The new, one-off, electric-powered runabout built by Spirit Yachts in England started life as the brainchild of an existing owner of a Spirit sailboat. The brief that he passed along to the builder was for a modern, efficient runabout that evokes the look of rum runners from the 1920s.
But then the project developed wings, or more accurately, foils. And it got an electric propulsion system.
Partnering with BAR Technologies, a leader in the field of marine foiling systems, Spirit was able to create an entirely new type of motorboat. The finished product, the F35, is not only classically beautiful, it is also very fast. Recently, it set a new speed record for an electric boat circumnavigating the Isle of Wight, slashing the existing record from six hours to one hour and 56 minutes.
Because of the low resistance of the foils, the F35 has a top speed of 30 knots and can run up to 100 miles at 20 knots. Up on its foils, the boat provides a smooth ride in seas of up to six feet, which seems remarkable since not many boaters will be heading out in a 35-footer with that large of a sea running.
The beautifully finished hull is made of cold-molded cedar planking skinned with carbon and epoxy. Many classic details from the 1920’s have been incorporated including a vintage steering wheel, old time instrument dials and a custom throttle.
A modern classic, the F35 truly combines the best of old-world motor boating with absolute cutting-edge electric and foiling technology. What fun. Read more in Forbes magazine here.
