Silent Yachts
Creators of the world’s first series produced, solar-powered electric yachts.
Unlimited Range
Noiseless cruising, zero emission, minimal maintenance, pioneering solar powered yachting since 2009.
The Original Solar Yacht
As the original inventors of series produced solar-electric yachts, we pioneered this innovative approach. Our first model, the Silent 64, was launched to the market in 2016, several years before any other shipyard considered the possibility of going electric.
Leading Technology
Our founders began to research alternative energy sources to power yachts during the mid 1990s. Today, the technology of our in-house developed solar-electric drivetrain has been perfected and is multiple generations ahead in terms of reliability, performance and efficiency.
Historical Track-Record
In 2009, the Solarwave 46 was launched as our first prototype of a fully solar-electric, self-sufficient ocean-going catamaran. Since then, our electric yachts have cruised many 10.000s of nautical miles, performing flawlessly during a variety of weather conditions.
Enabling Self-Sufficiency
What differentiates a Silent is the unprecedented level of autonomy provided by our yachts. Being able to produce your own energy enables a fully self-sufficient lifestyle on board. Travel the oceans sustainably while making them your infinite playground.
The award-winning entry to solar-electric yachts.
Timeless design meets state-of-the-art technology.
120 Explorer
The boldest expression of solar powered yachting yet.
What Makes Us Unique
The tranquility on board of our yachts is unique. A lack of noise, fumes and vibrations create a deep connection with the sea. Luxury and sustainability finally merged into a holistic experience, working hand in hand with nature by minimizing the impact on the marine environment without compromising comfort.
For optimal performance and efficiency, our solar-electric drivetrain integrates seamlessly with all onboard systems. Compared to fossil fuelled powertrains of motoryachts, electric powertrains have very few moving parts, resulting in minimal maintenance, maximum reliability and significantly lower running costs.
The ability to recharge your own batteries with the sun marks a new era of freedom. Depending on cruising speeds and weather conditions, a Silent has virtually unlimited range, enabling you to live a fully self-sufficient lifestyle on board. Unbound by the limitations of fossil fuels, you are free to explore the horizons.
The technology powering our yachts today has been pioneered by our founders almost three decades ago. Continuous upgrading and steady optimization of the entire system are some of the key reasons our in-house developed solar-electric drivetrain offers a comprehensive portfolio of assurances and warranties.
Why Silent Yachts
A sensible approach to yachting which works in self-sufficient harmony with nature and creates a completely new experience on board.
Tech Corner
Why a Solar Powered Yacht?
Let’s break down the advantages of harnessing the sun’s energy for yacht propulsion: solar power offers remarkable efficiency, significant environmental benefits, and an unmatched synergy with the yachting experience. Join us as we dive into the future of sustainable yachting and discover how solar-powered yachts are revolutionizing the seas.
Living on a Silent 62 Solar Electric yacht
Silent Yachts’ range is designed to harness the power of the sun, providing green energy and silent cruising. But what can owners truly expect? How much power does the Silent 62 use while cruising? In this article, we evaluate a typical day onboard the Silent 62, based on actual data from our yachts.
Silent Yachts’ shining debut at the Venice Boat Show 2024
Silent-Yachts emerges stronger under new ownership
New Silent Drivetrain
Tech shorts 2023
Electric power event on the water
Shipyard tour Italy by Michael & Heike
“The Tesla of the seas! An amazing founding couple, a highly innovative product as well as a really cool story behind it. Furthermore, a lot of love and attention has been invested into every single detail – truly impressive!” Frank Thelen / TV Personality, Founder, Angel Investor & Disruption Expert
While the present has brought us the dawn of smart cars, I strongly believe the future will bring us solar powered smart boats – and I definitely want to be at the frontline of that journey. Michael Jost / Former Head of Group Strategy of Volkswagen Group
The idea of sailing while charging your own battery is super powerful to me – solar powered sailing is the perfect love story! Jochen Rudat / Former Tesla Central Europa Director, Advisory Board Silent Group
Elon Musk single handedly forced an entire industry to go electric, as a matter of fact if they don’t all go electric now they will soon die. I would like to see the same thing happening for boating. You are not just selling boats – you are the actual leading edge of a crucial and much overdue revolution to sustainable transport!” Klaus Obermeyer / Emmy Award Winner
I am completely excited about solar catamarans. I knew before they are great but now I truly believe this is the future. After so many boats I’ve seen in over 18 years with Boote Exclusiv, this yacht truly blew my mind. Such a silent and peaceful cruising experience – just the way it should be. Martin Hager / Editor in Chief for Boote Exclusiv - Yachts
- Blue Planet
- Destinations
- Yachts For Sale
- Yachts For Charter
Silent 60 solar catamaran launched in Thailand
BY APB Staff on 27 May 2021
Austrian-owned brand reveals the first hull of solar-electric catamaran, which will be available for charter, with eight more under construction. The Silent 60 features a kite wing, which generates more power than a conventional sail
Credit: Jorgen Udvang
Silent-Yachts has revealed the first hull of its Silent 60 solar electric catamaran, which was launched recently at the Austrian builder’s facility in Thailand.
This is the first unit of the new model, with eight more hulls are currently under construction. A total of 17 Silent 60 models are under order.
The 18m catamaran is built with a compact kite wing from Wingit, which is a special kite-sail system that generates more power per square metre than conventional sails.
The system only requires a two-foot mast to hoist the kite, and can increase the boat’s speed by up to 5 knots, as well as reducing the consumption of the e-motors to increase range. The entire system, including winches, masts and ropes, can be stored in a dedicated box in the bow when not in use.
