All-electric high performance motor boats, long the dream of eco-aware, cost-conscious boaters have become a reality, thanks to a collaboration between two companies at the cutting edge of technology in their respective fields.U.S-based Johnson Controls, having already made the enormous financial investment necessary to make them market leaders in the production of Lythium-Ion batteries for mass-produced hybrid road vehicles, were able to come up with the affordable waterproof version that outboard engine manufacturer, Germany’s Torqeedo, needs to power up its new ‘Deep Blue’ system. All Electric Hi-Performance Outboard 'Deep Blue' in Action: Photo credit Torqueedo In due course, Torqeedo gathered laurels at the  Miami International Boat Show in February where Deep Blue won the Show’s annual Innovation Award in the propulsion category for being the world's first industrially produced 80 hp electric engine powered by batteries adapted specifically for the ma... [More]

"The most powerful outboard in the world" claimed newish U.S. company Seven Marine when they unveiled their 557 hp outboard at the NMMA Miami International Boat Show last month. The all aluminium 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine was sourced from GM where it normally growls under the hood of the Cadillac CTS-V sports sedan. Obviously a gas-guzzler, it seemed an interesting idea to juxtapose here Seven Marine's mutation of the 557 beast against an outboard from German manufacturers 'Torqeedo' which also employs cutting-edge technology to attain entirely different goals. First the big fellow that promises to push power boaters back in their seats when they open up the throttle.The Seven Marine 557 Outboard   (Photo courtesy of Seven Marine)   The basic premise that led to the adaptation of this auto engine for marine propulsion was that a pair of these powerful outboards would achieve the same performance for a 45-ft powerboat as would require the fitting of four 300-hp ou... [More]