Silent-Yachts, the pioneering Austrian company, is continuing its growth mode, just launching the first yacht, a Silent 60 solar-electric power catamaran, at its yard in Fano, Italy.
Silent bought the five-acre Fano yard last spring. It had been making its yachts in Thailand and Turkey. It launched its first 60 two years ago.
But the launch of its first boat at the Fano plant shows how rapidly Silent has grown, and signals the continued growth of the rapidly expanding solar-electric power market. Silent is building several other 60s in Fano for delivery this year, plus its first Silent 62, due in 2024, and its new line of Silent Tenders.
The new 60 is powered by two 250-kW electric motors, producing a top speed of 14 knots. The big cat carries 42 solar panels, producing 16kWh of solar energy. The yacht has a range of 100 nm a day running on solar power alone.
Designed as a blue-water, go-anywhere upscale cruising yacht, the Silent 60 has a high-performance, long waterline with a reverse bow. It has four cabins, although it can be built with six (if you want to cruise with a lot of friends or put the cat in the charter trade). The master stateroom is in the bow.
With just over a 29-foot beam (about half the boat’s length), the 60 has room for lots of social areas, including a light-filled salon, and an enormous foredeck for lounging and sun bathing. Aft, a platform can be extended from each hull to carry two jet skis, while a large platform in the middle is large enough to hold a 13-foot tender. A draft of just 3’ 2” means the new Silent can cruise in the thin waters of the Bahamas or elsewhere that most 60-foot yachts would have to avoid.
Silent-Yachts was founded in 2009 by Michael Köhler and his wife Heike after they spent 6,000 days cruising more than 75,000 miles around the world. It is now positioned to be a major player in the solar/electric market, producing a variety of yachts that do not rely on fossil fuel.
At the Fano launch, Köhler said that Silent cats “are built to last, and they are reliable ocean-going vessels. They require virtually no maintenance, especially compared to yachts with traditional combustion engines.” The batteries on the new 60 have warranties for eight years; the solar panels, for 25 years. Read more:
