The new Pioneer 60 solar-powered cruising cat is the brainchild of German engineer and entrepreneur Mike Frank. He founded Pioneer Yachts earlier this year and hull number one –Pioneer One—will be launched in July.
The inspiration for the all-solar came for what Frank calls “a gap in the market.” He was looking for a fully sustainable power cat for his personal use but could not find what he wanted and required from any of the existing builders of solar-powered cat.
An engineer by training and a entrepreneur by vocation, he saw the opportunity to create a state of the art boat using the latest and most advanced technology in the rapidly developing field of electric propulsion.
Starting with a blank sheet of paper, Frank turned to two Italian firms for design work, Cossutti & Ganz for the hull design and Michelleti + Partners for the interior design and styling. The result will be highly efficient hull shapes and luxurious accommodations.
The 60 will have a top speed of 11 knots and a sustainable cruising speed of 7.5 knots. The battery bank will have enough capacity to run the whole boat from a full charge for 24 hours, it is estimated.
Frank plans to use the yacht personally, with his own experiences shaping future models. “Pioneer One will be more than a showcase yacht; it will become our operational reference platform,” Frank said in a statement. “By using the yacht ourselves and monitoring its performance under real conditions, we can continue refining the concept and ensure that future boats are shaped by practical experience.”
