Boatbuilding News 26.07.24 Feat. Brunswick Corporation, Ferretti Group, Arksen & Torqeedo

📰 This weeks Boatbuilding News 📰

🇺🇸 Brunswick Corporation has revealed details of Boating Intelligence, a new initiative to incorporate AI features into its products. 

US-based firm Brunswick, one of the largest boatbuilders in the world, says developing Boating Intelligence will help it deliver simpler, safer, smarter, and more sustainable boating.

Brunswick Corporation is renaming its I-Jet Lab at the University of Illinois Research Park to the Boating Intelligence Design Lab (BI DesignLab). Under Jeff Reifsnyder’s direction, the research lab is refocusing its programmes on developing Brunswick’s AI talent and capabilities and supporting Brunswick’s product development teams as they incorporate AI into Brunswick’s next generation of products.

BI DesignLab is already supporting the development of Brunswick’s autonomous docking technology but is now also advancing work on AI-powered virtual agents, customised for marine applications, and other applications that will provide smart assistance to people operating their own boats and members of Brunswick’s Freedom Boat Club.

“Our Aces (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified, and Shared) strategy has matured over the past five years with many products like our Avator electric outboards, Fathom power management system, and C-Zone mobile connectivity solution already in production. We see an opportunity to embed AI functionality as one focus for our next phase of advanced technology and feature development, creating an opportunity for boats to evolve from an experiential product to an experiential partner.

said Dave Foulkes, Brunswick Corporation chief executive.

 “Boating Intelligence can be manifested through the entire Brunswick portfolio of products and services, through integrated, smart, and intelligent technologies that amplify the boating experience. We see AI emerging into boating to help augment and simplify many activities and reduce the complexity of operating and navigating a boat. Freedom Boat Club provides a unique platform to develop and exploit these possibilities.”

says Brenna Preisser, Brunswick Corporation executive vice president

Elements of Brunswick’s initial work in Boating Intelligence will be displayed at several upcoming events, including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2025, which has been a favoured venue for previewing and launching many of Brunswick’s ACES technologies and products.

 The news comes amid a torrid time for Brunswick, which recently announced its net sales in the quarter of 2024 were down 22 per cent versus the first quarter of 2023.

⚡️ Torqeedo, electric boat manufacturer, has announced it has retrofitted at least four of the 90 boats transporting athletes for the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony parade on the River Seine.

During the parade on July 26, Mistinguett will be a highlight as the longest and heaviest electric boat to ever cruise on the Seine. The vessel will be powered by two Torqeedo Deep Blue 100i electric motors and six new Deep Blue Battery 80 units.  This comes after the company recently announced its plans to make viable propellors from ocean plastics.

“The city of Paris has set itself the goal of halving the environmental footprint of previous Olympic Games at this year’s games. We are proud to support the city with our latest Customised Solutions Business Unit project while setting new standards in sustainability for the 2024 Olympic Games. The conversion of the Mistinguett to an all-electric propulsion system demonstrates how traditional vessels can be equipped with state-of-the-art technology to glide quietly and emission-free across the water in the future. As the world leader in electric mobility on the water, we have been developing customised electric propulsion solutions for over 19 years to create the best boating experience for our customers." 

says Matthias Vogel, senior vice president of the Customised Solutions Business Unit at Torqeedo.

The Mistinguett will be the first fully electric ferry of its size on the Seine and can accommodate up to 248 passengers. It will continue its role beyond the Paris Olympics, offering tourist cruises and serving as an event venue, for example, hosting shows, team building events and various other celebrations. 

Such an initiative is part of a broader push for sustainable transport in France. The French government, through agencies like Voies Navigables de France (VNF), is offering substantial subsidies – up to 90 per cent of retrofit costs – to encourage the adoption of electric propulsion in boats.

This news comes after France allocated €1.4bn to clean up the river in preparation for the Olympics. Rooster has five of its supported sailors preparing to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games.

🇬🇧 UK explorer yacht builder Arksen has revealed details of its new Arksen 65 model. It is the latest in the yard’s Explorer Series, following the recently delivered Arksen 85.

 The news comes after Arksen closed a £6m public investment round in April.

The Arksen 65 features a rugged exterior from Humphreys Yacht Design, including wrap-around glazing and a ‘raw aluminium aesthetic’.

The 21-metre yacht is built with aluminium that contains 70 per cent recycled content. The Arksen 65 has a cruising range exceeding 3,700 nautical miles and the capacity for transatlantic or Pacific voyages. A limited fixed air draft means it can explore many inland waterways.

The vessel’s interior, which blends natural fibre and recycled materials with inviting colour palettes, comes from the boards of Design Unlimited.

Key features include an open-plan saloon with wrap-around windows, a generous master cabin, and an aft cabin available in an island berth or twin convertible layout. Optional alternative arrangements for the second forward cabin include an owner study, storage, an additional cabin, or a galley.

Like all yachts in the Explorer Series, the Arksen 65 is capable of high-latitude cruising, thanks to the hull design by Humphreys. The hull shape naturally dampens pitching motions, and roll-stabilisation systems, available in various options, reduce the motion and vibrations felt onboard.

The yacht is designed to be less reliant on shore-side infrastructure, with its low displacement/length ratio hull and powering package, as well as an optional hybrid power upgrade.

The aft deck features an entertaining space with a BBQ kitchen unit, an aft-facing sofa and seat infill to allow up to eight guests to sit around the double-leaf table. Tenders up to 3.4m can be stowed on or above the bathing platform.

The Arksen 65 offers several external options, from an open or glazed exterior raised helm position and painted hull, to a choice of alternative timber decks.

“The Arksen 65 is at the cutting edge of innovation in this sector; it takes all of the core ingredients and capabilities of the larger boats in the Arksen range, like the 85, and brings them down into a more manageable envelope. From my perspective, it is the ultimate explorer boat for my family and me to enjoy, where we can control our environment and go pretty much wherever we want. I am incredibly proud of the work the engineering team at Arksen have put into refining the design along with our partners. I can’t wait to see the Arksen 65 in build and off on her adventures.”

says Jasper Smith, founder and CEO of Arksen.

 The Arksen 65 offers two propulsion options: a parallel hybrid variant for those who want to cruise silently into quiet anchorages or environmentally sensitive areas, with an optional solar array upgrade.

Alternatively, owners can opt for a twin 160hp John Deere diesel engine configuration for their vessel.

Arksen was founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Jasper Smith. Arksen recently diversified into the premium open RIB market with its new five-strong Discovery Series, led by the Arksen 8 RIB. 

🇮🇹 Ferretti Group has announced the launch of its fourth hull in the Pershing GTX116 series. The 35-metre motor yacht splashed in Fano, Italy, earlier this month.

 Tailored for the US market, the Pershing GTX116 embodies what the Ferretti Group describes as ‘timeless elegance and a strong sporting spirit.’ The yacht’s sleek profile and streamlined lines reflect an ‘SUV-style luxury’ concept, said to blend performance with comfort.

This launch comes after the group reported ‘extremely positive’ financial results for the first quarter of this year.

The yacht is a product of collaborative design efforts by Ferretti Group’s product strategy committee, led by Piero Ferrari, yacht designer Fulvio De Simoni, and the group’s engineering department.

The 7.70-metre beam allows the yacht to house a large saloon on the main deck with a bar and lounging areas. Outfitting is thanks to Italian brands like Poltronia Frau bar stools, a sofa, and Minotti armchairs.

The GTX116 is powered by a triple set of 2,000 HP MAN V12 2000 engines with corresponding waterjets, enabling it to achieve a top speed of 34 knots and a cruising speed of 29 knots.