WaVeS 33 – Electric Boat and Boating News October 15, 2026
Plugboats WAVES (Watts, Amps, Volts, Electrons) is a regular collection of electric boat and boating news items that we have written about before and are updating, or items we are going to write about but are waiting for more information / developments – or items that are just tidbits you might find interesting.
Here is WaVeS #33, October 15, 2026, with electric boat and boating news about:
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- ExploMar electric outboard expand in Maldives, UAE, France dealer
- Magnetic charging plug VoltSafe achieves certification
- Brim Explorer adds another award and two new electric whale-watching boats
- RAD Propulsion introduce lease-to-own financing
- European Powerboat Awards nominees for electric category
- Taiga jetski launches new OS with geofencing
ExploMar continues expansion in Maldives, UAE and France
High performance electric outboard manufacturer ExploMar is continuing to grow its worldwide network with new distributors in the Maldives and United Arab Emirates as well as a new dealer demo boat in France.
The Maldives are a small group of islands in the Indian Ocean where marine transportation is necessarily a major part of life and respect for the sea and its complete ecosystem is of huge importance, especially for the tourism industry that is the backbone of the country’s economy. ExploMar has appointed Eongrid as its exclusive distributor to introduce electric outboard solutions to marine operators, resorts and tourism businesses seeking cleaner and quieter propulsion.
The companies say their collaboration will support electric marine mobility in the Maldives through local showrooms, demonstration boats and sea-trial events, giving customers and operators opportunities to test electric boating and assess its use in tourism and marine operations.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also has a strong connection with the sea, reflected in its vibrant yachting culture, modern marinas and diverse marine activity across leisure, commercial and professional applications. The market is also seeing growing interest in propulsion technologies that offer quieter operation, strong performance and increasingly intelligent vessel integration.
Exalto Emirates, which has more than three decades of experience in the region, is now the exclusive UAE distributor for ExploMar, giving customers access to ExploMar systems while allowing the electric propulsion company to benefit from the distributor’s local market experience, reputation and relationships.
Meanwhile, in Europe, ExploMar France has completed the fitting of a GEMINI 880 Rib with ExploMar’s Wave 300 electric outboard. It was completed in time for sea trials at the Cannes Yachting Festival and I was able to get out on the boat for a few minutes between demos arranged for local commercial and leisure boat customers. I can give it a full thumbs up, as did the commercial fleet operator who was out on the water before me.
The 220 (peak) motor and battery deliver on everything an electric boat should. My outing was one of the first on an electric boat for local pilot Laurent, who was noticeably excited by the quick acceleration while also delighted that he could talk with me and others on board without having to yell above the motor, even at three quarter throttle.
Voltsafe prongless electric connection system gets certification
The VoltSafe marine charging plug that uses magnetic connectors instead of prongs has won numerous awards from the IBEX, CES and Metstrade shows, along with Soundings Trade Only magazine for Most Innovative Marine Company. Touted as the ‘future of shore power’, the magnets eliminate arcing and hidden corrosion and offer extra benefits for things like smart charging and remote monitoring. It has now completed safety certification testing and is poised to dramatically alter marine charging.
“This is the moment we’ve been building toward since founding VoltSafe,” said CEO & Co-Founder Trevor Burgess. “We didn’t set out to build another electrical product. We set out to fundamentally change how high-power electricity is connected, delivered and managed. With testing complete, we’re ready to take our technology into the market at scale.”
Designed to evolve with the marina as boating electric needs demand, the platform creates a foundation for AI-enabled energy management, predictive insights and recurring software revenue. VoltSafe’s integrated platform combines its patented magnetic connection technology with intelligent dockside hardware and cloud-based software to reduce costs for marina and port owners and improve safety and convenience for consumers.
3. Brim Explorer introduces two new electric sightseeing trimarans, wins another award.
The Brim Explorer electric tourist boat company, which was named one of the ‘Top 50 Travel Adventures in the World‘ by the UK’s Telegraph newspaper, has now been named Innovator of the Year at the 2026 VISIT Awards.
VISIT is a software platform designed for companies that operate in the tourism sector and the Awards were given out at their annual summit. The jury wrote: “Silence turned out to be luxury. Guests hear the water, the birds and the guide, and remember it long after the trip home. Two fully electric vessels arrive in 2027, with the rest of the fleet to follow by 2030. Brim Explorer is not waiting for the industry to catch up.”
Those two boats going into service in 2027 now have names: Brask and Bram. The 24 metre fully electric high-speed passenger trimarans will carry up to 180 people and travel 100 nautical miles at 20 knots without recharging.
“We have been using our existing vessels as test platforms for several years, which has given us unique insights,” Brim Explorer co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Espen Larsen-Hakkebo said. “We know what actually works in real-world conditions, not just in simulations.” Brask and Bram will join the rest of the Brim fleet in taking guests out for silent whale watching and other eco-tourism activities in sensitive Norwegian waters.
4. RAD Propulsion lease to own
British marine technology company RAD Propulsion is now providing a solution for prospective boat owners who recognize the long term savings of electric propulsion but say the upfront cost of the technology is a real barrier.
