New Sterk Yachts 31e has dual Vision Marine electric outboards

German performance boatbuilder Stern Yachts is going electric – working with Vision Marine Technologies on an optimized version of their Sterk 31 that will be powered by a dual E-Motion 180E electric powertrain system.

This marks the first dual application of Vision Marine’s system and is the result of a joint effort by the engineering teams of both companies. The Sterk 31e will be revealed in-water at the Bahia Mar G Dock of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) October 29 to November 2.

European supersport boats

The 31 (fossil fuel version) was the first model launched by Sterk after their moulding facility in Ukraine was destroyed in the war and production was moved to Germany in 2023. The boat rapidly gained attention for its combination of sportiness and comfort and was a Finalist in the 2023 Best of Boats Awards and Nominee in the 2024 European Power Boat Awards .

Sterk is led by boat builder Milan Sterk, designer Carlos Vidal and naval architect Sasha Vlad, each of whom have more than 20 years of experience in the maritime industry and came together to turn their visions of unique European supersport boats into reality.

Great know-how and high construction and engineering standards are essential for that vision and the short supply chains of a German-based production facility allow them to achieve another of their goals: minimizing overall ecological impact.

Sterk internal hulls reconfigured 

It is one of the reasons why, in April of this year, Sterk began working with Vision Marine to realize a commitment to an electric future and deliver a model and platform fully optimized and tailored to the specific demands of zero emission propulsion.

The first thing the Sterk engineers did was focus on refining the internal hull layout of Sterk vessels to house the batteries, BMS (Battery Management System) and other components necessary. Sterk’s engineers reimagined the internal configurations to support both three and four high-voltage packs—engineered for both single and dual outboard applications.

Some aspects of the 31 were already friendly for electric propulsion adoption. The supersport hull shape has been designed and refined through hundreds of hours of computational fluid dynamics testing (CFD) for an efficiency that enables smooth running and agile response even in rough conditions. It features a twin stepped deep V layout with strategically placed spray rails to enhance lift – reducing both water resistance and spray.

Extremely stable and lightweight composite materials specially developed for the 31 are handcrafted by Sterk specialists in a new proprietary manufacturing process. That lower weight increases energy efficiency and range. 

First dual 180e electric outboard system on production boat

The Vision Marine 180E electric powertrain system was one of the first high powered electric outboards on the market and has been installed by a number of boatbuilders as a single unit. This is the first time a dual system has been installed on a production boat.

The only other boats to carry twin 180e electric outboards were  a 32 Hellkats catamaran and a custom built cat from Sean Torrance S2 racing. Both of them went more than 100 miles an hour (160 kph / 87 kt) at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout races, and the S2 set a world record of 116 mph (186 kph / 100 kt)

Read: Behind the scenes at the Vision Marine electric boat speed record

Speaking of the new Sterk 31e, Alexandre Mongeon, Co-founder and CEO of Vision Marine Technologies, said “This collaboration has produced a purpose-built hull configuration tailored for high-performance electric propulsion. It represents tangible execution on our partnership with Sterk and underscores the scalability and commercial viability of the E-Motion platform in premium boat segments.”

Milan Sterk, CEO of Sterk Boats, added: “The Sterk 31 was designed from the outset as a high-performance platform, and working with Vision Marine we have proven that premium German design can be seamlessly matched with advanced high-voltage propulsion. This integration demonstrates how electric power can meet the expectations of demanding boaters, and we are proud to debut it at FLIBS.”

Sterk Yachts  Vision Marine Technologies