The Silent 60 has 42 powerful solar panels, which ensure 17 kWp of power and silent propulsion.
“The kite system sounds like the perfect match for windy days together with the electric propulsion system of Silent-Yachts,” said the German owner of the first Silent 60. “I am an enthusiast of new technologies which help, little by little, to overcome the ecological challenges we are facing today.”
The owner plans to use his Silent 60 for a few weeks per year and will make it available for charter.
“I thought it would be a pity to leave the boat unused for the rest of the time, and I have decided to rent the boat on a daily or weekly basis to anybody who is interested in trying out this wonderful yacht for a day trip or for a longer holiday with flexible routings,” he said.
The boat can be handled by two people, and has space for additional water toys , SUPs, kayaks and e-bikes to be stored in the bridge deck.
The Silent 60 offers a flexible layout. The first has four guest cabins on the lower deck, including a spacious master suite. There are many social areas on board: an airy main saloon, an aft cockpit, bow seating and a flybridge.
The new model has a draft of less than 1 metre, which allows it to reach shallower bays that are common in Southeast Asia. The Silent 60 has two swimming platforms in the aft which can optionally be extended by 90 cm to carry a pair of electric jet skis. A liftable hydraulic platform can also be enlarged to carry a larger tender.
The Silent 60 is designed as an ocean-going cruising yacht. It can cruise efficiently for up to 100 miles a day for weeks. The arrangement of the components enables the system to power all onboard systems without the need for fuel to power a generator.
The yacht’s cruising speed is 6-8 knots, with a maximum speed of 20 knots.
Rendering of ‘Silent Island’ resort
In December 2020, Silent-Yachts announced it was to begin work on ‘Silent Island’, a solar-powered island retreat in The Bahamas . The private tropical hideaway in Eleuthera will include 16 waterfront villas and eight custom solar-powered Silent catamarans, along with a beachside clubhouse, resort-style pool, restaurant, bar, fitness room, game room, and a spa.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: SILENT 60
Length overall: 17.99 m Beam overall: 8.99 m Draft: 0.93 m Light displacement: 29 tonnes Water: 1.000 L Wastewater: 2 x 500 L Fuel: 1.600 L Motors (electric): up to 2 x 340 kW Solar Panels: 42 / 17 kWp Battery capacity: 286 kWh Cruising Speed: 6-8 knots Top Speed: 20 knots CE Certification: A Kite size: 13 sq. m (standard version 9 sq. m) and 150 m line length Kite features: autopilot incl. line sensor set high load and kite sensor
www.silent-yachts.com
Copy short link
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the biggest stories from across the Asia Pacific, direct to your inbox each week
- THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
- Email Newsletter
- Yacht Walkthroughs
- Destinations
- Electronics
- Boating Safety
- Ultimate Boating Giveaway
Greener and Better: the Silent 60
- By Chris Caswell
- December 16, 2022
If there was any question that the “Tesla moment” has arrived in yachting, the Silent 60 clearly provides a positive response.
Consider, for a moment, crossing oceans in silence at 5 to 6 knots without consuming a drop of fuel and never needing to plan your course between fuel stops. Imagine sitting at anchor and running the air conditioning all night, not to mention all the galley appliances plus the washer-dryer, without the hum or fumes from a genset.
During my time aboard the Silent-Yachts 60, the electric yacht cruised easily at 8 knots. When I whipped out my sound meter, it barely registered 52 decibels, which is about the sound of a dishwasher. The Silent monitors at the helm showed we were charging our 286 kWh lithium batteries at more wattage than we were using to spin the 340 kW motors, so we were ahead of the power-usage game—and this was in South Florida rain under a solid cloud layer. Had we upped the ante to the yacht’s top speed of 20 knots, it would have been drawing from rather than adding to the batteries, but the speed capability gives skippers the option to outrun weather (or just get to the best moorings first).
The Silent 60 is a catamaran design for several reasons. First, the twin hulls are easily driven to minimize the power needed. Second, with nearly 30 feet of beam, there is enough deck area for the solar panels needed to create power.
Buyers can choose as many as six staterooms, each en suite with stall showers and nearly king-size berths. The salon also uses that beam well, providing bowling-alley space under 7-foot-6-inch headroom. With the Silent 60, the interior is basically a blank sheet, allowing buyers to tailor the layout to their cruising needs.
As for the engine rooms, NASA could take a page from Silent-Yachts: Everything is precisely labeled, placed for easy access and surgery-suite spotless. Externally, the Silent 60 is striking, with reversed bows and black graphic slashes on the topside that conceal dark-tinted windows (which provide bright, airy interiors to the staterooms). What catches the eye most, however, are the 42 solar panels that cover every inch of the cabin top as well as the hardtop over the flybridge. Produced by SunPower in California, these panels feed power to a lithium battery pack reportedly good for 3,000 charge cycles—or an estimated 35 years of normal boating use.
The Silent 60 I got aboard, which was Hull No. 3, had a four-stateroom layout. A larger stateroom forward in the starboard hull served as the master, with an athwartships berth, settee and built-in vanity. This yacht also had a walk-through Dutch door forward in the salon next to the helm, leading to settees on the foredeck as well as providing salon ventilation. Another benefit of the door for short-handed cruisers is quick access to the anchor gear under the foredeck.
Owners can sacrifice the forward door in favor of a forward master stateroom with a king berth just a couple of steps below the salon and an en suite head in the starboard hull. An intriguing design feature is the two outward-facing “window seats” indented into the stateroom on each side deck, which would make a wonderful spot at anchor with a good book.
