Solar Electric Boat: A Decade of Innovation

Solar-Electric Boating Long Before It Was Fashionable

Torkmar News

Solar-electric boats get a lot of attention today. For us they aren’t a new trend. We’ve been building them for well over a decade, and we’ve always worked the same way: build carefully, build to last, and never chase speed.

Where it began

It started on 29 July 2007 at Berowra Waters, a sheltered stretch of water just north of Sydney, Australia. The Knox family were out in their small inflatable one Sunday afternoon, surrounded by the houseboats moored in the bay. That got Tim Knox thinking.

Five years later, in 2012, components were arriving to build what became the world’s first solar-electric houseboat. “It was a massive leap of faith and in some respects we were before our time,” Tim recalls, “but all involved are hugely proud of the boat we built.”

The Mothership houseboat was designed to be lived on and enjoyed all year round, whatever the weather. A 3kW solar array on the upper deck kept the batteries charged, and that stored energy ran both the electric motors and everything on board, from the galley to the cabins. There was a sun lounger and cocktail area up top, and comfortable cabins with en-suites below. It proved that a boat could be comfortable, stylish and entirely solar-powered, years before most of the industry took the idea seriously.

Still in service, still beautiful

The best proof of how well she was built is that she’s still going. The Mothership later made her way by sea to Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney, where she remains in service today. Owner Brad Stephenson keeps her in beautiful condition, and Tim is still in regular contact with him. Years on, she remains just as much a pleasure to be aboard as the day she was launched.

Built to last, not to race

The thinking behind that first houseboat still guides everything we build. We’ve never been interested in going fast. A boat that tears along makes noise, burns energy and leaves a wash that disturbs wildlife, banks and everyone else on the water. Our boats are built to glide: quietly, efficiently and gracefully, at the pace a river is meant to be enjoyed.

That doesn’t mean compromise. It means careful engineering. Motors, propellers and solar arrays are matched to each other so every watt goes as far as possible. The finish is something we take real pride in, because a beautiful boat that’s built properly keeps giving pleasure for many years. The Mothership shows that clearly.

From Australia to Britain’s waterways

When family circumstances brought the Knoxes back to the UK, the lessons learned in Australia came too. They now shape our narrowboats, our conversions and our DB1 electric dayboat.

DB1 recently showed what that experience adds up to. It travelled 124 miles down the Thames from Lechlade to Teddington in five days on solar power alone, with no generator and no shore power. Drought restrictions and a jammed lock didn’t stop it, and it finished with 70% of its battery charge left.

Still ahead of the curve

We hope to return to the solar-electric houseboat one day. For now our focus is on boats for Britain’s inland waterways. The aim hasn’t changed since 2007: beautiful, long-lasting boats that run quietly and efficiently on clean energy.

Interested in a solar-electric boat or converting your existing vessel? Contact the Torkmar team for advice and a detailed quotation.