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Nautique Boats announced today a 100-percent electric ski boat, the Ski Nautique E. [Watch the Ski Nautique E in action here.] To explore future propulsion technology, Nautique Boats has partnered with LTS Marine, a Canadian company who specializes in electric motors.
LTS Marine began teaming with Nautique Boats in 2010 to test their electric system in a Ski Nautique ski boat. The Ski Nautique E contains two automotive electric motors that provide all the power necessary to meet the everyday needs of water skiers. The electric motors connect through a transfer case to the propeller shaft of the ski boat, producing tournament-worthy performance.
The Ski Nautique E is equipped with state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries that are positioned to keep the center of gravity true to the boat’s performance. When fully charged, the batteries produce the equivalent of eight gallons of gas, which can accommodate up to four slalom skiers during a session and achieve speeds of nearly 40 mph. This new emissions-free technology is extremely eco-friendly and requires minimal maintenance.
Two of the world’s most highly regarded water skiers — Andy Mapple and Whitney McClintock recently skied behind the Ski Nautique E.
“In over four decades of water skiing this new boat from Nautique is the most exciting advancement I have seen,” Mapple says. “Water ski boats are the high end of boating and require tremendous performance, and Nautique, partnering with LTS, has made it work. This is forward thinking. It will be no surprise to anyone that Nautique is the boat company that made this happen.”
“The Ski Nautique E is powerful and peppy getting up to speed,” says McClintock, the 2010 World Champion. “It was a strong and smooth pull through the slalom course. While I was tricking, the only difference was the silence. It was nice to enjoy the sound of the water. So pure.”
“I am incredibly proud of our team and our partners, LTS, for making this boat a reality,” says Nautique Boats President/CEO Bill Yeargin. “The best part is that this is just a start. We look forward to working further with this boat and making more exciting announcements related to it in the near future.”
The Ski Nautique E project will be showcased at the Montreal Boat Show on January 27-31, 2011, at the LTS Marine booth. This boat will make additional appearances at primary Nautique Boats events this season. Stay tuned to Nautique.com for further announcements.
