New and Used Electric Boats for Sale

Electric boats are on the rise, and these eco-friendly, zero emission, quiet, and low maintenance boats are making waves in the boating industry. Search for new and used electric boats on the market from top brands, and join the green revolution. Fine-tune the results by price, length, style, and more.

Main Characteristics

Electric boats are rapidly growing in popularity, and, as with electric vehicles, the technology is becoming more advanced by the year. In fact, one of the main selling points of electric boats is that they have simple yet innovative engineering, meaning lower maintenance and a longer lifespan than diesel engine powered boats. Electric boats have fewer moving parts such as transmission, fuel systems, engine blocks, cylinder heads, valves, or pistons.

Electric boats are propelled in several ways; by water jet, outboard engine, inboard engine, sterndrive engine, or surface or pod drives. They can then be powered by solar panels, generators, or battery packs, the latter being the most common. Battery packs similar to those used in electric vehicles are becoming increasingly powerful and more advanced, making them better suited to boating.

The appeal of electric boats is that they are more environmentally friendly, meaning zero harmful emissions. This is also a positive for boaters who get a smoother and quieter ride than they would in a gas/petrol- or diesel-powered boat. Yet there are other advantages of electric boats too. They provide instant power with faster acceleration, lower maintenance due to fewer moving parts, and no noxious fumes when boating. The downsides tend to be related to the range of the boat and the need to charge it. While charging stations are becoming more commonplace, cruising requires checking carefully where you can charge up and planning accordingly.

Electric boats come in all styles, with some of the most common being pontoon boats, small fishing boats, day cruisers, and watersports boats. While there are even electric-powered (or hybrid) superyachts these days, electric boats tend to be more compact models that require smaller battery packs and tend not to cruise long-range.

Types of Electric Boats

Pontoon Boats

The trusty float boat has graced lakes and inland waters for years, and is one of styles adapting extremely well to the electric movement. The characteristics of electric boats lend themselves perfectly to pontoon boats, with small and lightweight batteries offering the perfect power for a day of fun on the water, as well as the enjoyment of not having diesel fumes or noise to spoil the tranquility. As they don’t tend to venture too far from home, they can be easily charged too.

Fishing Boats

The benefits of electric power for fishing boats is immediately obvious. The quiet propulsion allows anglers to access fishing grounds with ease, and the lack of vibration from a diesel engine doesn’t alarm the fish. Fishing boats of all sizes are turning to electric, from small trailerable styles used inland or on the coasts, to larger offshore models.

Watersports Boats

Watersports boat brands have been instrumental in pushing the innovation of electric boats, and the result is a range of ultra-fast, ultra-smooth waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wake surfing boats. Creating the perfect waves with water jet or inboard engines—and because they tend not to have a long range—watersports boats are perfectly suited to electric propulsion.

Day Cruiser Boats

Electric day cruisers offer a smooth quiet ride with the speed necessary for a day of cruising. There are many brands offering modern, elegant day cruisers with electric power that appeal to those wanting to lower their carbon footprint when boating. In addition to monohulls, there are electric cruising catamarans on the market now, too, showing the versatility of electric.

Best Electric Boat Brands

Innovative boat builders are pushing the boundaries of engineering with their development of electric propulsion across all sectors of the industry. Pontoon boats, once slow and trusty, are now enjoying a speed revolution and the electric models aren’t going to be left behind. Brands such as Crest, Pure Watercraft, Torqeedo, and Polaris are offering sleek, modern, and fast electric models.

When it comes to elegant and lightning-fast day cruisers, the market is being inundated with excellent choices from established brands and plenty of newcomers, too. Scandinavian brand Rand offer sleek, contemporary-styled day cruisers, as do X Shore, another Swedish brand whose center consoles can reach speeds of 30 knots. Boesch’s beautiful wooden day cruisers are real head-turners, as are Riva’s retro-styled electric sports boats.

Yet not all electric boats are being designed for super speeds and long range, and Duffy Electric Boats—an American brand that has been around for 50 years—specializes in luxury and easy-going lake cruisers. In the RIB category, top electric boat brands such as Zodiac have developed a complete range of electric models, as dhaveo Pure Watercraft, RS Sailing, and Tornado Boats, while watersports boat brands such as renowned Nautique Boats are building high tech, ultra-fast wake surf boats.

Mention must be made of brands such as Candela ahave developed electric boats with foiling hulls able to reach speeds of 22 knots and have a range of 50 nautical miles. And when it comes to unusual hulls, brands such as Twin Vee have created a spin-off brand called Forza X1 to develop electric catamarans ideal for fishing or day cruising.

Why Choose an Electric Boat?

The benefits of electric boats are becoming more and more appreciated as the industry develops. They include less air pollution, a quieter and smoother ride, lower maintenance and running costs, and no noxious fumes when out on the water.