The company is offering leases-to-own arrangements for its propulsion package – which includes the RAD 40 electric outboard, battery, steering wheel, throttle, control units and cables, configured to suit the individual vessel.
Available over three, four or five years, the finance lease offers fixed monthly payments with customers owning the drive system outright at the end of the contract. The starting price of £995 per month ($1325 / €1120) is subject to terms and conditions and based on the final system configuration.
Chris Shepherd, RAD’s CCO says: “Our aim is to make electric propulsion a realistic and accessible option for more boat owners and operators. This new lease-to-own option gives customers another route into electric propulsion, allowing them to access a complete system through a predictable monthly payment rather than a significant initial investment.”
The RAD 40 provides the performance and capability many commercial and leisure boat owners are looking for, with 40kW (≈55 hp) of continuous power, near-silent operation, and zero-emission propulsion. The product was designed for a range of vessels, including RIBs and powerboats with short and long shaft options available to accommodate different vessel requirements.
5. Nominees in European Powerboat of the Year for Electric Boat of the Year
The European Powerboat Awards are given out every January during the Düsseldorf Boat Show (‘Boot’) and nominees have now been selected in all categories, including the electric boats category which was introduced in 2025.
Up to five boats are nominated in each of seven categories with the prize awarded for a combination of design, innovation, performance, functionality and value for money. Below are the nominees in the electric boat category.
Frauscher x Porsche 790 Spectre
The electric powertrain of the Porsche Macan Turbo SUV serves as the beginning point of the 790 Spectre with Frauscher tailoring the hull specifically for high power, high speed propulsion. The PMS – permanent-magnet synchronous motors – deliver up to 400 kW (550 hp), backed with a 100-kWh battery. In July, at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, this truly stunning marriage of engineering and craftsmanship set the world speed record for production electric boats, with an average over two runs of 51.05 knots (94.54 kph / 58.75 mph).
Read about the Spectre 790 Speed Record at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
Lasai 32 KS
This 9.65-metre-long (32 foot) electric catamaran combines emission-free cruising with a good range and a very well designed comfortable living space. Despite its compact dimensions, the LASAI 32KS offers an impressive amount of usable space: the company says its 28 square metres (300 sq ft) of deck space is on a par with that of 40-foot boats. An inside cabin with a double bed and en-suite bathroom allows for overnight stays on board and longer cruises. The boat can accommodate up to 12 people.
Read Plugboats’ look at the Lasai 32 KS
Helios Omega 7.2
Winner of the Gustave Trouvé Electric Boat Awards in the Under 8m Category in 2025, the Omega 7.2 was developed from the ground up to maximize the benefits of an electric boat. It combines solar power, modern battery technology and smart connectivity into a coherent overall concept. At the heart of the Omega 7.2 is a 50-kW electric motor, powered by a battery with a choice of 18, 36, 54 or 72 kWh capacity. The system is supplemented by integrated solar panels with an output of 1.55 kWp. It has a range of up to 129 nautical miles on battery power alone, and up to 316 nautical miles with solar assistance. The cruising speed is 6 knots, and the top speed is 17 knots.
Read about the Helios Omega and all Winners of ‘The Gussies’ Electric Boat Awards 2025
Samar 50
The Samar 50 combines Mallorcan boatbuilding tradition with electric propulsion and a solar canopy that has an output of more than five kilowatts. With two 34-kilowatt electric motors, the Samar 50 typically reaches eight knots. Speeds of up to eleven knots are possible, and depending on the propulsion configuration, even 14 to 15 knots. A large main deck accommodates twelve day guests plus crew, a mobile swimming platform with shower makes it easy to jump into the water and there are two cabins and a shower room. In addition to the airy owner’s cabin in the bow, there is a second cabin with two single beds for children or guests.
Read the Plugboats look at the Samar 50
European Powerboat of the Year website
6. Taiga electric jetkis get geofencing for added safety and control
Electric jetski manufacturer Taiga has announced a major update to its operating system that incorporate and improves an array of advanced features, including inbuilt mapping and industry-first geofencing technology.
The geofencing allows the watercraft owner to define custom zones where its speed is automatically governed. This is a big feature for families with ‘enthusiastic’ young riders or for fleet owners where the riders have different amounts of experience. In that case rental operators can easily draw custom zones and self-guided routes away from shorelines and potential hazards.
Taiga can also work with local communities to implement pre-set geofences that automatically enforce safe, low-speed travel when riders approach sensitive ecological zones, wildlife habitats, or busy tourist areas.
“Our mission goes beyond simply being electric; it’s fundamentally improving how riders interact with the outdoors and communities around them,” said Gabriel Bernatchez, the CTO of Taiga. “With our industry-first geofencing, we are giving owners and fleet operators an unprecedented tool to automatically manage speeds in high-traffic and sensitive zones to provide silent, zero emission and safer riding experiences.”
The geofencing and other features in the OS have been designed as part of a foundational platform that sets the stage for continuous over-the-air updates and enhanced autonomous capabilities in the future.
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