Wanda III Steamship Goes Electric

🏄🏾‍♂️ PADDLEBOARD ELECTRIC CATAMARAN

Supmaran turns two inflatable paddleboards into a compact catamaran. Assembly takes under 15 minutes. The tubular steel frame, sunshade roof, two folding mesh chairs and 80 liter waterproof box sit between the boards. The frame uses straps and stainless‑steel ratchets. The full setup weighs 48 kg and supports 200 kg. The assembled dimensions are 3.20 m long, 2.00 m wide, 1.17 m high and drafts 30 cm.

The frame includes a motor transom for common electric trolling motors, rated up to 2.2 kW . The company recommends pairing it with a 12 V, 500 W motor such as the Talamex TM40 and a waterproof LiFePO₄ battery of 50 Ah or 100 Ah. With that setup, runtime ranges from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on load. Top speed reaches about 7–8 km/h.

The cargo box fits battery, gear and snacks. When the boards are detached, the frame and roof become a shelter on the shore. The roof, without its fabric, converts into a goal for ball games. Spare parts remain available for ten years. The frame has endured water‑exposure testing and holds international marine category D certification.

The founders, Martin Schwaiger and Gregor Schuster, began the concept in 2019. Their first prototype used bamboo rods and sun loungers. After four development stages, the design entered a crowdfunding phase in mid‑2024.

Supmaran blends paddleboard simplicity with electric boating potential. It packs into wheeled bags and fits in a car, yet forms a watercraft with seating, shade and storage. Quiet, simple, modular.

Read more, here.

⚓️ WANDA III STEAMSHIP GOES ELECTRIC

North of Toronto, Ontario is the Muskoka region. Cottages, lakes, and heritage steamships (among many others reasons to visit!). One of these grand steamships underwent a conversion to electric!

Wanda III’s comeback grew out of Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre (MSDC) “Steam to Green” push, which paired heritage restoration with zero-emission propulsion. The organization launched a campaign in 2019 to raise funding for Wanda’s electrification and restoration. The work was then folded into a larger museum expansion. MSDC also built a dedicated boathouse so the hull could stay wet year-round, extending the yacht’s life.

The team removed and preserved the original triple-expansion steam plant—now displayed at the Discovery Centre—and lowered an electric drivetrain into the engine room in late 2021. Transport Canada approvals required formal sea trials because the conversion touched structure, steering, electrics, and safety systems. After years of fitting out, testing, and regulatory work, MSDC announced in July 2025 that Wanda III had begun public cruises and was also available for charters.

The propulsion package is a twin-inboard electric setup. MSDC selected two Elco “100” motors rated at 74.6 kW (100 hp) each, driven by a lithium-ion battery bank (about 816 kg / 1,800 lb). For redundancy and range outside passenger service, the installation includes two Northern Lights 20 kW generator sets at 1,800 rpm. MSDC reports a practical sprint of ~14 knots that drains the batteries fast, with a normal cruise near 7 knots and about 54 km (33 miles) of battery-only range. The refit also added a bow thruster for low-speed handling, hydraulic steering, new wiring and controls, new bearings, stern gear and propeller, and modern navigation and comms. The preserved steam engine sits on display inside the museum.

During the summer, MSDC’s site lists one-hour sightseeing cruises on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at noon, boarding at the Muskoka Steamships dock, with additional runs promoted through their social channels. The museum also markets Wanda for private charters through the season.

From a program standpoint, this is a clean heritage-tourism showcase: the original engine remains intact for interpretation, while the yacht moves guests in near-silence under battery power. MSDC has said generators are there to extend range when needed, but the plan is to run passenger trips on batteries only. The conversion shifts emissions off the lake, cuts noise, and lowers maintenance; the boathouse and lift protect the hull and simplify service. It’s a useful template for museums and operators with historic hulls that can’t continue with coal or heavy fuel but can’t justify full diesel repowers either.

Read more about Wanda III (and the link to book ticket for a scenic cruise), here.

🖌️SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE WEEK

See a video of the Wanda III steamship (electric).

📅 WEEKLY NEWS ITEMS

Here’s this week’s scan (Aug 3–10, 2025):

• FlyTahoe and Candela demo’d the P-12 “flying ferry” tech for Lake Tahoe, previewing a 30-mph, low-wake electric commuter slated to launch service there. (Link)

• ePropulsion added factory packages with DuraNautic Boats and Grumman Canoes, giving both brands access to its full electric lineup for plug-and-play small-craft installs. (Link)

• Vision Marine/Nautical Ventures backed Shaun Torrente Racing for the 2025 Offshore Super Stock season, using competition to showcase its high-voltage electric propulsion. (Link)

• Photon Marine & Silverback Marine secured CARB CORE voucher eligibility for eight electric workboat configs—the program’s first electric outboard inclusion—starting this month. (Link)

• New York Harbor’s Governors Island route introduced the hybrid-electric “Harbor Charger” ferry, moving toward quieter, lower-emission service on the busy link. (Link)