HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?

[tigesinaus]

Im glad someone has finally done it, as fuel is getting expensive and heavy wakeboats chew fuel like nothing else!!!

http://23e.epicboats.com/

[dingleberry]

Unfortunately, aren't they something like US$ 120,000 or so? Maybe after a few years the price can come down to be more competitive with traditional boats, because you can buy whole lotta gas for the cost differential. Like the idea, though.

[ragboy]

I heard through the grapevine, so don't quote me, that this isn't really for the american market. There are places in europe with small private lakes and such where they prohibit gas engines altogether. The idea is that these rich people would buy an electric boat like this. I guess there is enough of a demand out there for it due to global warming and stuff. I think they were looking at like $150k or something each.

Its a great idea and I would love to go out for 4 hours on my boat and come back and plug it in at the slip. As long as it throws a mean surf wake on both sides.

[chpthril]

You would have to own, and use regularly, for 15 yrs or something, in order to break even on the fuel savings V's the added cost of the electric drive system. 2nd, like hybrid cars, you will never see the same kinda numbers as those advertised. They have as many hours in figuring out how to make it look good, as they do in R&D. Real world use will never net you what they claim.

[spenchey2]

I'm going to guess you can't fill this thing up with a couple thousand pounds of ballast and have it last very long.

Also, when some thing goes wrong with it I can't imagine how much it would cost to fix it$$$$$$$$$$!

[tigesinaus]

well im glad, someone has got the ball rolling... we will all be greatful when fuel gets scarse... and even if it isnt as good as they have quoted it can only get better... i was actually really pleased to see this.. and in a way relieved, as i often wonder about the future of all these tow sports, when they rely so much on a finite resource.

[Jeffe]

I posted that a few months ago when they were premiering it at the Carlsbad Lagoon.

Nick Taylor got to skate behind it and said it had a nice wake.

[tigesinaus]

I posted that a few months ago when they were premiering it at the Carlsbad Lagoon.

Nick Taylor got to skate behind it and said it had a nice wake.

sorry, missed that post.. i came across it yesterday and didnt know if people had seen it.

[Jason B]

There's a niche for everything. No doubt, they'll sell some. Hopefully battery technology will move forwad rapidly and the price will fall drastically.
I like the touch screen LCD on the dash, tht was nice.

[sparky216]

Clearly Epic has some marketing strategy in place, no company would invest in this for chits and giggles. Remember when a 36" LCD TV was $3k? I'll just wait for the "Cash for Clunkers" program to move to the marine industry, $45,000 rebate and perhaps Epic will match it for a $90,000 incentive, then I'll start looking!

[petrey10]

well since batteries are so heavy there would probably be no need or not as much need for ballast.