The salon has a fixed dining table that easily seats eight people on the wraparound settee. There also are loose chairs and a pad just forward for lounging. The helm is raised one step and has twin Simrad multifunction displays plus the Silent systems monitor, all easily understood.
Aft and to port, the U-shaped galley has a dishwasher as well as a full-height fridge to starboard. The fridge setup may change to a pair of undercounter drawer fridges on future boats for easier access and to eliminate a blind spot for the skipper.
Abaft the galley, a window slides open for easy pass-through to the cockpit to serve whatever the cooks have prepared using the Hafele four-burner, two-zone cooktop.
The Silent 60 is a work in progress, and additional changes might be on the way, such as the addition of twin berths that slide together, and a different location for what is now the midsalon washer-dryer (in a console abaft the helm). This hull was built in Thailand, but production is moving to Italy.
Still, the yacht has exceedingly clever design ideas, such as the hinged hardtop on the bridge. The top lowers electrically to seal off the bridge from the weather as well as keep the solar cells from being shadowed. The bridge itself is conventional, with a double-wide helm seat to port that reverses to create wraparound seating for the dining table, and double lounge pads for relaxing, not sunning, since the solar panels take up every bit of sun space.
The cockpit has a settee and an L-shaped table. A hydraulic swim platform is available in varying widths to handle up to a 13-foot tender without impinging on the platforms on either hull. Silent-Yachts also gets points for good walk-around decks protected by toe kicks as well as welded stainless-steel rails.
The Silent 60 is on the leading edge of a greener yachting experience. For cruisers who are looking to lessen their carbon footprint while enjoying some quietude at sea, this yacht is worth serious consideration.
Built for Safety
Future Silent 60s from Italy will have fully resin-infused fiberglass sandwich construction with carbon reinforcements in high-stress areas. Each of the hulls has watertight bulkheads, sealed floors and three collision compartments for enhanced safety. The foam sandwich core provides thermal and sound insulation.
Kite Sailing
One option available on the Silent 60 is a kite-wing propulsion system using a collapsing mast and hidden winch to fly a 140-square-foot sail. (By comparison, a Laser sail is 76 square feet.) With open ocean breezes of 17 to 21 knots, the builder says the kite can power the Silent 60 at 6 to 7 knots alone, or it can bump the speed with motors to go faster than the usual 8-knot cruise speed.
Big Sisters
In addition to the Silent-Yachts 60, the boatbuilder has 62-, 80- and 120-foot electric power cats available for owners looking for something bigger. Additionally, it recently started work on the hybrid-powered Silent VisionF 82.
Take the next step: silent-yachts.com
- More: Catamarans , Electric , Electric Boats , October 2022 , Power Catamarans , Reviewed , Silent-Yachts , Solar Powered Yachts , Yachts
- More Yachts
Austin Parker Launches Two New Yacht Series
Customize Your Ride: The Argos Nautic GT14 RIB Tender
Alia Yachts to Debut SAN Superyacht in Monaco
Discover the Top Power Catamarans for 2024
A Standout New Brand
Low-Hour Cruiser: Sea Ray L550 For Sale
Caribbean Cruiser: Sanlorenzo SL72 For Sale
- Digital Edition
- Customer Service
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Use
- Email Newsletters
- Cruising World
- Sailing World
- Salt Water Sportsman
- Sport Fishing
- Wakeboarding
- TYS Pattaya 2022 Supporters and Partners
- Past Supporters and Partners
- REGISTRATION
- Why Exhibit?
- Stand Enquiry
- Exhibitor Profile
- Become A Partner
- Plan Your Visit – Phuket
- ATTEND AS MEDIA
- STAND ENQUIRY
- VIP VISITOR REGISTRATION
- IN THE PRESS
- LATEST NEWS
SILENT-YACHTS HANDEL GMBH
The Silent 55 is the first and only oceangoing solar-electric production catamaran in the world. The yacht uses silent electric propulsion for unlimited range with no noise or fumes and minimal vibration, she is self-sufficient and virtually maintenance-free. The Silent 55 is available in several power configurations to suit a variety of cruising applications. All of them stick to the Silent-Yachts philosophy of relying chiefly on solar power for propulsion and onboard power needs.
REGIONAL BROKER:
SILENT-Yachts Handel GmbH
Mathias May
DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SALES
+43 (0) 664 357 0570
www.silent-yachts.com
| LOA (FT)
| BEAM
|
| MAX. DRAFT
| MAX. SPEED
|
| CABINS
| YEAR
|
| BUILDER
| |
| DESIGNER
| |
| BROKER
| |
Primary Color
Secondary color.
PMG Shipyard launches the Silent-Yachts 62, the World’s Largest Solar Powered Yacht
PMG Shipyard launched the fifth Silent-Yachts from its shipyard in Rayong, Thailand on November 28, 2023. RAYONG, Thailand – Imagine sailing across the ocean on a luxurious catamaran that runs on clean, renewable energy. No noise, no fumes, no fuel costs. Just the sun, the wind, and the waves. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, for some lucky yacht owners, this dream is already a reality. Thanks to PMG Shipyard, a leading yacht builder based in T…
Coverage Details
Bias distribution.
- There is no tracked Bias information for the sources covering this story.
