Hybrid Watersports Boat Starting Demos

🖌️ HYBRID WATERSPORTS BOAT

Genesis Marine Technologies is preparing to launch public demonstrations of its Genesis 24 hybrid wakesurf boat in June 2025. Billed as the world's first hybrid-powered wake boat, the Genesis 24 combines electric propulsion with a gasoline auxiliary power unit (APU) to extend range and performance. The company describes the Genesis 24 as "designed by riders for riders," emphasizing its focus on efficiency, reliability, and performance.

The Genesis 24 features the proprietary Trident Hybrid System, which includes a high-performance electric motor and a gasoline-powered APU. This configuration allows the boat to operate in electric mode for up to three hours of wakesurfing or one hour of wakeboarding before requiring a switch to hybrid mode or a recharge. In hybrid mode, the APU charges the battery while underway, enabling extended use without the need for shore power.

Key specifications of the Genesis 24 include a length of 24 feet, a beam of 8 feet 6 inches, and a draft of 30 inches. The boat is equipped with a 135 kWh battery pack, delivering a maximum of 530 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque. It can accommodate up to 16 passengers and features a 4,500-pound ballast system that fills and drains in approximately four minutes.

The vessel's Gen X Hull Design is engineered to produce a 4-foot-high, 20-foot-long wakesurf wave, catering to enthusiasts seeking a high-quality surfing experience. The onboard Genesis Command Center, a 12-inch touchscreen display, provides intuitive control over various functions, including lighting, audio, ballast, and the Genesis Launch Control System.

Read more about this boat, here.

🌊 E1 SERIES

The E1 Series is the first world championship for electric foiling powerboats. Ten teams race identical RaceBird craft, each 7 m long, around tight courses in urban and coastal locations. The series is governed by the Union Internationale Motonautique and aims to combine competitive racing with coastal restoration programs. A specialized boat was developed for this series, called the Racebird.

The 2025 RaceBird measures 7 m in length and 2 m in beam, which widens to 3 m when the foils deploy. Its hydro-foil span is 0.5 m. The hull is a carbon-fiber composite monocoque. Dry weight is 800 kg; full race trim rises to 1,100 kg with the battery and safety cell installed. Propulsion comes from a 150 kW peak Mercury Racing electric outboard powered by a Kreisel 37 kWh, 518 V battery pack that weighs 246 kg. The boat reaches 50 kn (58 mph or 93 km/h) and rides 0.4 m above the water on its foils. On-board monitoring includes four water-entry sensors inside the battery and a conductivity probe in the cooling loop.

Several technical updates were made to the Racebird for this 2025 season:

• A bigger battery for a longer sprint format and stronger regenerative lift-off.

• Additional water-entry and conductivity sensors protect the high-voltage pack.

• Re-profiled foils use thicker root sections and tougher carbon inserts to cut fatigue at take-off, adding about 25 kg but improving stiffness.

• A new quick-release nose fairing reduces swap time for cameras and lidar used by broadcasters and marshals.

Past and planned races for Season 2:

• ✔︎ completed: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – 25 Jan

• ✔︎ completed: Doha, Qatar – 22 Feb

• ▶ upcoming: Dubrovnik, Croatia – 13–14 Jun

• ▶ upcoming: Lago Maggiore, Italy – 27–28 Jun

• ▶ upcoming: Monaco – 18–19 Jul

• ▶ upcoming: Lake Como, Italy – 22–23 Aug

• ▶ upcoming: Lagos, Nigeria – 4–5 Oct

• ▶ upcoming: Miami, USA – 7–8 Nov

🏄🏾‍♂️SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE WEEK

Electrification on a smaller scale. The Go Boat!

⚙️WEEKLY ARTICLES/TRENDS

• Candela C-8 Polestar Edition completes the first fully-electric crossing of the Mediterranean, running Spain → Ceuta and back on one rapid charge (link)

• Financial Times: Artemis Technologies’ “EF-12” hydrofoiling ferry enters service trials, previewing a 150-passenger version for Red Funnel on the Isle of Wight (link)

• Washington State Ferries confirms the 202 m Wenatchee will be retro-fitted for hybrid-electric operation; state budget commits US$900 m for the program (link)

• French start-up TEMO launches the TEMO 1000 portable electric outboard (1 kW) for cruisers up to 26 ft, debuting at the Annapolis Spring Boat Show (link)

• Charging-network firm Aqua superPower unveils its Electric-Boat Compatibility Testing Service at the Venice Boat Show, aiming to set safety benchmarks for DC marine fast-charging (link)

• Dutch newcomer Lumen Yachts makes its public debut in Venice, showing minimalist all-electric day-boats focused on silent running and recycled materials (link)

• ExploMar showcases a 300 hp “Wave 300” electric outboard in Venice, claiming high-performance parity with gasoline motors in the 300-hp class (link)

• Plugboats roundup notes 36 electric or hybrid craft and an “E-Regatta” featured at this year’s Venice Boat Show, underscoring rapid OEM uptake of battery and fuel-cell systems (link)