silent yacht 55 range

• Yachting World
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Review: Silent 55, the extraordinary solar powered yacht

• January 18, 2019

Silent Yachts is tapping into the solar zeitgeist and creating a new meaning for the term ‘powercat’.  Sam Fortescue reports

There is a slow, silent revolution under way in the yachting world. It is a revolution that is introducing tonnes of lithium and a sprinkling of silicon to the spec list of new boats. Holding out the promise of silent mobility, plus limitless domestic power on board, it made a big splash at the last Cannes Festival of Yachting – not least thanks to the new Silent 55 catamaran which debuted there.

From the pontoon side, the Silent 55 looks like a typical modern catamaran, with a big coachroof studded with windows and a flybridge helm. Except there’s no mast. Now, bear with me here. I realise that this is a sailing magazine, but we will shortly get back to more familiar territory. The unique qualities of this catamaran only become apparent from up top, where an expanse of solar panels stretches away fore and aft, embedded into the coachroof. The hard top itself carries yet more panels, and can be folded down flush to give an unshaded solar array of 49m2. During the heat of a summer day in the Med, this is capable of generating 10kW of power and up to around 60kWh in the course of the day.

But to make a solar system work in reality, Köhler had to go back to the drawing board on yacht design. The saloon and hulls have extra thermal insulation to keep air-con losses down, and the use of carbon and aramid in key areas helps reduce the overall weight to a decent 17 tonnes (a Lagoon 52 weighs 22.5 tonnes). He has tried to keep windows out of the direct sun with long overhangs and in contrast to the Lagoon’s 12 deck hatches, the Silent 55 has just two.

Holistic design

On the other hand, it has lots of opening windows, to allow a natural draught to do its job. “It’s a holistic approach – you can’t take the batteries and the drivetrain and drop it into another boat.”

Of course, using the propulsion system quickly takes its toll of the boat’s 140kW battery bank. The model on display at Cannes had two 135kW motors, giving you just half an hour of silent motoring flat-out, albeit at a top speed of over 20 knots. More reasonable 30kW engines and a single-digit speed give you greater range. Nonetheless, the electric drive alone isn’t going to allow you to outrun a storm, or race home after a day at anchor, so the boat is designed to work with a generator hidden in the heavily insulated transom of its starboard hull. At cruising speed of around 5-6 knots, Köhler says there is rarely any need to use the generator, citing an owner who has just emailed him triumphantly about a second year totally generator-free. “In the end, you have to compare it to the performance of a sailing boat,” Köhler says. “It is as fast as a sailing boat in similar conditions – after all, there is no wind without sun.” He went so far as to tell me during the sea trial in Palma, Mallorca, that he believed the majority of sailors would happily dispense with the hassle of sails and a rig if only they could enjoy silent motoring and anchoring. “As soon as people realise the incredible concept of this boat, they won’t understand why they ever did anything else.”

The market does not seem to agree with him – yet. Sales of the boat have been good – they have already sold six, five of which are already in the water. But of those, four customers have taken the sail option, which means planting a 19.7m tall mast complete with boom and rigging slap bang in the middle of the coachroof solar array. “I was a bit amazed,” Köhler admits. “The shade from the rig reduces the energy generated by the solar area, while it costs more and is heavier, so consumes more fuel. Maybe it is for optical reasons.” In fact, the shade of the rig slashes the average yield of the solar panels in half. In the Med, that means around 30kWh per day. But perhaps it figures. The typical profile of buyers is an environmentalist who has a Tesla electric car and is “an early adopter who likes to have things before others”. And at low speeds, with modest use of the air-con, the reduced energy generation should still cover daily consumption.

The performance under sail should be reasonable because of the lightweight build of the boat, its broad 8.47m beam and stub keels added to each hull. Control lines are led back via conduits in the coachroof to the flybridge helm station, to make single-handing under sail a possibility.

More interesting, I think, is a sort of halfway-house option using a kite rig. This optimises the performance of the solar panels and gives plenty of propulsion. On the smaller 55 and the 64, Silent Yachts currently recommends a 19m2 kite that costs around €25,000 – a fraction of the cost of a new mast, boom, shrouds and sails. “The sail automatically makes a figure of eight above the boat, and you can steer it with a joystick or an app on an android phone,” Köhler explains. “It can propel the 55 at up to 6 knots, even in light winds.” Perfect for an Atlantic crossing, then.

