed investors looking for growth in new green markets. In November 2021, Pure Watercraft inked a $150 million deal with automotive giant General Motors, giving it a 25% stake in the company, which is located right on Lake Union. While GM is noted chiefly for its gasoline-fueled cars and trucks, it has committed $35 billion, or 40% of its market cap, to the development of electric and fuel-cell vehicles of many types, including boats and locomotives. In January 2022, Pure Watercraft debuted the first prototype of Pure Pontoon, using its own battery packs at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company is now taking pre-orders for the production models, which will use GM’s batteries. The collaboration between e-cars and e-boats, Rebele said, is a natural fit. “GM battery packs don’t have to change when you put them in a boat,” he said. “They’re similar to the ones placed in their cars. And a factory made for pontoon boats is set up exactly the same as a car plant, except the volumes GM can handle far exceed what we could do on our own.” Under the deal, production of the Pure Pontoons would move from Pure Watercraft’s current Tukwila facility to a larger plant to take advantage of GM’s tremendous economies of scale. Last August, Pure Watercraft announced it will convert a former steel mill in a small town with the colorful name of Beech Bottom, West Virginia, to produce the Pure Pontoons. In turn, GM will supply the batteries and components, co-develop new products, and provide engineering and manufacturing expertise to Pure Watercraft. While the hilly northern panhandle of West Virginia is not exactly known as a boating mecca, the property on the Ohio River, about 50 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, is well suited for distributing products to inland customers. “The assembly facility site will be ideal for inbound and outbound logistics,” Rebele said. Being more centrally located than factories in coastal cities and situated closer to other GM facilities, Beech Bottom can greatly reduce manufacturing costs, he said. The converted 80,000-square-foot factory is set to open in late 2025, after a $5 million investment from Pure Watercraft, and expected to create more than 100 full-time positions in an area of Appalachia where new jobs are scarce.
THE COMPANY’S OUTBOARDS USE A SERIES OF RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES TO DELIVER THE ELECTRIC EQUIVALENT OF A 40 TO 50 HP GASOLINE ENGINE.
Charging Ahead But Pure Watercraft will very much remain a Northwest company, despite expanding eastward. Rebele said the company will continue to focus on its core electric technology by producing outboards, battery packs, throttles, and chargers at the current Tukwila facility. It will also continue working with Highfield Boats USA, which supplies the co-branded RIBs specially modified to match the Pure Outboard powertrain, including under-seat and bow lockers that accommodate the integrated battery packs. The Pure Pontoon design will possess a unique powertrain to really set it apart from other similar e-boats, Johnson said. “Electrics have been around for a while, but the battery packs are kind of our secret sauce,” he said. The 66-kilowatt-hour GM batteries, connected in a series by Pure Watercraft tech, provide more watts per pound than even the famous Tesla automotive batteries. “Watts per pound is the key metric because the power-to-weight ratio is so expensive in a boat,” Johnson explained. Using a Level I charger, the Pure Pontoon’s batteries can reach a half-to-full charge in 30 hours at 110V, five hours on a Level II charger at 220V, and one hour from zero to 80% capacity with a Level III fast-charger or supercharger. “If you’re tooling along at about three knots, you can go about 45 to 50 hours before you’d need a recharge,” Johnson estimated. The Pure Pontoon has an overall length of 25’9’ and a capacity for 10 people, with ample bench seating and an optional bimini or hard top. Using Pure Watercraft twin electric outboards, the pontoons can reach a top speed of 23 mph. The range at top speed is 26 miles, or 120 miles at an average speed of 5 mph. The single outboard option can reach 14 mph and has a range of 32 miles at top speed. “The battery packs are super small and can fit underneath the seats,” Johnson said. “Each one is just about the size of a suitcase. Depending on how you use the boat, each of the packs is equivalent to a three- or four-gallon tank of gas.”
Magic Carpet Ride GM has vastly improved the manufacturing efficiency of Pure Watercraft’s vision, but the small company made major strides on its own regarding the performance characteristics of the classic pontoon template. “Pontoon boats were never
“ANY BOAT THAT CAN TAKE AN OUTBOARD CAN BECOME ELECTRIC,” SAYS PURE WATERCRAFT’S GABE JOHNSON. “YOU CAN JUST REMOVE YOUR MERCURY, DROP IN OUR MOTOR, AND BOLT IT ONTO THE BACK.”
POWER
marketed on their efficiency,” Rebele said. “When they move, very little of the hull goes out of the water.” To solve the problem of needing to push water out of the way, Pure Watercraft streamlined the pontoons to reduce the drag caused by the extra weight of the batteries. The curved point at the bow and the lightweight composite hull material require 20% less power to achieve the same speed as standard aluminum-tube pontoon boats, he added. The company also added a simple midships foil running abeam between the two pontoons to give it added lift. The foil is fixed and located high enough so as not to affect the minimum draft, so the boat has no need for expensive mechanical foil retraction. “We didn’t know whether the foil would have a significant effect in the prototype, but it ended up being 21% more efficient than boats without a foil, and 50% better than other pontoon boats,” Rebele said. “People describe the foil effect as riding on a flying carpet.” The Pure Outboard motor used on the pontoon craft also adds to the improved performance. The electric motors are up to 70% efficient, measured as the percentage of energy from the battery pack used for propulsion, not just in motor efficiency. Typical electric outboards range from 35% to 55% overall efficiency, while gasoline outboards achieve only about 5% to 15% overall efficiency. Even the 16” diameter, three-blade propeller is designed to improve performance. “With electric motors, you can run at a lower rpm but use a larger propeller,” Rebele said. “If you used such a large prop in a gas engine, it might stall out because they have lower torque.” The 1,500-rpm motors are also low in diameter to benefit from passive cooling. Because there is no impeller in electric engines, Rebele explained, there is no water intake, so they can run equally well in both salt and fresh water, with no need for a seawater loop flush. An electric engine’s gears are always engaged, so there is no need for shifting, which often causes the most wear and tear on gas engines. Pure Watercraft said their engines should last more than 10 years without any additional maintenance.
Green Side Effects Pure Watercraft believes that the obvious environmental benefits of e-boating are not really the key selling point. The zero emissions aspect of the Pure Pontoon is being marketed almost as a fringe benefit for boaters, who tend to be more concerned with price and performance. “It isn’t so much that its ‘green,’” Johnson said. “It’s the fact that it’s quiet, there’s no maintenance, and it’s way easier to operate than gas engines.” When Pure Watercraft began showcasing its pontoon prototype around the country at events like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, “the electric option was still kind of an oddity in the U.S.” Johnson said. “But in Europe, the majority of the focus is on electric.” Affordability of e-boat technology is also a leading concern at Pure Watercraft. Thanks to the benefits of the GM deal, prices for the pre-orders of Pure Pontoons start at$75,000for a single outboard and$90,000for the twin-outboard package. Finally, Pure Watercraft is capitalizing on novelty—a trait that is universally valued by boaters, regardless of geographic location. The Bluetooth-enabled ergonomic throttle on the Pure Pontoon includes an integrated tilt/trim button and GPS-enabled display screen that shows current state of battery charge, the speed of travel, and the travel time remaining. “A lot of boating people just love gadgets and love talking about them,” Johnson added. “Electric power is the new toy everybody wants.”
EXTEND YOUR FISHING TIME: BY DESIGN, OUTBOARDS DON’T COME UNDER AS MUCH WEAR-AND-TEAR AS GAS ENGINES AND ON AVERAGE SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 10 YEARS WITHOUT ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE.
