A world record between two Canadian figureheads might change the future of electric boating and watersports.
Voltari Marine Electric, the makers of the ultra sleek carbon fiber Voltari 260 Electric, partnered with the Canadian National Waterski Show Team to set a unique world record that's unlikely to be broken any time soon.
The premium electric boat was used by the the ski team to execute the world's first waterskiing pyramid behind an electric boat. The team is based out of the well-known boating hotbed of Muskoka, Ontario and is led by SWS Muskoka.
"It's always great to be the first at something innovative, and especially when it's green, and Canadian," team captain Geordie Newlands told BoatBlurb. "I was very surprised with how well it performed. It's great to see a Canadian company being the leader in electrification of marine power."
For Voltari, "it was a chance to showcase the power of our new 260 model, which handled the eight-skier load beautifully," says CEO Cam Heaps in a press release. "We loved the combination of Canadian tech and Canadian athletic talent – it was an exhilarating moment."
The boat, a boutique high-performance 26-foot hull packs an impressive 740 horsepower. The 142 kW lithium battery bank also pumps out an astounding 1000 lb-ft of torque, which puts the Voltari 260 in elite company among electric boats. For waterskiiers, it provides a unique ride thanks to the increased torque at launch, not to mention an emissions-free ride that allows riders to maneuver in near total silence rather than behind a loud gas-powered engine.
The feat also proved to be a full-circle moment for Voltari Chief Technology Officer, Bruno Tellier. The company's breakthrough in marine EV started when Tellier bet a friend that he could engineer an electric boat with enough speed and power to waterski behind. Industry attempts at electric recreational boats had so far been underpowered and disappointing.
Voltari had to start from scratch, developing optimal hull and battery designs, new carbon fibre materials and power train systems. The result is a craft that's designed from the hull up to be fully electric.
Voltari has also been riding major momentum in recent months. They recently set another world record for longest distance on a single charge by crossing the Gulf Stream from Key Largo to Bimini in less than 20 hours. The 91 mile journey not only set the record for the longest and first-ever overseas trip in an electric vehicle, it also cemented them as a leading contender in the emerging market.
As for waterskiiers, the high performance EV boat is a game-changer.
"It's so powerful – it pulled us all off the dock with such ease," said Newlands. "We breathe a lot of exhaust behind the boats and there was none of that at all. And it's so quiet – makes for easy communication between the driver, the spotter and the skiers. It was a totally different experience and we loved it."
Both teams have plans to put Canada on the world stage in months to come; the Waterski Show Team at the upcoming world championships in Australia, and Voltari in a global marine market that's hungry for zero-emission, low-maintenance EV watercraft.
You can see the world record ride in the video below:
