Boat talk is a constant at camp. MasterCraft, Nautique, Malibu, wake size, wake shape, seats, hull, tower, cupholders, engine…I could go on. That is why news like this is so exciting:
https://plugboats.com/nautique-electric-wakeboard-boat-seattle-show/
Electric wake boats!
Here are my top 5 reasons why electric wake boats are the future:
Weight - ‘There’s no replacement for displacement’. Forget about lead weight and fat sacs when you add thousands of pounds of batteries to the mix. What may be a downside to electric cars is a benefit to electric wake boats. Designers could place battery banks strategically to boost the wake size/shape and supercharge wakeboard and wakesurf wakes.
Instantaneous Torque - Just hit it and rip. No more launch control (or old-school launch control having passengers shift around to get to plane faster). Electric motors provide instantaneous torque so as soon as the throttle is pressed the electric motor transfers its power to the propeller.
No More Boat Exhaust - We have all gotten a face full of boat exhaust surfing on a chilly morning. Surf pipes kind of worked to divert the exhaust but how nice would it be to just eliminate it entirely? An added benefit - no more engine noise! Hop in to the water and all you hear are your friends and music from the boat and nothing else.
Rethink Boat Design - Remove the engine and boat designers could radically rethink the cabin, cockpit and hull. No more fire suppression systems or fuel tanks, no transmissions, no oil changes! Bring on the future and remote joysticks that let you drive while coaching at the stern!
Save the Environment - If you know Water Monkey you know we are obsessed with saving our planet. Imagine a charging station at your dock hooked up to solar panels and mini wind turbines on your property. Imagine saving thousands of dollars a season on fuel…money you would surely pump right back into new equipment and boat toys! Save the planet, save money, a win-win for boaters.
Of course there are some big question marks. What happens when you swamp a boat loaded up with batteries? How long will the charge last and how long will it take to recharge? Will I miss the sound of the engine firing up in the morning?
One thing is for sure, though, the future of wake boats is electric.
-Evan