For the bigger Silent 79, which will hit the water in the summer, a commercial grade Sky Sail system needs to be used – a smaller version of the ones used on cargo ships. This kite can propel the boat at ten knots, but it costs more than ten times as much as its smaller cousin. Both are capable of pulling the boat upwind. So far, so new. But outside the novel energy and propulsion system, the Silent 55 aims to do what many other cruising catamarans are trying to achieve. “Most of our clients order for circumnavigation and long-term cruising,” Köhler says. So the boat is aimed to be as comfortable and capable as possible with watermakers, TVs and an induction hob that all capitalise on the boat’s abundant energy. A flexible configuration allows owners the choice 
of between three and six cabins – the latter designed for charter. The owner’s cabin lies forward of the saloon, under the windows of the coachroof, which provide magnificent views and abundant natural light. There’s a walk-around bed and steps down into the starboard hull give access to an en-suite shower room and heads.

In my view, the best cabin lies aft of this, accessed in the traditional manner down steps out of the saloon. The king-sized bed lies athwartships and the shower is larger than that of the master cabin. There’s more space down here, better headroom and still plenty of light courtesy of the many hull lights.

When I had the chance to sea trial the Silent 55, albeit in motorboat format, I jumped at it. It was a contrary autumn day on Mallorca with 15 knots breeze – just a shame, then, that this wasn’t one of the sailing configured versions.

To start with, getting on board is made really easy courtesy of deep boarding platforms on the skirts. She feels rather square because of that vast, glazed saloon with its deep overhang, and perhaps because of the utilitarian nature of the hard top, which is really about supporting more solar panels. Nevertheless, the side decks are broad and uncluttered. The space up top is designed to concertina down flat, hence the hydraulic rams, fold-down seat back and lowering console. It makes a great sailing position, though, with all round visibility, and is also perfect for sundowners at anchor. When the rain comes down, this feels quite exposed, but there is a fully sheltered helm at the front of the saloon, and it is also possible to drive the boat from anywhere using a tablet thanks to smart electronics. Under power, the handling is superb. The quietness of the motors is astonishing, and I gather they’ll be inaudible on the next boat, which will do away with the gearbox. Even in the aft cabins, directly above the motors, there is no more than a distant hum. The boat responds instantly to the power and the wind seemed to have no impact at all. As with any propulsion system, the power consumption jumps as you pile on the speed – it was sobering to see. At 6 knots, both motors drew 10kW but at 8 knots it was closer to 30kW. I liked the huge saloon with its raised table for 360º views. And the sliding door and window gives great access aft, connecting the saloon and cockpit in fine conditions. The finish was smart and in muted tones, feeling more Scandinavian than German.

Intriguingly, at least it seems to me, Köhler has tapped into something with the concept behind Silent Yachts – but not entirely for the reasons that he expected. Buyers are opting for the sail or kite versions of the boat because they want a comfortable wind-powered craft with abundant, quiet energy on tap. It brings a whole new meaning to the 
term ‘powercat’

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Silent Yachts 55 is the Quiet Powercat

• By Phil Draper
• Updated: April 16, 2019

For a quiet yacht, the first Silent-Yachts 55 power catamaran has made a lot of noise. It is the world’s first mainstream yacht with a fully functioning solar installation as standard power.

And it works: When I got aboard a 55 in Spain’s Balearic Isles, it had been cruising for a month without any need for a port or marina services. My arrival was an excuse for the skipper to top off the tanks and fire up the generator for the first time in days.

The yacht comes in three versions: Cruiser (which is what I got aboard), E-Power and Hybrid. Cruiser is solar-focused. E-Power ups the capability of the e-motors as well as the batteries, while Hybrid has twin diesels and electric motors to offer 20-knot speed.

In all the power configurations, solar panels cover most of the Silent 55 ‘s upper surfaces. There are 32 panels in all, comprising a 527-square-foot, 10 kW array.

Beneath those solar panels is a thoroughly modern cruiser with a variable-speed 100 kW Volvo Penta D3-220 generator, a 140 kWh lithium-ion battery bank from MG Energy, Brusa chargers and inverters, and twin brushless 135 kW UQM electric motors whisking straight shafts and four-blade, fixed-pitch props. A control system integrates everything in an easy-to-use format.