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
Similar News Topics
First Silent 60 Solar Electric Catamaran with Kite Wing Launched
Silent Yachts has increased its fleet of innovative oceangoing solar electric catamarans with the new Silent 60 which has been launched recently at Silent Yachts production facility in Thailand, led by the Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Guénat. This is the first unit of the model, while eight more hulls are currently under construction and 17 are ordered in total. What makes it even greener is that it was built with a kite wing, a special system that, in contrast to conventional sailing yachts, does not require a big mast and the kite sail generates much more power per square metre than a conventional sail. Silent Yachts offers the optional available kite-sail system for all their models.
“The kite system sounds like the perfect match for windy days together with the electric propulsion system of Silent Yachts,” says the German owner of the first Silent 60. “I am an enthusiast of new technologies which help, little by little, to overcome the ecological challenges we are facing today.”
Greener than before
The Silent 60 carries a light compact kite wing from Wingit that does not require a big mast to hoist the kite and it´s also easy to use. A kite wing that operates in such heights generates up to 10 times more power per square metre than a conventional sail.
How does the kite wing system work? There is a dedicated box in the bow area of the Silent 60 which contains the kite (the sail is 13 sqm) including all its components (winches, mast, ropes etc). Here the entire system is also stored, when not in use.
To launch the kite, it’s only required to set up a small mast which is only two feet high with four stays (6 mm Kevlar ropes) that need to be fixed to four foldable pad-eyes (this takes a few seconds). After taking out the kite, it gets pumped up with an electric pump that is in the box as well (this takes only a few seconds), you switch on the winch, throw the kite overboard where it will drift away with the wind and then the kite can start from the water by pulling the ropes. When in the air, the automatic steering can take over - the pulling rope is released until the kite is more than 120 meters above the boat and it starts to paint a huge ‘8’ in the sky.
Bringing it down is the reverse process. The automatic control moves the kite to a position right above the boat where it has the least pull on the rope, then the owner or a crew member winches the kite down electrically, pulls the right rope so that the kite collapses above the front deck. Now, the kite gets put back into the bag and stored in the box.
The advantages of the kite wing
There are three major advantages of the kite wing for the yacht. First, extra propulsion. The kite can pull the 30 ton Silent 60 with about 4-5 knots and it reduces the consumption of the e-motors, thus extending the range. The already green solar electric catamaran gets greener and more eco-conscious this way. Second, emergency. If a floating fishing line gets entangled in the propellers, a kite can serve as a reserve propulsion that enables the boat to get to a protected place where the rope can be cut and the prop set free. Last but not least, fun and joy. It is great to see the kite high up in the air, pulling the boat with the power of the wind.
A new high performance hull form
The Silent 60 also has a new high-performance hull form that is optimized with CFD study, with longer waterline and reverse bow. Its exterior design’s signature details are long window stripes at the sidewall of the hull and more window surface overall.
“I want to congratulate our entire team with this successful project”, said Michael Köhler. “The Silent 60 is the first example of a new generation of solar electric catamarans that we produce and many more will follow. We are happy to provide sustainable, emission-free solutions for yachting enthusiasts that want to make the world a better place.”
The owner plans to use his Silent 60 for a few weeks per year and will make it available for charter.
“I thought it would be a pity to leave the boat unused for the rest of the time, and I have decided to rent the boat on a daily or weekly basis to anybody who is interested in trying out this wonderful yacht for a day trip or for a longer holiday with flexible routings,” he said.
A flexible layout
The boat can be handled by two people with ease and offers plenty of space for families and crew. For adventurers, additional water toys, SUP´s, kayaks and e-bikes can be stored in the bridge deck.
The Silent 60 offers a flexible layout. The first has four guest cabins on the lower deck, including a spacious master suite. There are many social areas on board, an airy main saloon, an aft cockpit, a cosy bow seating and a flybridge. The yacht has higher headroom everywhere (up to 230 cm in the saloon) and more powerful solar panels (42 pieces for 17 kWp against 30 for 10.8 kWp on the Silent 55).
The new model has a draft of less than 1 metre, which allows it to reach shallower bays that may be crucial for areas like the Caribbean and South East Asia. The Silent 60 has two swimming platforms in the aft which can optionally be extended by 90cm upon owner’s request. In this case, the boat may carry a pair of electric jet skis. A liftable hydraulic platform, which is located between the two swimming platforms, can also be enlarged from the standard 3.7m x 1.7m to 4m x 2.4m to carry a larger tender – up to 350 kg and 4m long.
Next level technology
The Silent 60 is equipped with the company’s aeration system, which provides cool and fresh air to all accommodations, heads, and in the saloon. The airflow in each space is individually adjustable and can be used when the weather conditions require the windows to be closed. In addition, a reverse-cycle heat-pump system heats the interior when necessary, ensuring all-season comfort. The insulated hull ensures efficient achievement of desired onboard temperatures.
The new catamaran - thanks to its advanced conveniences - offers a comfort level that sparks peace of mind. A water-maker powered by the solar-electric system, produces enough water to supply a full six-stateroom company with reasonable rate of consumption. All on board appliances operate on the 220/110-volt system. The galley has refrigerator and freezer space to sustain the crew and an efficient induction cooktop, precluding the need for carrying propane.
Transoceanic range
The Silent 60 is designed to go everywhere as a true ocean-going cruising yacht. It can cruise efficiently for up to 100 miles a day for weeks. At the same time, the arrangement of the components enables the system to power all on board systems without the need of fuel to power a generator. The yacht’s cruising speed is 6-8 knots but it may be fast when needed reaching 20 knots maximum speed.
