Gussies electric boat award winner seeks investment to begin commercial production

May 29, 2026 Jeff Butler 0 Comments Optima

Optima Yachts of the UK, a winner in the 2024 Gussies International Electric Boat Awards, is looking for investors, operators or strategic acquirers that can take the Optima 14 and the company’s other recreational and commercial electric vessels into production.

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All of the Optima boats are designed around the company’s proprietary ultra-efficient hull technology, engineered using advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to dramatically reduce resistance and energy consumption. The result is a vessel capable of travelling over 150 nautical miles at comfortable cruising speeds.

This puts the hull in the top tier of (non-foiling) electric boats in terms of moving it through water using the least amount of energy. Having said that, not all electric boats are designed for the same kind of use. Many are designed to be planing boats, harbour workboats, or other vessels that are less concerned about this kind of cruising.

5 years of R&D for ultra efficient hull

The distinctive Optima hull is the result of more than five years of research and development and was supported by £1.6 Million (€1.85M, $2.15M) in innovation grants. It might be described as a ‘trimaran tunneling hull’. It has a central hull with ‘pontoons’ on either side, these adjacent mini-hulls having an extremely sharp V profile. They connect to the main section of the hull with an arching design that creates a sort of tunnel similar to the hulls used in speedboat racing.

What makes the Optima attractive for the large percentage of boat owners who are less concerned about engineering and more concerned about comfort is that the hull provides this efficiency while the rest of the boat has been designed to be spacious and elegant with all of the amenities one expects from a luxury yacht.

The 10.6-metre (35 ft) Optima e10 can accommodate up to 8 guests and has a double bed cabin, fridge/freezer, sink, induction stovetop hob/grill, hot waterdeck transom shower, electric toilet with holding tank and a high end 4 speaker audio system. The E14 electric award winning boat takes things to the next level, with a sunbed, central dining area and room for 12 guests.

First e-boat to circumnavigate Isle of Wight

In 2023, powered by a 40kW electric propulsion system, the e10 became the first electric boat to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight non-stop, completing the 55-nautical-mile journey while costing just £20 (€23, $27) to recharge.

Optima CEO David Kendall said “It was an incredibly comfortable and enjoyable trip – we were able to have lunch and engage in pleasant conversation on passage thanks to the good sea keeping of the innovative hull and noise reduction from the electric drive. We arrived back in Lymington as relaxed and refreshed as we started, despite some challenging conditions south of the island including thick fog and lively seas off St Catherine’s Point.”

Read: Optima e10 first electric boat to circumnavigate Isle of Wight

Optima has also developed vessels that target the expanding commercial marine opportunities in tourism, hospitality and urban waterfront mobility. Adaptable configurations for 12-passenger luxury water taxis, small ferries and larger models carrying up to 50 passengers use the Optima hull and electric propulsion to dramatically lower long term ‘re-fuelling’ costs.

These applications are also relevant for island resorts, waterfront destinations and municipalities seeking zero-emission transport alternatives in response to tightening environmental legislation and changing customer expectations. Many hospitality operators are increasingly looking to offer premium guest transfer experiences that align with wider sustainability goals, while governments continue to invest in cleaner transport infrastructure.

“We have spent years solving one of the biggest barriers to marine electrification – vessel efficiency,” said CEO Kendall. “We believe the business is now at an exciting inflection point and are looking for the right investment and ownership to take Optima to the next level, whether through commercial production, strategic partnerships or expansion into markets.”

For investors, operators or strategic acquirers seeking entry into the rapidly growing electric marine market, the opportunity represents the acquisition of proven intellectual property, validated technology and a highly differentiated platform positioned at the intersection of sustainability, efficiency and premium marine mobility.