“This solar-power installation works properly because we have taken a holistic approach,” says company founder Michael Kohler, an Austrian lawyer and yachtsman with several transatlantic crossings and tens of thousands of sea miles under his belt. He developed the solar concept with Hamburg, Germany-based iYacht.

“You can’t start with a conventional design and install unconventional systems,” he says. “That would not work. Almost every aspect of this model’s specification has been considered from an energy-efficiency perspective.”

Solar-powered boats are destined to function almost exclusively in sunny-weather zones, meaning there will be high demands on air conditioning systems. So the Silent 55’s hulls are insulated, resulting in less unwanted heat entering the boat and less cold air escaping. All of the hull and superstructure glazing limits greenhouse effects with shading and angled glass, to reduce ultraviolet radiation.

Similarly, there are just two deck hatches aboard the Silent 55, whereas a conventional cat of this size may have a dozen. The conventional yacht would probably require 80,000 to 100,000 Btu of air conditioning in the Caribbean or Mediterranean, ­whereas the Silent 55 has a 50,000 Btu system, drawing less power.

Interestingly, the hotter the solar panels get, the less efficient they become. Ventilation has to be effective above and below the photovoltaic cells. The panels aboard the Silent 55 convert around 22 percent of the total energy received into ­electricity. Ten years ago, the best panels converted about 14 percent.

During a typical summer day in the Med, Kohler says, the Silent 55 can produce 50 to 60 kWh with 10 kW power-generation peaks. Putting that into perspective, normal energy demands would be around 10 kWh. With energy-efficient appliances and systems installed, the yacht should support four to six people’s worth of cooking, refrigeration, lighting, hot water and air conditioning.

Cruising ranges depend on load and power-generation variables. At around 5 knots, the 55 could cruise for 20 to 25 nautical miles with the A/C working. The top speed is probably around 14 knots, but for less than an hour. The Silent 55 that I got aboard in Spain had just completed a 70-nautical-mile passage between the closest bays of Mallorca and Ibiza. The passage took about 12 hours using only solar generation and stored battery power, at an average speed of 5.8 knots, Kohler said. Her diesel generator was not used at all, although on arrival, her batteries were almost empty.

At an average 4-knot pace with the watermaker aboard, she’s virtually self-sustaining, Kohler says. She has the potential to achieve 100-nautical-mile days. With generator help at around 7 knots, she should manage 360 nautical miles before refilling her diesel tanks, which hold 159 gallons total. The generator kicks in automatically when battery levels fall below preset parameters, and switches off when a sufficient charge returns. During my test cruise between Puerto Portals and Santa Ponsa, which is about a dozen miles, the limits were set at 30 percent and 70 percent, respectively, and the generator hadn’t been run for at least three days, during which she had covered a relaxed 40 to 45 nautical miles around Mallorca’s coast. And she didn’t need to run the generator overnight with the A/C on.

Beyond her power setups and capabilities, the Silent 55’s outdoor areas deliver the usual walk-around features of a catamaran: side decks, a foredeck with trampoline loungers, and a full-beam aft deck, whose setup is open to client interpretation. The 55 that I was aboard had a dining table, double sofas and a raised a sun pad that could be replaced by an optional hydraulic tender platform.

The deckhouse includes a galley aft, an amidships sofa and table to port, and a helm station to starboard. The forward owner’s stateroom is wide with well-shaded wraparound windows and portlights at varying heights. There are three other guest staterooms, all en suite with the same matte oak veneers.

The Silent-Yachts 55 creates relatively green cruising with notable range for a solar-powered craft. Though she runs quiet, her mission rings out loud and clear.

Silent 79 The next model from Silent-Yachts will be the Silent 79. While the company developed the Silent 55 and 64 models with iYacht in Germany, the Silent 79 is the work of Marco Casali in Italy and Enrique Castilla’s Inseval studio. Lamination of the first 79 is expected to commence this year.

Sails Be Gone The first four Silent 55s, delivered in 2016, were sailboats with masts and booms towering above the solar panels. The first true power catamaran is new, and the founder of Silent-Yachts says the design improves on efficiency; the shade from sails significantly impairs the efficiency of the solar panels.

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SILENT Yachts

SILENT 55 – The award-winning solar yacht

In November 2019 the SILENT 55 won the “Best of Boats Award” in the “Best for Travel” category.

This special category is defined as “suitable for long-distance travel with all the amenities to live permanently on board, adapted to both inland waters and the harsh conditions at sea”.