Silent 60 Brief Specification
Length overall: 17.99 m
Beam overall: 8.99 m
Draft: 0.93 m
Light displacement: 29 tons
Water: 1.000 L
Wastewater: 2 x 500 L
Fuel: 1.600 L
Motors (electric): up to 2 x 340 kW
Solar Panels: 42 / 17 kWp
Battery capacity: 286 kWh
Cruising Speed: 6-8 knots
Top Speed: 20 knots
CE Certification: A
Kite size: 13 sqm (standard version 9 sqm) and 150m line length
Kite features: autopilot incl. line sensor set high load and kite sensor
Post your comment
You cannot post comments until you have logged in.
No one has commented on this page yet.
RSS feed for comments on this page | RSS feed for all comments
Search articles with keywords
Silent Yachts
The tesla of boats: silent yachts ramps up production of its electric catamarans.
Silent Yachts, which has been described as the “Tesla of the seas”, is ramping up production of its electric catamarans.
The company now has 10 boats under construction and they are increasing production capacity to be able to produce dozens of electric boats a year.
That may not sound like a lot, but boat production can be a slow process and is difficult to deploy at scale for larger vessels like the Silent Yachts electric catamarans.
They have been delivering electric catamarans for years and now have a full line up of three boats: 55-ft, 60-ft, and 80-ft.
These boats are all powered by solar power and batteries.
Depending on the size, they can produce between 10 and 26 kW of solar power and be equipped with 150 to 532 kWh of battery capacity.
The latter is the equivalent in energy capacity of more than 5 Tesla Model S sedans.
Silent Yachts can be solely powered by clean energy with the solar panels and batteries feeding electric motors or use a generator depending on your type of use.
Here the company produced a video showing a typical use case of a Silent Yacht:
Silent Yachts has now delivered 11 electric yachts that are currently on the water, but they are seeing strong demand and ramping up production.
Plugboats reports:
“To meet demand, Silent-Yachts has new shipyards in Thailand and Italy. The Asian yard, about 220 km from Bangkok, is led by Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Guénat and is the largest privately-owned shipyard in South East Asia. In Fano, Italy, a series of Silent 60s are now under construction and a second line is being set up to provide capacity for building 15 Silent 60s a year.”
On top of those 15 Silent 60s, the company is currently building one Silent 55, its entry-level boat, and 4 Silent 80s, its biggest vessel.
Starting at roughly $2 million, we are not talking about cheap boats, but the price is actually competitive with non-solar/battery vessels of that level of capability and luxury.
Here are a few picture of the Silent Yacht 55:
Silent Silent Yacht 55 Exterior
Silent Yacht 55 Interior and Deck:
Electrek’s take.
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of living on a boat, but I could never live with the idea that I’d be burning fossil fuels in our beautiful oceans.
Enters electric and solar-powered catamarans. A game changer that enables you to match the romantic boat lifestyle with a clean, zero-emission experience.
Something is captivating to the core about the idea of traveling the world by sea purely on solar power. It just feels right to me. After all, this entire planet is naturally solar-powered. Why shouldn’t our lifestyle be the same?
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Fred is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at Electrek.
You can send tips on Twitter (DMs open) or via email: [email protected]
Through Zalkon.com, you can check out Fred’s portfolio and get monthly green stock investment ideas.
Fred Lambert's favorite gear
Zalkon Green Stock Ideas
Get interesting investment ideas by Fred Lambert
ChargePoint Home charger
ChargePoint Home WiFi Enabled Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger
Manage push notifications
- AMERICA'S CUP
- CLASSIFIEDS
- NEWSLETTERS
- SUBMIT NEWS
New breed: first Silent 60 solar electric catamaran with kite wing launched
Related Articles
- Nautic Shows
- America’s Cup
- Classic Yachts
- Motor Yachts
- Sailing Yachts
- Superyachts
- Yachts News
- Destinations
- Yacht Clubs
- Yacht Club Monaco
- Boat Racing
- Meta Yachts
Headlining the news is the announcement that Austrian-owned Silent-Yachts has been restructured as Silent Group comprising several distinct divisions.
Silent-Yachts: Offering fully electric, solar-powered catamarans from 60-120 feet for noiseless, zero-emission cruising. In addition, from now on a new sub-division will also build hybrid yachts that make use of both conventional propulsion and renewable solar energy. The first hybrid yacht is an 82-foot model to be built in partnership with VisionF Yachts.
Through the cooperation with VisionF, Silent-Yachts aims to support the Turkey based shipyard towards making their catamarans more sustainable. The extended hardtop flybridge of the so-called Silent VisionF 82 is fitted with a large solar array and a powerfull battery bank in order to provide sufficient energy to power all household and comfort appliances on board. As a result, guests will be able to enjoy the noiseless Silent experience without compromises when anchoring in a bay or docked in a marina. The alliance showcases the willingness of Silent-Yachts to assist other manufacturers to reduce their vessels dependency on fossil fuels by incorporating the proven solar technology of the Austrian pioneer.
Silent-Tenders: Offering a new range of electric Silent tenders, starting with a model of 4 metres in length. Further models will be announced during 2022.
Silent-Management: Offering the full spectrum of management services for Silent clients, from documentation, flag registration, certification and inspections to crew hiring, charter and yacht management, maintenance and servicing.
Silent-Charter: Offering Silent yachts for charter from the fleet base in Port Adriano, Mallorca and around the world.
Silent-Brokerage: Offering brokerage services for pre-owned vessels for sale by Silent and its clients.
Silent-Resorts: Stunning zero-carbon, ultra-sustainable resorts with luxurious beachfront solar-powered residences.
