For the upcoming 2023 season, Sunsail, a yacht charter company, has installed electric outboard motors on all premier-plus monohulls located in Agana, Dubrovnik, and Lefkas.
“Sailing to us means appreciating nature and its elements,” says Caroline Barbour, UK marketing manager for Sunsail. “That’s why protecting the areas and waters our customers visit is so important to us and has been for many years. After receiving great feedback from guests who trialled the electric outboard motors in Lefkas in 2022, we are excited to introduce these to our newest monohull fleet in three of our top Mediterranean bases for 2023.”
The ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Plus electric outboards offer 1kW of power, equivalent to 3HP. The Spirit 1.0 outboard is set to deliver more than double the number of charters compared to its petrol alternative, plus the battery can be replaced on the unit as required and are fully recyclable. Weighing under 20kg in total, the low weight of the outboard allows for easy removal and charging of the battery via its 12V charger, often only needing a recharge once during a week-long charter. The battery even floats, so customers don’t need to worry if it drops in the water. The electric outboard is also virtually silent, reducing the disturbance to marine life.
Adding her thoughts, Laura Bowtell, who serves as the global manager for sales operations and sustainability at Sunsail, says: “At Sunsail we are prioritising sustainability to ensure our customers can experience authentic sailing holidays in the most responsible way. We are delighted to be upgrading our outboard motors on our premier plus monohulls in our top Med bases.”