In general, it can be handled easily by two people, which makes the SILENT 55 ideal for families who travel with or without additional crew.

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Stay at Sea Forever with Solar-Powered Yacht

Silent yachts’ silent 55 catamaran runs on 100-percent solar power for weeks on end., john lyon's most recent stories.

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Like the automotive, aviation, and, let’s face it, nearly every other industry, yacht builders have caught on to the power (pardon the pun) of eco-friendly design. To be fair, the concept is nothing new: There are plenty of hybrid-electric yachts out there, and even a few equipped with large banks of photovoltaic cells. But traditional hybrid models still rely—to some degree—on burning fossil fuels, and the solar panels are generally able to produce only enough energy to power onboard systems.

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The Silent Yachts Silent 55 catamaran that made its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival last week , however, changes all that. It’s able to generate enough power through its high-efficiency solar cells to power both onboard amenities as well as propulsion. Translation? Like a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that can spend huge amounts of time at sea, the 55-foot yacht can be configured to be almost entirely self-sufficient. Not only does this mean that the boat doesn’t produce any nasty exhaust, distracting operating noise, or excessive vibrations from traditional engines, it also means that it has an essentially unlimited range (as long as the sun keeps shining). For inclement weather and emergencies, there is a generator on board that can charge the battery. The yacht is even able to harness the solar-electric system to power a water maker capable of supplying as many as six staterooms.

The model shown at Cannes was the E-Power version, which uses two 135 kW motors to travel as fast as 14 knots. But the boat can also be configured in the slower Cruiser version or the more powerful Hybrid Power variation, which pairs two electric motors with two diesel engines. Finally, the sailing set can invest in the Sailor version, which has a mast as well as any previously mentioned motor configuration.

The customization continues inside, with the shipbuilder offering five interior layouts available that accommodate anywhere from three to six staterooms—each of which can be equipped with double or twin berths. If you’re focused on personal pampering, three of the layouts include a full-beam owner’s stateroom. A deck above, you’ll find a combination galley, saloon, and helm, where guests will spend much of their time.

Given all the problems in the world, we wouldn’t blame you for abandoning land altogether, and since the Silent 55’s has the ability to travel 100 miles a day for weeks on end without needing to stop at port, you may have found your perfect escape from reality.

John Lyon joined the Robb Report team in 2009. Starting out as an intern, he has worn many hats over the years and written and edited for nearly every category. However, his lifelong love of all…

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VIDEO: Silent Yachts 55 review

The Silent Yachts 55, with its battery bank and solar panels, is a glimpse into the future of motorboats, but is it a viable option for serious cruising?

As we gaze towards the horizon in search of what the future holds for the motor boat, solar energy and harnessing the power of electricity for propulsion loom large in our view.

Some boat yards are already ahead of the curve – Greenline has been banging this particular drum for a decade, while others like Sunseeker have only recently jumped on the bandwagon by unveiling a partnership with MTU that will result in its first diesel/electric production craft in 2021.

However, neither of these yards come close to the ambition of Silent Yachts and its solar powered range of all-electric motor catamarans.

This Austrian outfit claims to have solved the concerns many boaters have about the limited range of electric boats by creating a vessel with unlimited range and little dependence on fossil fuel that is a genuine, useable alternative to a conventional motor boat with an internal combustion engine.

Nor is this simply wishful thinking based on a virtual concept – several examples of the Silent 55 have already been built and we’re here to sea trial one to see if the boat of the future has in fact already arrived.

What do we actually have here, then? One of the major attractions of the 55 is that its design isn’t particularly wacky or off the wall. To the naked eye it is a 55ft power catamaran with a pair of shafts, two helm stations and all the voluminous accommodation one would expect of a big cruising multihull.

Underneath, however, there is a lot to unpick. There are three versions of the 55: the Cruiser, which has a pair of 30kW electric motors, the E-Power tested here with a pair of 135kW motors, and the Hybrid Power, which combines two 14kW electric motors with a pair of 220hp diesel engines for those who want to travel at higher speeds for long periods.

The wheelhouse and collapsible flybridge hardtop are home to 30 solar panels with a combined output of 10kW that can either feed the two electric motors directly or keep the 140kWh battery bank topped up.

There is still one combustion engine on board but it’s a 100kW Volvo Penta generator employed as range extender and charging aid if required. This burns a mere 33lph and is connected to a pair of 800-litre fuel tanks giving around 48 hours of running time.

Read the full report in the April 2019 edition of MBY …

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Silent 55 solar catamaran: from austria with sun.

It’s the first oceangoing solar-electric production catamaran in the world. Silent 55 comes from Austria and thanks to large use of solar panels and li-ion batteries it has a potentially unlimited range. Until the sun goes off…

While everyday we have a new electric powered car, there’s not so many boats which can claim to be virtually emission-free . Of course the main problem is where the electric power comes from . What if the source is just the sun ? Easy to say, but in this case the issue is how much sun you need for having enough power . This didn’t stop Silent-Yachts , an Austrian company, from producing a totally clean catamaran . Silent 55 makes extensive use of solar panels , which combined to li-ion batteries and electric motors can power the boat in full comfort and total silence.

Pick the one for you

The Silent 55 is available in several power configurations to suit a variety of cruising applications. All of them stick to the yard’s philosophy of relying mainly on solar power for propulsion and onboard power needs. The standard “ Cruiser ” version of the Silent 55 has 2 x 30 kW turnable saildrives e-motors , while a more upgraded “ E-Power ” version is equipped with 2 x 250 kW e-motors . There is also a range-anxiety free “ Hybrid Power” version with 2 x 220 hp diesel engines and two 14 kW electric motors .

Furthermore, a “ Sailor ” version can be equipped with all the previously mentioned drivetrain configurations and is rigged with a mast and sails to provide additional propulsion in fair winds. With 30 high-efficiency solar panels rated for approximately 10 kilowatt-peak , the Silent 55 uses maximum power point tracking ( MPPT ) solar charge regulators and lithium batteries, which provide capacity for all-night cruising , while a 15-kVA inverter provides power for all household appliances. The systems requires hardly any maintenance and produce no fumes or noise . Because of that, the operational costs of the vessels are substantially lower compared to motor yachts using more traditional propulsion systems.

The catamaran is available in five different layouts , ranging from three to six staterooms with three or four heads . A full-width central owner’s stateroom is the centerpiece in three of the layouts, with guest staterooms located in port and starboard hulls. All staterooms offer double or twin berths , and all heads include a separate shower . Other layouts are available on request. In all configurations, careful attention has been paid to onboard ergonomics.

Large portlights and flush deck hatches admit natural light . On the Silent 55, the interior layout is centered on a shared onboard space, a huge 40 sqm combination of saloon, helm and galley , while the lower helm has plenty of companion seating and an aft galley to keep guests around. Three of the layouts feature a forward owner stateroom that uses the 8.5-meter beam of the yacht for a spacious layout with a walkaround double berth.

Other accommodation plans optimize the space with additional staterooms as Silent-Yachts uses a modular construction and design methods that allow additional layouts at reasonable prices.

The Silent 55 is built using vacuum-bagged resin infusion to create a lightweight glass-sandwich composite construction with good sound and temperature insulation

With wide side decks for safety moving fore and aft, the Silent 55 has a spacious cockpit sheltered by a large hardtop overhang, and enormous open foredeck space as customary on catamarans. In addition, the flying bridge promises to allow helmsman and guests to enjoy time together in navigation enjoying the view of the sea all around.

The Silent 55 is built using vacuum-bagged resin infusion to create a lightweight glass-sandwich composite construction with good sound and temperature insulation. The hull is reinforced with carbon fiber at stress points, and uses vinylester resin to prevent osmotic blistering. It’s been designed using extensive tank testing for optimal efficiency: above and below the waterline it is designed to slip through the wind and waves with minimal resistance.

Designed with sealed deck sections and collision compartments for safety, the Silent 55 uses watertight bulkheads and integrated interior furniture to create a torsion-resistant hull structure. The electrical on-board system, despite depending on external power, still allows such features as powered swim platform , 1,500-watt electric windlass , and other features boaters expect on world-class oceangoing cruising yachts.

What about the range ? Depending on the sun, as we said, can make it potentially unlimited, but not 24/7 , as the power coming from our star can’t be stored in such amount to provide non-stop use of the electric engines. The boatyard then says that Silent 55 can cruise efficiently for up to 100 miles a day , still powering all onboard systems without need of fuel to power a generator. Not bad indeed, but the main value, probably worth more than anything else, is the chance to enjoy navigation accompanied just by the sounds of wind and water , with no fumes vibration or artificial noise.