Silent-Shop: A web-based outlet for electric water toys, smart electric gadgets as well as Silent merchandising products.
New production sites The Silent Group can draw on three production facilities around the world. Its shipyard on Italy’s Adriatic coast has five construction sheds with 22,000 m² of covered space and about the same area outside for building the Silent 60 series & and the Silent 80 series.
The Swiss-owned and managed PMG Shipyard in Thailand builds the Silent 60 series. The yard has a 20,800-m² facility in Rayong with dedicated areas for each stage of the production process.
A new partnership with Coşkun Bayraktar in Turkey, founder of the Viaport Group has opened up more production opportunities. Bayraktar, who also owns VisionF Yachts in Istanbul, has invested considerable manpower in recent months to start up production of the Silent 60 series, Silent 80 series, SILENT 100 series as well as the new Silent VisionF 82. Boats of each series are already being built in Turkey. Including the Tuzla Viaport Marina, the copperation with VisionF Yachting provides access to more than 100,000 m² of production area.
Record sales in 2021 – the current order book 2021 was a record-breaking year for the brand with 21 yachts sold. There are 17 yachts currently in build at different stages of production, among them eight Silent 60 series, six Silent 80 series, two Silent VisionF 82 and the first Silent 120 (ex-Silent 100).
Upcoming new launch The next unit to be launched will be a Silent 60 – Front Exit version. The solar electric catamaran will touch the water this month February 2022 and will head straight to the US where the owner is waiting. Another Silent 60 Front Exit will be launched by April and will be followed by more yachts later this year.
“I’m immensely proud of what Silent-Yacht has achieved over the years,” says Silent-Yachts founder and CEO Michael Köhler. “After beginning our research into solar yacht technologies in 2004, the company has evolved and expanded and last year’s sales show that we continue to grow. We are now a truly international Group with diverse interests requiring more extensive resources and production space. This enables us to collaborate with other shipyards such as VisionF to assist them in harnessing solar technology as a step towards a more sustainable future.”
- Silent Yachts
RELATED ARTICLES
Discover the new moody ds48: where luxury meets innovation on the open seas, mirarri enata luxury yacht: a bold move in futuristic vessel design, damen yachting introduces the xplorer 80, vision turns view: the first unit of the widercat 92 hits the water, most exciting new yachts at the venice boat show.
Subscribe to our newsletter
To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.
LATEST ARTICLES
Outstanding racing at the 60th edition of rolex big boat series, editor picks, nautic magazine and duward watches announce prestigious collaboration: introducing the aquastar summer sailing 2024 bcn edition, canadian beau lake introduces the tahoe ’14 and lugano ’14 electric runabouts, underwater adventure and exploration with deepflight’s super falcon 3s, popular posts, mirabaud sailing video of the century: celebrating 2 decades of passion, young designer of the year 2022: ioana valentina corcodel reveals 65m ophelia concept, the nacra15 world championships open in la grande motte, france, popular category.
- Regatta 848
- America's Cup 502
- Motor Yachts 264
- Boating 220
- Superyachts 191
- Sailing 188
- Yachts News 174
- Sailing Yachts 167
Review: Silent 55, the extraordinary solar powered yacht
- January 18, 2019
Silent Yachts is tapping into the solar zeitgeist and creating a new meaning for the term ‘powercat’. Sam Fortescue reports
There is a slow, silent revolution under way in the yachting world. It is a revolution that is introducing tonnes of lithium and a sprinkling of silicon to the spec list of new boats. Holding out the promise of silent mobility, plus limitless domestic power on board, it made a big splash at the last Cannes Festival of Yachting – not least thanks to the new Silent 55 catamaran which debuted there.
From the pontoon side, the Silent 55 looks like a typical modern catamaran, with a big coachroof studded with windows and a flybridge helm. Except there’s no mast. Now, bear with me here. I realise that this is a sailing magazine, but we will shortly get back to more familiar territory. The unique qualities of this catamaran only become apparent from up top, where an expanse of solar panels stretches away fore and aft, embedded into the coachroof. The hard top itself carries yet more panels, and can be folded down flush to give an unshaded solar array of 49m2. During the heat of a summer day in the Med, this is capable of generating 10kW of power and up to around 60kWh in the course of the day.
But to make a solar system work in reality, Köhler had to go back to the drawing board on yacht design. The saloon and hulls have extra thermal insulation to keep air-con losses down, and the use of carbon and aramid in key areas helps reduce the overall weight to a decent 17 tonnes (a Lagoon 52 weighs 22.5 tonnes). He has tried to keep windows out of the direct sun with long overhangs and in contrast to the Lagoon’s 12 deck hatches, the Silent 55 has just two.
Holistic design
On the other hand, it has lots of opening windows, to allow a natural draught to do its job. “It’s a holistic approach – you can’t take the batteries and the drivetrain and drop it into another boat.”
Of course, using the propulsion system quickly takes its toll of the boat’s 140kW battery bank. The model on display at Cannes had two 135kW motors, giving you just half an hour of silent motoring flat-out, albeit at a top speed of over 20 knots. More reasonable 30kW engines and a single-digit speed give you greater range. Nonetheless, the electric drive alone isn’t going to allow you to outrun a storm, or race home after a day at anchor, so the boat is designed to work with a generator hidden in the heavily insulated transom of its starboard hull. At cruising speed of around 5-6 knots, Köhler says there is rarely any need to use the generator, citing an owner who has just emailed him triumphantly about a second year totally generator-free. “In the end, you have to compare it to the performance of a sailing boat,” Köhler says. “It is as fast as a sailing boat in similar conditions – after all, there is no wind without sun.” He went so far as to tell me during the sea trial in Palma, Mallorca, that he believed the majority of sailors would happily dispense with the hassle of sails and a rig if only they could enjoy silent motoring and anchoring. “As soon as people realise the incredible concept of this boat, they won’t understand why they ever did anything else.”
