Silent-Yachts just sold the first Silent 100 Explorer catamaran, a 101-foot luxury yacht capable of crossing oceans under solar power. An Austrian company, Silent-Yachts says its new flagship, with a beam of 44’ 7”, has the living space equivalent to that found in a monohull half again its size. Hull number one will be launched in 2023.
Solar cells on the top of the four-deck Silent 100 Explorer provide up to 40kWp and feed a battery bank with a capacity of 800kWh. The yacht also has twin 340kW electric motors. It has an economical cruising speed of 6 to 8 knots, a cruising speed of 10 knots, and a top speed of 14 to16 knots.
It also has two or three gensets to provide back-up power. Since solar power is renewable, the 100 Explorer theoretically has unlimited range. In any event, it is similar in power to the Silent 60, the first solar-powered production yacht to cross the Atlantic (in January, 2018).
The sale “confirms the market’s interest in the superior comfort of catamarans and solar energy for propulsion needs, as well as all the household appliances on board,” said Michael Köhler, Silent-Yachts’ founder and CEO.
The new 100 is not without its head-turning features. Indeed, the array of solar panels in the hardtop slides opens to reveal a sundeck that can double as a touch-and-go helipad. You also could use that space as an outdoor gym, a dance floor, volleyball court, whatever.
The new yacht has five en suite guest cabins on the main deck and in the starboard hull, plus an enormous full-beam owner’s stateroom with a private office forward on the main deck. The aft section of that deck is occupied by a spacious salon and dining area. An open area aft on the main deck houses a hot tub, a bar, breakfast table and a sunbathing area on a panoramic balcony over the transom.
The wheelhouse on the upper deck connects to the captain’s cabin and has a sky lounge and bar, with al fresco dining facilities on the open aft deck. Up top, the fly deck has a second helm station and more sunbathing space, in addition to the open space under the sliding solar panels.
“The sheer amount of family-friendly space aboard the Silent 100 Explorer has to be experienced to be believed,” says Köhler. “It also means that clients are free to customize the arrangement according to personal preference. Do you want a gym or media room, a larger VIP suite, or a country kitchen on the main deck? No problem. The flexibility of the catamaran configuration means we can meet most requests.” Read more:
