Electric cars have experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Now it’s the turn of watercraft to enter the electric age. Imagine a lake where only silent boats travel, without smoke or the smell of gasoline. It’s no longer just a dream: electric boats can already be seen on Lake Massawippi.
Take an interest in this transition
I can easily imagine North Hatley playing a pioneering role in this transition. Some companies are already manufacturing magnificent electric boats that would fit perfectly into the village landscape.
For now, these boats do not always offer the same power or range as gasoline engines. But that’s not a bad thing. It will evolve over time. What’s missing most is proper planning for access to charging stations for these boats.
Imagine a fleet of electric boats in North Hatley
Why shouldn’t North Hatley plan to become a model for its peers with a fleet of electric boats? We need to think beyond the short term and look ahead to a future where electric boats, possibly shared and self-service (shared by all), could become the norm on Lake Massawippi. I am convinced that we will see this on many bodies of water in the coming years.
It is already possible to buy an electric boat or pontoon instead of a gasoline model. However, the price remains higher for now. There are also some compromises to be made: very modest top speed, but above all limited range and outing duration.
Here are a few examples of electric boat and pontoon models offered by the company Vision Electric Boat.
Boats that don’t make waves
Par exemple, la compagnie Vision Electric Boat propose un ponton dont le moteur électrique équivaut à un 50 chevaux, pouvant accueillir de 8 à 10 passagers, avec deux types de batteries offrant différentes autonomies à une vitesse maximale d’environ 8 km/h – ce qui reste relativement lent.
Models priced at CAD$50,000
Here are some other models of electric boats and pontoons offered by the company.
The Fantail 217 model can be found on Lake Massawippi: one of my acquaintances owns one. It is a very stylish and relatively spacious boat, based on my observations when I have seen it on the water.
For the Fantail 217 and Volt 180 models, prices remain relatively affordable: starting at around US$35,000–37,000 without options, with used models around US$25,000. These boats are perfect for a nice outing with friends, with a table in the center and leather bench seating all around. I invite you to watch this particularly inspiring video presentation:
The Princecraft electric pontoon boat
Princecraft also offers a line of electric pontoon boats, the Brio series, equipped with motors equivalent to 25 hp (~18.6 kW, 48 V). Depending on the choice of batteries, these pontoon boats offer comparable speeds and ranges. In my experience, a leisurely 2- to 3-hour outing in “pout pout” mode is ideal.
https://www.princecraft.com/ca/fr/produits/Pontons/2026/Serie-Brio-electrique.aspx
Electricity at the marina docks
It would be worthwhile to start thinking now about integrating electricity, or even charging stations adapted for electric boats, at the North Hatley marina. I am convinced that this trend will take hold in the coming years. Lake Massawippi is a relatively windless body of water, which is very well suited to this type of boat.
Developing the sharing economy
Why not go a step further and introduce a few self-service electric boats at the North Hatley marina dock? This already exists in several places around the world. For example, Eboat Rentals Newport Beach, CA.
In addition to making the two or more marina docks more profitable and providing low-cost access to the lake, this would generate additional revenue for the municipality. What’s more, these boats don’t make waves, travel at less than 6 mph, and emit virtually no CO₂ while sailing. It’s chic, quiet, and eco-friendly!
Let’s dream a little…
What if we allowed ourselves to dream a little? North Hatley could become a true pioneer in electric boating and boat sharing. And why not imagine adding electric bikes in the summer… and electric fat bikes in the winter? Who knows!
On that note, I wish you wonderful shared boat trips… that are entirely electric!
Photo credits:
https://visitventuraca.com/
https://www.eboatsrental.com/