The numbers of Silent 55 E-Power

• Length overall …………… 16.70 m (54ft 10in)
• Beam …………… 8.46 m (27ft 8in)
• Draft …………… 1.20 m (3ft 11in)
• Light displacement …………… 17.2 tons
• Fresh water reserve …………… 500 – 1,000 liters (113 – 227 US gal)
• Waste water tanks …………… 2 x 500 liters (2 x 113 US gal)
• Fuel reserve …………… 500 – 1,600 liters (113 – 363 US gal)
• Solar generator …………… 10 kWp
• E-Motors …………… up to 2 x 250 kW
• Generator …………… up to 100 kW
• Cruising speed …………… 6 / 12 knots
• Top Speed …………… up to 10 / 20 knots

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Silent Yachts – Noiseless Limitless Cruising Catamarans

Solar power catamarans...ingenious and real.

Imagine leaving no footprint except those in the sand on faraway beaches as you silently cruise. With these solar catamarans, it’s possible! We covered these amazing solar-electric yachts back when they were mere concepts.

The Austrian-based solar catamaran producer drew stronger interest after the Silent 55 earned the Best of Boats Awards 2019 in “Boat for Travel” being “suitable for long distance travels with all amendments to live on board permanently, adapted for both inland waters and the tough conditions at sea.” Amazing results for where electric-solar catamarans were only a year or so before.

Silent Yachts began delivery of the Silent 55 in 2019 and in 2020, during a global pandemic, sold six Silent 80 catamarans (starting from $4.6 million). Construction in Ancona, Italy, was slightly delayed due to COVID19 closure of 2 of the 4 factories, but the shipbuilder continues with delivery of these amazing catamarans as well as their evolution. At the end of 2020, Silent Yachts had a dozen luxury electric catamarans in production from 55′ to 80′ at a starting price of $1.8 million.

After these successes, designer Marco Casali of Too-Design continued innovating crafting a Loft version of the Silent 80 to excite solar catamaran enthusiasts.

Founder and CEO, Michael Köhler, birthed the concept. Interior and exterior designs are by Marco Casali of Too-Design with Amedeo Migali of MICAD in charge of naval architecture.

The Silent 80 with its silent electric propulsion, has unlimited range; no noise or fumes. Seventy solar panels, electric motors, and lithium batteries (used by Tesla) have been incorporated into the design to make it most efficient while maintaining the overall balance in shape. If you want to know more in depth on this efficiency, read this excellent article on Silent Yachts’ engine, battery configuration, and power management .

All components are virtually free of maintenance which makes the running-costs much lower than that of a comparable conventionally powered catamaran. The Silent Yacht is powered by electric motors and has a cruising-speed of 6-8 knots, and maximum speed is 10 knots. Without an engine room, the Silent 80 has enough space for a 4.5 meter tender, and gyrocopter!

Success has not stopped this solar catamaran designer from striving for bigger and better ideas. Recently Silent Yachts Silent announced its plan to build catamarans in collaboration with Volkswagen, powered by VW electric drive matrix (MEB). The catamaran ranges will be designed by VW subsidiary, SEAT’s Cupra brand. Auto and marine manufacturers joining forces have shown success before when BMW teamed up with Torqeedo for outboard engines, so it will be interesting to watch.

High Cost of Solar Catamarans Debunked

As with any new paradigm, the skeptics have loud voices during early introduction of new concepts. And solar-electric catamarans are no different. As excited as we are about this, we must confess our healthy skepticism is still alive. But we recently read an interesting article that compares the Silent 80 to the Lagoon Seventy8 . It points out that because operation and maintenance costs are so low that only a few years of ownership negate the higher purchase price of the Silent 80.

It’s actually quite a tempting proposition to enjoy all the comforts and necessities that requires lots of power aboard without the smell, roar, and Earth-damaging emissions of diesel generators. And eliminating the dangers and inconvenient refills of the propane cooker in the galley is another reason to give a second and a third look at these new solar catamarans.

Read on for pictures and more details of these solar-powered cats with lots of options including hybrid diesel operations and and a true “sail” option.

