Issue Number 100!

⚓️ ISSUE 100 - Thank you!

Thank you for subscribing and reading as we celebrate sending out our 100th issue of the eBoat Newsletter!

🌊 Miniboat

Miniboat is a French micro-runabout for canals, lakes, and sheltered coastal water. The single-seat layout takes cues from classic Riva lines with a low freeboard, a tulip bow, and a faux-wood foredeck. The craft fits the licence-free category in France and targets slow tourism, guided flotillas, and short family sessions.

The hull uses a polyester composite with an integrated deck cap. Length overall sits at 1.87–1.88 m, beam at 0.80–0.85 m, and draft at 0.50 m. All-in weight comes in at 65 kg with electric motor and battery installed. Freeboard stays low to keep the helm close to the waterline. The cockpit is a molded tub with a single bucket seat and bright deck veneer effect.

Propulsion comes from a Torqeedo electric unit adapted to wheel and side-lever controls. A matched lithium pack powers the drive. Endurance reaches four hours at canal speeds on one pack. Charging uses a shore charger at the base, and operators can swap packs to keep fleets in rotation.

Top speed hardware capability reaches 12 km/h on flat water, with regulated operation at 6 km/h on many canals. Steering uses an automotive-style wheel with cable linkage. The side lever provides forward, neutral, and reverse. The short waterline and low mass produce a tight turning circle. The electric drive keeps sound and vibration low, with little hull resonance.

Safety gear includes a kill switch and simple dash status lights. Stability benefits from a wide beam relative to length and a low center of gravity from battery placement. The step-in cockpit and grab points at the coaming ease entry and exit. The format suits rental bases, guided urban canal tours, hotel waterfronts, and private lakes. The footprint fits dense marinas and low quays or floating docks.

Design and development trace to Nantes, with production and final assembly in the Pays de la Loire region and assembly activity in Mayenne. Fleets operate in Sète and other towns under the Miniboat experience banner. The heritage runabout look invites first-time helms and expands waterfront programming without large-boat constraints.

🖌️ ILMOR ION

Ilmor’s ION is a 6 kW electric outboard for tenders, inflatables, small skiffs, and light runabouts. The motor runs on a 48 V architecture and comes from a company rooted in IndyCar and tow-sport inboards, which signals a focus on clean packaging and control integration for marine use. The drivetrain uses a brushless DC, direct-drive layout that removes a gearcase reduction stage and trims mechanical loss. Rated continuous output stands at 6 kW, with a momentary boost function to 7 kW on select variants announced with Tohatsu.

The motor head weighs 32 kg and mounts on short, long, or extra-long shafts at 25 in, 30 in, and 35 in. Integrated electric-hydraulic tilt and trim spans 9° to 73°. Standard rigging pairs to a remote throttle. Propellers ship as a three-blade with 10.8 in pitch, with a five-blade 8.4 in option for higher thrust at low speed or heavier hulls.

ION’s electrical system matches common 48 V banks. Ilmor lists lithium or lead-acid compatibility, and dealers note an operating window of 40–60 V for pack selection and integration. Corrosion protection supports fresh or salt water. A mechanical kill switch sits at the helm.

Helm interfaces center on a digital display with GPS, a full-color touchscreen command module, and keyless passcode start. The cowl carries addressable RGB lighting for status and style cues. These features ship as ION Vue, ION Ease, and ION Aura within the product line.

Ilmor reports range figures from testing on a Highfield 360E inflatable when paired with the matched lithium pack. The package covered about 17.6 miles at half throttle and about 9.3 miles at full throttle. A 4.4 kWh battery with an internal BMS and heater is available for cold-weather protection and managed charging.

Key specifications consolidate as follows: power 6 kW continuous with 7 kW boost on the Tohatsu-linked variant, system voltage 48 V, weight 32 kg, shaft lengths 25/30/35 in, brushless DC direct drive, integrated power tilt and trim 9–73°, remote throttle, three-blade 10.8 in pitch prop with optional five-blade 8.4 in, lithium or lead-acid pack support within a 40–60 V window, digital helm with GPS and touchscreen, RGB status lighting, keyless activation, kill switch, and fresh/saltwater readiness.

The ION target use case is urban lakes, resort marinas, and rental fleets that need low noise, low service load, and simple charging. The weight and shaft menu fit rigid inflatables and compact alloy hulls. The control suite aims to ease fleet oversight and first-time helms while preserving the look and feel of a premium outboard.

For more details, visit their website here.

⚙️ WEEKLY NEWS & EVENTS

1. Port Houston orders a 22 m hybrid-electric tour vessel (768 kWh ESS; Incat Crowther design, Breaux Brothers build; delivery targeted for 2026). Published Aug 26, 2025. (Link)

2. Harbor Charger delivered: NY State’s first hybrid-electric public ferry enters service for Governors Island (Conrad Shipyard build; Siemens hybrid system). Published Aug 27, 2025. (Link)

3. Damen launches latest Island Class for BC Ferries (diesel-electric hybrids, “electric-ready” for future shore power). Published Aug 29, 2025. (Link)

4. Wärtsilä to expand Wasaline’s Aurora Botnia to a 12.6 MWh battery-hybrid—the world’s largest in operation (integration and controls upgrade; commissioning early 2026). Published Aug 27, 2025. (Link)

5. US DOT announces $175M for ferry upgrades via FHWA Ferry Boat Program (state allocations include major ferry states; funding relevant to low/zero-emission projects). Published Aug 26, 2025. (Link)

6. Feature: “16 years with America’s first hybrid-electric passenger vessel” (M/V Explorer operational lessons heading into today’s hybrid/electric builds). Published Aug 25, 2025. (Link)