The market does not seem to agree with him – yet. Sales of the boat have been good – they have already sold six, five of which are already in the water. But of those, four customers have taken the sail option, which means planting a 19.7m tall mast complete with boom and rigging slap bang in the middle of the coachroof solar array. “I was a bit amazed,” Köhler admits. “The shade from the rig reduces the energy generated by the solar area, while it costs more and is heavier, so consumes more fuel. Maybe it is for optical reasons.” In fact, the shade of the rig slashes the average yield of the solar panels in half. In the Med, that means around 30kWh per day. But perhaps it figures. The typical profile of buyers is an environmentalist who has a Tesla electric car and is “an early adopter who likes to have things before others”. And at low speeds, with modest use of the air-con, the reduced energy generation should still cover daily consumption.
The performance under sail should be reasonable because of the lightweight build of the boat, its broad 8.47m beam and stub keels added to each hull. Control lines are led back via conduits in the coachroof to the flybridge helm station, to make single-handing under sail a possibility.
More interesting, I think, is a sort of halfway-house option using a kite rig. This optimises the performance of the solar panels and gives plenty of propulsion. On the smaller 55 and the 64, Silent Yachts currently recommends a 19m2 kite that costs around €25,000 – a fraction of the cost of a new mast, boom, shrouds and sails. “The sail automatically makes a figure of eight above the boat, and you can steer it with a joystick or an app on an android phone,” Köhler explains. “It can propel the 55 at up to 6 knots, even in light winds.” Perfect for an Atlantic crossing, then.
For the bigger Silent 79, which will hit the water in the summer, a commercial grade Sky Sail system needs to be used – a smaller version of the ones used on cargo ships. This kite can propel the boat at ten knots, but it costs more than ten times as much as its smaller cousin. Both are capable of pulling the boat upwind. So far, so new. But outside the novel energy and propulsion system, the Silent 55 aims to do what many other cruising catamarans are trying to achieve. “Most of our clients order for circumnavigation and long-term cruising,” Köhler says. So the boat is aimed to be as comfortable and capable as possible with watermakers, TVs and an induction hob that all capitalise on the boat’s abundant energy. A flexible configuration allows owners the choice of between three and six cabins – the latter designed for charter. The owner’s cabin lies forward of the saloon, under the windows of the coachroof, which provide magnificent views and abundant natural light. There’s a walk-around bed and steps down into the starboard hull give access to an en-suite shower room and heads.
In my view, the best cabin lies aft of this, accessed in the traditional manner down steps out of the saloon. The king-sized bed lies athwartships and the shower is larger than that of the master cabin. There’s more space down here, better headroom and still plenty of light courtesy of the many hull lights.
When I had the chance to sea trial the Silent 55, albeit in motorboat format, I jumped at it. It was a contrary autumn day on Mallorca with 15 knots breeze – just a shame, then, that this wasn’t one of the sailing configured versions.
To start with, getting on board is made really easy courtesy of deep boarding platforms on the skirts. She feels rather square because of that vast, glazed saloon with its deep overhang, and perhaps because of the utilitarian nature of the hard top, which is really about supporting more solar panels. Nevertheless, the side decks are broad and uncluttered. The space up top is designed to concertina down flat, hence the hydraulic rams, fold-down seat back and lowering console. It makes a great sailing position, though, with all round visibility, and is also perfect for sundowners at anchor. When the rain comes down, this feels quite exposed, but there is a fully sheltered helm at the front of the saloon, and it is also possible to drive the boat from anywhere using a tablet thanks to smart electronics. Under power, the handling is superb. The quietness of the motors is astonishing, and I gather they’ll be inaudible on the next boat, which will do away with the gearbox. Even in the aft cabins, directly above the motors, there is no more than a distant hum. The boat responds instantly to the power and the wind seemed to have no impact at all. As with any propulsion system, the power consumption jumps as you pile on the speed – it was sobering to see. At 6 knots, both motors drew 10kW but at 8 knots it was closer to 30kW. I liked the huge saloon with its raised table for 360º views. And the sliding door and window gives great access aft, connecting the saloon and cockpit in fine conditions. The finish was smart and in muted tones, feeling more Scandinavian than German.
Intriguingly, at least it seems to me, Köhler has tapped into something with the concept behind Silent Yachts – but not entirely for the reasons that he expected. Buyers are opting for the sail or kite versions of the boat because they want a comfortable wind-powered craft with abundant, quiet energy on tap. It brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘powercat’
Multihulls: new yacht reviews
Yes, the racing world is stretching the boundaries, with 100ft foiling maxi trimarans tearing around the globe and F50s, the…
Multihulls: owners’ experiences and reviews
They have two different boats, different sailing plans and two very different sets of experience. But what these cruisers have…
Flagship: Silent-Yachts to boost global production with restructure and partnership
|
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Our first model, the Silent 64, was launched to the market in 2016, several years before any other shipyard considered the possibility of going electric. Our founders began to research alternative energy sources to power yachts during the mid 1990s. Today, the technology of our in-house developed solar-electric drivetrain has been perfected and ...