Silent Yachts Solar Catarmarans in All Sizes

Silent-Yachts is producing the following models:

• Silent 55 – Specifications ,  Panoramic Tour
• Silent 60 – Specifications
• Silent 64 – Specifications  (discontinued)
• Silent 80 – Specifications ,   Panoramic Tour
• Silent 80 3-Deck – Specifications

CONTACT US FOR SPECIFICATIONS & PRICING

All models come with the following options:

• Cruiser – 2×30 kW – with top speed of 12-20 Kt
• E-Power – 2×250 kW – stronger dual e-motors than the “Cruiser” and more powerful battery banks for double the power and speed of the “Cruiser version”
• Hybrid Power – 2×220 HP + 2×14 kW – powerful diesel engines together with the electric motors achieve top speeds of 20+ knots
• Sailor – convenience of sails added to the Cruiser in the 55′ range
• Sky Sails – towing kite system with full automatic control for the 64′ and 80′ ranges which eliminates shade on solar panels by sails and frees up valuable deck space. 

Silent 55 Seatrial Reviews, Video, & Pictures

Read these Silent 55 catamaran reviews:

• Yachting World’s Silent 55 Review
• Power and Motor Yachts’ Silent 55 Review

Be sure to visit the links above for more images and info. Here is a video and a few photos of the elegant Silent 55.

Estelle Cockcroft

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This is a demo version of current model SY 55 and is now available for immediate  purchase. 

The Silent 55 solar-electric power catamaran combines green propulsion with luxury accommodations. Solar-powered and self-sustaining, it’s a 55-foot, ocean-going catamaran with four staterooms and heads. There is no engine noise or vibrations and the only mechanicals to service are the generators.

This is a fully optioned vessel with the most powerful E-Power+ propulsion option which combines the largest battery bank with the strongest electric motors available. Therefore higher speeds can be sustained for even longer periods of time while also maximizing the amount of energy which can be stored for back-up and deployed whenever needed. E-Power+ delivers the ultimate solar powered yachting experience.

Front-exit version with: - 6 Years warranty for the battery banks - 23 Years warranty for the solar panels - Lifetime warranty for the electric motors - 100% Solar powered - Unlimited cruising range - Lifetime maintenance-free motors - Noiseless and fume-less luxury navigation - No heat build-up - Highest quality materials & craftsmanship - Safest marine propulsion system

Built to CE-A standards, this amazing solar-powered catamaran is immediately available. 

Sistership pictured -see or call for full brochure on this model.

Premier Yachting, the exclusive agents for Silent Yachts in Australia, for comprehensive details on this vessel. 

Specifications:

Click an image to enlarge

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Pre-owned yachts (For sale)

Silent Yachts offers pre-loved yachts owned by Silent or our clients. From understanding service records to the implications of refurbishment, restoration or repair, rest assured that the assessment of our pre-owned models is comprehensive.

The History Maker

The legendary Silent 64 wrote history as the first solar powered yacht to have ever crossed the entire Atlantic Ocean. She can be handled by two people and is suitable for families while also being able to accommodate crew. Overall, the Silent 64 offers a lot of storage and is therefore perfectly suitable for long-term cruising.

Un record historique

Le légendaire Silent 64 est entré dans l’histoire en devenant le premier yacht à énergie solaire à avoir traversé tout l’océan Atlantique. Conçu pour être manœuvré par deux personnes, il est idéal pour les familles tout en pouvant accueillir un équipage. Offrant un généreux espace de rangement, le Silent 64 est particulièrement adapté aux croisières de longue durée. Actuellement amarré devant notre agence de Port Adriano, à Majorque, il est disponible pour une remise en main.

Die Legende

Die Silent 64 schrieb Geschichte als die erste solarbetriebene Serienyacht, welche den Atlantischen Ozean überquerte. Die Yacht kann von zwei Personen gesteuert werden und ist für Familien geeignet, bietet dabei aber auch Platz für Crew. Mit großzügigem Stauraum eignet sie sich daher perfekt für längere Reisen.

El creador de historia

El legendario Silent 64 hizo historia como el primer yate con energía solar que cruzó todo el Océano Atlántico. Puede ser manejado por dos personas y es adecuado para familias y al mismo tiempo puede acomodar a la tripulación. En general, el Silent 64 ofrece mucho espacio de almacenamiento y, por tanto, es perfectamente adecuado para cruceros de larga duración. Actualmente atracado frente a nuestra oficina en Port Adriano, Mallorca, está disponible para su entrega.