Earlier this week, Italian-Spanish shipbuilder Magonis announced it will be organizing test drives of its latest electric boats starting later in February from its nautical base in Barcelona, with March kicking off a European “roadshow” that includes Copenhagen, Stockholm, Venice, Geneva, Munich, Lago di Como, Sardegna, and Palma de Mallorca. Representing the entry-level to the electric boating market, according to a spokesperson, the company will soon show one of those units in the New York, South Florida, and West Coast areas of the U.S.

The star of the upcoming shows will be its new 18-ft (5.5-m) Wave e-550 boat equipped with a 30-kW electric motor. Last month the company announced the results of a sea trial with that boat, achieving a top speed of 22 knots—about 25 mph. It is a significant step forward from its previous electric boat offerings.

In the world of boating and lake fishing, electric boat motors aren’t new. They’ve mostly been used for docking maneuvers, low-speed fishing movement, and on lakes where ICEs (internal combustion engines) are prohibited. However, like the automotive industry, the marine industry is transitioning to electric propulsion for many more applications.

The Wave e-550, which made its world debut in May at the Venice Boat Show 2021, was already available with two Torqeedo electric cruise motor options providing 4 and 10 kW of propulsion.

The new “custom-made” 30-kW Mag Power motor, and another 18-kW unit, were developed with Huracan and Stealth Electric Outboards, respectively. The top Mag Power powertrain combines the 30-kW motor with a 30-kW·h battery featuring LiFePO4 chemistry. They successfully completed the company’s recent trials in Venice, Italy, where the city plans to electrify all boats by 2028.

“The Venetian Arsenal and the canals of Venice were the ideal settings for the world debut of the Magonis Wave e-550,” said Mathieu Quintart, COO of Magonis. He added that the electric propulsion system was integrated into a “hull designed for these engines and not simply adapted, as shown by the specific study of weight distribution to accommodate the batteries.

“In Venice, we established a lot of contacts and started major relationships with possible distributors,” he added. “We did so by presenting the Wave e-550, which has the second smallest motor among the four that we have on the list—the 10-kW Torqeedo Cruise. However, most requests were for the more powerful versions.”

Magonis has also tested the Wave e-550 and its 30-kW motor in the open sea—just off Sabaudia, Italy, where the vessel was built. The test confirmed the company’s design and development data: 22 knots of top speed and a range of 10 h at 3 knots. On a typical day at sea, cruising at speeds ranging from 3 to 22 knots, the Wave e-550 provided almost 2.5 h of continuous navigation with 18% battery power remaining at the end of the day.

The company attributes the Wave e-550’s performance to its low displacement (335 kg), obtained through the vacuum-infusion construction of the company’s exclusive Light X Pro technology.

“These trials confirmed that the possibilities of use of the new Magonis can be greatly expanded,” said Quintart. “Its name, Wave, is intended to emphasize its versatility, on a lake or at sea, and in all weather. With just 0.30 m depth of immersion, it is possible to venture almost to the shore in complete silence thanks to its electric propulsion, reaching the small coves that boats with internal combustion engines are banned from.”

As an international company, Magonis says it draws on different influences, from Catalan creativity and exuberance to Italian taste and technology. They are combined to create a boat that, in its 5.50-m (18.0-ft) length, or 4.96 m (16.3 ft) at the waterline, and 1.98-m (6.5-ft) width, provides all the comforts for an enjoyable day cruise, according to the company. The bowrider layout offers a bow area that can be transformed from a dinette into a sundeck, while the cockpit’s seats and protective windscreen guarantee comfortable and safe navigation.

Standard equipment on the Wave e-550 includes a 4-kg (11-lb) stainless steel dolphin striker and anchor, a bathing ladder with four large steps, and four designer stainless steel cleats. Stainless steel is used for the forward rail and windscreen uprights. Other options include a telescopic table, full teak deck, refrigerator, shower, anti-theft device, and an 8-m² (86-ft²) XXL awning supported by carbon uprights.

Another unique feature is the instrumentation display, which has been replaced by a waterproofed 13-in Apple iPad, which owners can carry with them. The boat includes a dedicated slot for charging smartphones, while music is provided by a 120-W Fusion system.

The Wave e-550 is priced from €33,485 ($37,665.10) to €68,900 ($77,501.13), which includes VAT.

 

Kevin Jost contributed to this article.