Limestone Boat Company and Vision Marine Technologies have teamed up to unveil an electric center-console boat, the Seventeen Fifty-Two 2.1 Center Console EV, at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
This center console marks Limestone’s initial entry into the electric boating market and is the first of a planned series of 21- to 23-foot electric boats the company aims to launch in the coming 18 months. The Canadian firm manufactures Aquasport Boats, Limestone Boats, and Boca Bay Boats.
Two years ago, CEO Scott Hanson shared his vision and met Alexandre Mongeon’s Vision Marine and its E-Motion 180E electric outboard. Hanson wanted to demonstrate that a deep-V hull can effectively run on electric power.
“I was thrilled because it resembles an engine, it appears as a boat, and I can connect it to power at the marina or at my residence,” Hanson stated. “It looks exactly as I anticipated, so those initial concerns are no longer present.”
According to Hanson, the 2.1 Center Console EV operates for over 2 hours at an average speed of 22 mph. The boat can plane at speeds between 18 and 22 mph, reaching a maximum speed of 38 mph. A complete recharge takes eight hours but can be reduced to four hours with two chargers.
“I aimed to ensure that with this power system, we could achieve that,” Hanson explained. “I wanted to not only plane but also deliver a cruising speed of 23 to 25 mph while providing at least 2-1/2 hours of operational time.”
Visually, the 2.1 Center Console EV resembles a classic center console. Internally, Octillion Power Systems battery packs replace the fuel tank positioned between the longitudinal stringers. The charger connection is conveniently located at the transom.
Seventeen Fifty-Two, named after the year electricity was discovered, has pledged to purchase a minimum of 25 E-Motion 180E outboards. At the Fort Lauderdale show, the company was taking $2,000 deposits and reportedly saw significant interest.
The delivery for the first 2.1 Center Console EV is anticipated for late 2023, with a starting price of $179,900 (as of October 2022).
“We must be proactive or ahead in electrification,” Hanson stated. “However, we shouldn’t expend our own time and resources on it. Partnering was essential, and it’s a perfect match.”