Conventional motor yachts are powered by diesel- or gas-engines. Additionally, they have one or even two generators on board to supply all household appliances. Hence, depending on the size of the yacht, a total number of 3 or 4 diesel engines are used to provide propulsion and feed the household devices with energy.
Sailing yachts need a diesel-engine too. Depending on the operational area as well as the wind- and weather-conditions, a diesel engine is required in addition to the sails for the propulsion of the boat. When anchoring in a quiet bay, the diesel generators ensure the energy-supply of the household appliances on board. In fact sailing vessels have a very similar engine setup as a motor yacht, just less powerful, therefore a sailing catamaran of 80 feed has always 2 diesel engines for the propulsion and 2 diesel generators. Compared to that an electric Silent yacht requires only one diesel generator, which reduces the required maintenance and the costs significantly.
As most yachts use gas for cooking, the open flame not only heats up the interior but also causes an imminent threat. Furthermore, on many yachts the consumables like water and energy are managed in a way that enforces the skipper to visit a marina every two or three days to charge the batteries and to buy water for showering and drinking. In contrast, Silent Yachts are autonomous and self-sufficient. Therefore, there’s no need to visit a marina regularly, as our yachts generate their own energy and water using solar power.
Lastly, a conventionally powered boat has a range of 300 to 500 nautical miles before needing to refill the diesel engine. The use of a combustion-engine is, of course, inevitably also combined with noise, exhausts and oily films in the water.
In comparison, Silent Yachts can cross oceans and remain in a bay for months by storing the energy generated by the solar panels in large-capacity batteries.. This electrical energy is used for propulsion and well as powering all household appliances on board. All this happens completely noiseless, without vibrations and pollution while also offering the possibility of having virtually unlimited range.