Eight Reasons to buy a Hybrid Yacht
1. Fuel Efficiency
Hybrid yachts. Most people could be forgiven an initial assumption that the only significant reason to consider a hybrid yacht would be fuel economy. Hybrid yachts employ both high efficiency diesel engines and electric motors to turn a prop shaft and do indeed realize substantial fuel savings. With fully charged batteries, cruises to local destinations at a leisurely pace aboard a hybrid yacht can be enjoyed without burning a drop of diesel.
The cost of fuel continues an inexorable, world-wide march to ever higher average levels. However, among people with the means to purchase and maintain a luxury yacht the price of fuel is usually more of an annoyance than a “deal breaker.” Saving fuel is a benefit, of course, but there must be other reasons beyond mere fuel economy inspiring increasing numbers of boaters to conclude that a hybrid yacht is the most attractive choice. And there are.
2. Silent Cruising
Motor yachts can be noisy environments. Underway, everything on board a boat with old fashioned technology needs to be “turned up” to be heard over the 60, 70, or 80 decibel ambient noise level of the diesel powerplant. Quiet personal conversations are difficult- as everyone aboard raises their voice to a shout. To a degree, the throb of the engines detracts from the unique experience of being on the water. If the background noise is reminiscent of time spent aboard a jet aircraft, that’s remarkably dissimilar to the pleasant experience of gliding through the water while enjoying the cry of seagulls, the bark of a nearby sea lion, and the soft caress of the waves rippling along the length of the hull.
Hybrid yachts provide opportunities to cruise in relative silence. Perhaps not for an entire voyage, but in those splendid moments when just being underway in the glory of nature is even more attractive than “getting there” in a hurry, hybrid yachts can shut down the diesels and slip as unobtrusively along as a black cat through a shadow.
3. Less Maintenance
Virtually all marine diesel technicians agree that diesels fare best when run under significant load. Hours spent at idle speed, when transiting “No Wake” zones, trolling for fish, or waiting for a locking take more of a toll on the mechanical factors than the same time spent at cruising speed.
Hybrid yachts relieve the diesel engines of the low-speed duties, reserving diesel power for higher speed operations where an engine experiences less wear and tear per nautical mile. Hybrid yachts efficiently utilize both electrical and diesel power and use them in portions of the power curve where their respective characteristics are most advantageous.
Many diesel engine maintenance schedules, (i.e., oil changes) are dictated by engine hours. Hours that a hybrid yacht runs on electric motors that require little or no maintenance will extend the number of weeks or months before the diesel engines reach the next service interval.
4. Peace of Mind Through Redundant Power Systems
Motorized transportation of any sort carries at least a very slight risk of mechanical failure. Among the advantages always cited for owning a vessel with twin engines is “if one engine breaks down, you can always continue underway with the other.” It is also true that certain issues, (such as contaminated diesel fuel) can sometimes shut down both engines.
Owners of hybrid yachts enjoy additional peace of mind inspired by the knowledge that not only can their vessel be equipped with a second engine- but with a completely independent additional drive system. Should the diesel engine(s) fail on a hybrid yacht, with extended range battery options the electric drive systems can provide up to about 40 nm of electric propulsion. For most “coastal cruisers,” that will typically permit a boat to make the nearest port or landing.
5. Superior Ownership Experience
Although hybrid yachts represent a new concept for most builders, companies such as Greenline Yachts have built and delivered hundreds of hybrid yachts to date. Owners’ feedback has been both positive and enthusiastic.
Small differences add up to a significantly improved ownership experience. Imagine sitting at anchor for a weekend with all the electrical convenience and comfort systems available, using sunlight instead of a noisy generator to keep the batteries charged up.
If an early morning departure from a busy marina best facilitates the day’s cruising plans, there’s no need to wake the neighbors at 4 AM with idling diesels.
Want to socialize on the aft deck while underway at a slower speed? No reason to worry about exhaust fumes blowing back over the transom if the wind shifts or is generally from astern.
6. Lower Total Acquisition Cost
Purchase prices for hybrid yachts are about the same as a comparable diesel-powered vessels.
Many states and countries offer tax incentives for purchasing hybrid vehicles, and that includes yachts. In Washington state, for example, RCW 82.08.996 and RCW 82.12.996 offer a full exemption from sales tax for “new battery powered electric marine propulsion systems with continuous power greater than 15kW.” While sales tax varies slightly between counties in Washington, the sales tax exemption will typically be close to 10% of the purchase price.
7. Better Resale Value
A hybrid yacht operating in the electric-only mode does not advance the engine hour meter. In the same fashion that lower mileage can increase the resale value of a car or truck, lower engine hours tend to improve the resale value of a yacht.
Greenline Yachts have sold hybrids since 2008, and the occasional resale of some of those vessels suggests that hybrid yachts hold their value better than similar yachts with diesel-only propulsion.
As interest in hybrid and electric yachts continues to grow at a rapid pace, the technology will be increasingly in demand among buyers shopping for a used vessel. There’s seldom an upside to investing in an outdated design.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of traditionally powered yachts available for sale at any given moment. Demand for hybrid yachts is growing at a faster rate than used vessels are available in the market, creating a supply/ demand relationship that favors sellers.
Many taxing jurisdictions offer the same sales tax exemptions for the resale of a qualifying yacht. Reducing or eliminating sales taxes frees up funds that a prospective buyer can use to purchase a yacht at a higher price.
8. Eco-friendly operation
Few recreational pastimes depend more directly upon a healthy eco system than does boating. Everyone afloat will agree that, given the choice, they would prefer cruising through clean waters teeming with sea life, under smog free skies, and without storms severely exacerbated by climate change. Unfortunately, no single individual can make a personal choice to create such idyllic conditions, but owners of hybrid yachts reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses they generate underway and thereby participate in a collective decision to preserve the planet for future generations.
Hybrid yachts, such as those built by Greenline, are typically prepared to use photovoltaic cell (“solar panels”) to recharge the service batteries. Nothing is more renewable, or environmentally benign, than sunlight.
Greenline Hybrid Yachts
Greenline Yachts are the acknowledged leader in hybrid and all-electric yachts. They have been referred to as the “Tesla of the Seas.” Hundreds upon hundreds of discerning yacht buyers have selected Greenline Yachts since 2008. Greenline placed a bet on the future of hybrid and all-electric technologies at a time when most of the industry was still focused on trying to address 21st century realities with 19th and 20th century solutions.
The result of this innovation leaves Greenline in the unique position of being industry leaders in hybrid yacht and electric yacht technologies. Greenline Yachts were the first production hybrid yacht in the world and built their first hybrid yachts in 2008. They are now releasing their 5th generation hybrid system and have delivered over 600 hybrid yachts to date.
While other builders are still in the nascent stages experimenting with ways and means to “work around” the proven methods perfected and patented by Greenline; Greenline can rely on a momentum of expertise only achievable by doing things properly, successfully, and repeatedly.
Some shipyards around the world are building custom hybrid yachts in the 200 to 300-foot range. Greenline Yachts are more accessible to the non-billionaires, with a range of models from 33 to 68 feet in length.
Yes, hybrid yachts are indeed the up-and-coming technology - and for reasons that go far beyond greater fuel efficiency.