The Silent 60 has 42 solar panels. Silent-Yachts has launched the first hull of its Silent 60, while eight more hulls are currently under construction among a total of 17 orders. The first unit was built at the PMG Shipyard in Rayong, Thailand, where several more hulls are being built, while others are under construction in Silent's facilities in Italy.
The first Silent 60 solar-electric catamaran during sea trials in the Gulf of Thailand CATAMARAN SPECIALIST. Promoting itself as a 'Custom Yacht Builder', PMG Shipyard focuses on catamarans, whether solar-assisted like the shipyard's own Heliotrope line launched in 2013 or fully solar-powered like the Silent-Yachts models, which it has also been building since 2019.
Yacht Style reviews the first Silent 60 as she cruises out from Port Adriano in Mallorca, where the Thailand-built solar-electric catamaran showed off her towing kite. ... Now based in Spain, hull one of the Silent 60 was built by PMG Shipyard in Thailand . The Silent 60 is the first in a new wave of models by Silent-Yachts that build on the ...
Credit: Jorgen UdvangSilent-Yachts has revealed the first hull of its Silent 60 solar electric catamaran, which was launched recently at the Austrian builder's facility in Thailand.This is the first unit of the new model, with eight more hulls are currently under construction. A total of 17 Silent 60 models are under order.The 18m catamaran is
The Silent-Yachts Silent 60 is an environmentally friendly, bluewater catamaran with 42 solar panels and four staterooms. ... This hull was built in Thailand, but production is moving to Italy. Still, the yacht has exceedingly clever design ideas, such as the hinged hardtop on the bridge. The top lowers electrically to seal off the bridge from ...
The first of these SILENT-60 solar yachts was built in Thailand, but the company plans to build future units in Italy. Furthermore, Silent Yachts has already shared design plans for a SILENT-80 ...
silent-yachts handel gmbh The Silent 55 is the first and only oceangoing solar-electric production catamaran in the world. The yacht uses silent electric propulsion for unlimited range with no noise or fumes and minimal vibration, she is self-sufficient and virtually maintenance-free.
PMG Shipyard launched the fifth Silent-Yachts from its shipyard in Rayong, Thailand on November 28, 2023. RAYONG, Thailand - Imagine sailing across the ocean on a luxurious catamaran that runs on clean, renewable energy. No noise, no fumes, no fuel costs. Just the sun, the wind, and the waves. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, for some lucky yacht owners, this dream is already a reality.
Silent Yachts has increased its fleet of innovative oceangoing solar electric catamarans with the new Silent 60 which has been launched recently at Silent Yachts production facility in Thailand, led by the Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Guénat. This is the first unit of the model, while eight more hulls are currently under construction and 17 are ...
"To meet demand, Silent-Yachts has new shipyards in Thailand and Italy. The Asian yard, about 220 km from Bangkok, is led by Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Guénat and is the largest privately ...
8. 9. 10. Silent-Yachts has increased its fleet of innovative oceangoing solar electric catamarans introducing the new Silent 60 that has been launched recently at Silent-Yachts production facility in Thailand, which is led by the Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Guénat. This is the first unit of the model while eight more hulls are currently under ...
Silent-Yachts is the brainchild of bluewater cruisers Michael and Heike Köhler, who have sailed and cruised more than 6,000 days and 75,000 nautical miles around the world. ... Thailand and Turkey, with a total book of 55 finished and unfinished models from 60 to 120 feet, according to Philip Bell, Silent-Yachts' director of North American ...
May 24, 2021. 2298. Silent-Yachts has increased its fleet of innovative oceangoing solar electric catamarans introducing the new Silent 60 that has been launched recently at Silent-Yachts production facility in Thailand, which is led by the Swiss entrepreneur Philippe Guénat. This is the first unit of the model while eight more hulls are ...
The Swiss-owned and managed PMG Shipyard in Thailand builds the Silent 60 series. The yard has a 20,800-m² facility in Rayong with dedicated areas for each stage of the production process. ... Silent Yachts transforms into Silent Group, expands production. Record sales in 2021 - the current order book 2021 was a record-breaking year for the ...
Silent-Yachts has showcased its first Silent 60, which carries 42 solar panels for 17kWp of solar energy and is further boosted by the brand's optional kite sail system. ... Built in Thailand and now based in Mallorca, hull one has twin 250kW e-motors, a 100kW generator and 210kWh battery storage. However, the Silent 60 has a wide range of ...
This kite can propel the boat at ten knots, but it costs more than ten times as much as its smaller cousin. Both are capable of pulling the boat upwind. So far, so new. But outside the novel ...
The electric catamaran builder Silent-Yachts has rebranded as Silent-Group and is boosting global production capacity to meet soaring demand, after forging a new partnership with VisionF Yachts. ... Silent-Yachts also builds the Silent 60 in the Swiss-owned and managed PMG Shipyard in Thailand. This yard has a 20,800m² facility in Rayong, on ...
Silent-Yachts has announced the appointment of Asiamarine as a new exclusive dealer in Asia Pacific. Investments & Expansions Silent-Yachts appoints Asiamarine as new exclusive dealer in Asia Pacific. Written by Sophie Spicknell. Tue, 14 Mar 2023 | 15:00.
Silent-Yachts was created to build solar-electric yachts, so reducing the carbon footprint and striving for sustainability is part of our DNA.". Austrian-owned Silent-Yachts, which builds in Italy, Thailand and China, is moving from niche to mainstream with its increasingly popular and increasingly large solar-electric 'powercats'.
Find power catamarans Silent Yachts for sale in Thailand, including pricing info, photos, and more. Find your boat on iNautia!