O Yachts just launched its first powerboat, Power Class 6, a “smart hybrid” that can run on all-electric power or on a combination of diesel and electric power. The 63-foot cat, made in Latvia, is innovative, spacious and extremely fuel efficient. In fact, it burns less than one liter (0.264 gallons) of fuel per mile at 10 knots.
O Yachts says the boat underwent two years of testing in the Med to get the right combination of power. It has two versions.
In the hybrid version, the company says the boat has a range of 3,000 miles. With a combination of diesel and electric power, it tops out at 13 knots, and consumes just one liter per mile at 10 knots. In this version, an 82-hp Sole diesel is in the port hull, while a 15kW electric motor is in the starboard hull with a 9kWh lithium battery bank.
The all-electric version has a 15kW electric motor in each hull; 5,000W solar panels are combined with the 19kWh lithium battery bank for silent, eco-friendly operation.
The Class 6 is lightweight, with a displacement of just 23,000 pounds, and is made of carbon composite in the hull and bulkheads. The interior can be highly customized. The cat can be delivered essentially as a bare boat or as a complete cruiser. The basic boat has two cabins, with en suite heads, in each of the two hulls Depending on its power and interior arrangement, the boat can serve as everything from a long-range cruiser to a dive platform or a harbor cruiser for marine tourism.
The Class 6 cat has a pronounced “spine” set between the two hulls. It’s a longitudinal beam that is designed to pierce the waves to provide a more comfortable ride in heavy seas; it provides extra buoyancy and keeps the nose up.
Specs.: LOA: 63’0”; Beam: 31’0”; Draft: NA; Disp.: 23,000 lbs.; Fuel: 211 to 924 gals.; Water: 211 to 396 gals.; Power: 2x15kW electric engines; 1x15kW electric and 1×82-hp Sole diesel.
