silent yachts silent 55

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Review: Silent 55, the extraordinary solar powered yacht

• January 18, 2019

Silent Yachts is tapping into the solar zeitgeist and creating a new meaning for the term ‘powercat’.  Sam Fortescue reports

There is a slow, silent revolution under way in the yachting world. It is a revolution that is introducing tonnes of lithium and a sprinkling of silicon to the spec list of new boats. Holding out the promise of silent mobility, plus limitless domestic power on board, it made a big splash at the last Cannes Festival of Yachting – not least thanks to the new Silent 55 catamaran which debuted there.

From the pontoon side, the Silent 55 looks like a typical modern catamaran, with a big coachroof studded with windows and a flybridge helm. Except there’s no mast. Now, bear with me here. I realise that this is a sailing magazine, but we will shortly get back to more familiar territory. The unique qualities of this catamaran only become apparent from up top, where an expanse of solar panels stretches away fore and aft, embedded into the coachroof. The hard top itself carries yet more panels, and can be folded down flush to give an unshaded solar array of 49m2. During the heat of a summer day in the Med, this is capable of generating 10kW of power and up to around 60kWh in the course of the day.

But to make a solar system work in reality, Köhler had to go back to the drawing board on yacht design. The saloon and hulls have extra thermal insulation to keep air-con losses down, and the use of carbon and aramid in key areas helps reduce the overall weight to a decent 17 tonnes (a Lagoon 52 weighs 22.5 tonnes). He has tried to keep windows out of the direct sun with long overhangs and in contrast to the Lagoon’s 12 deck hatches, the Silent 55 has just two.

Holistic design

On the other hand, it has lots of opening windows, to allow a natural draught to do its job. “It’s a holistic approach – you can’t take the batteries and the drivetrain and drop it into another boat.”

Of course, using the propulsion system quickly takes its toll of the boat’s 140kW battery bank. The model on display at Cannes had two 135kW motors, giving you just half an hour of silent motoring flat-out, albeit at a top speed of over 20 knots. More reasonable 30kW engines and a single-digit speed give you greater range. Nonetheless, the electric drive alone isn’t going to allow you to outrun a storm, or race home after a day at anchor, so the boat is designed to work with a generator hidden in the heavily insulated transom of its starboard hull. At cruising speed of around 5-6 knots, Köhler says there is rarely any need to use the generator, citing an owner who has just emailed him triumphantly about a second year totally generator-free. “In the end, you have to compare it to the performance of a sailing boat,” Köhler says. “It is as fast as a sailing boat in similar conditions – after all, there is no wind without sun.” He went so far as to tell me during the sea trial in Palma, Mallorca, that he believed the majority of sailors would happily dispense with the hassle of sails and a rig if only they could enjoy silent motoring and anchoring. “As soon as people realise the incredible concept of this boat, they won’t understand why they ever did anything else.”

The market does not seem to agree with him – yet. Sales of the boat have been good – they have already sold six, five of which are already in the water. But of those, four customers have taken the sail option, which means planting a 19.7m tall mast complete with boom and rigging slap bang in the middle of the coachroof solar array. “I was a bit amazed,” Köhler admits. “The shade from the rig reduces the energy generated by the solar area, while it costs more and is heavier, so consumes more fuel. Maybe it is for optical reasons.” In fact, the shade of the rig slashes the average yield of the solar panels in half. In the Med, that means around 30kWh per day. But perhaps it figures. The typical profile of buyers is an environmentalist who has a Tesla electric car and is “an early adopter who likes to have things before others”. And at low speeds, with modest use of the air-con, the reduced energy generation should still cover daily consumption.

The performance under sail should be reasonable because of the lightweight build of the boat, its broad 8.47m beam and stub keels added to each hull. Control lines are led back via conduits in the coachroof to the flybridge helm station, to make single-handing under sail a possibility.

More interesting, I think, is a sort of halfway-house option using a kite rig. This optimises the performance of the solar panels and gives plenty of propulsion. On the smaller 55 and the 64, Silent Yachts currently recommends a 19m2 kite that costs around €25,000 – a fraction of the cost of a new mast, boom, shrouds and sails. “The sail automatically makes a figure of eight above the boat, and you can steer it with a joystick or an app on an android phone,” Köhler explains. “It can propel the 55 at up to 6 knots, even in light winds.” Perfect for an Atlantic crossing, then.

For the bigger Silent 79, which will hit the water in the summer, a commercial grade Sky Sail system needs to be used – a smaller version of the ones used on cargo ships. This kite can propel the boat at ten knots, but it costs more than ten times as much as its smaller cousin. Both are capable of pulling the boat upwind. So far, so new. But outside the novel energy and propulsion system, the Silent 55 aims to do what many other cruising catamarans are trying to achieve. “Most of our clients order for circumnavigation and long-term cruising,” Köhler says. So the boat is aimed to be as comfortable and capable as possible with watermakers, TVs and an induction hob that all capitalise on the boat’s abundant energy. A flexible configuration allows owners the choice 
of between three and six cabins – the latter designed for charter. The owner’s cabin lies forward of the saloon, under the windows of the coachroof, which provide magnificent views and abundant natural light. There’s a walk-around bed and steps down into the starboard hull give access to an en-suite shower room and heads.

In my view, the best cabin lies aft of this, accessed in the traditional manner down steps out of the saloon. The king-sized bed lies athwartships and the shower is larger than that of the master cabin. There’s more space down here, better headroom and still plenty of light courtesy of the many hull lights.

When I had the chance to sea trial the Silent 55, albeit in motorboat format, I jumped at it. It was a contrary autumn day on Mallorca with 15 knots breeze – just a shame, then, that this wasn’t one of the sailing configured versions.

To start with, getting on board is made really easy courtesy of deep boarding platforms on the skirts. She feels rather square because of that vast, glazed saloon with its deep overhang, and perhaps because of the utilitarian nature of the hard top, which is really about supporting more solar panels. Nevertheless, the side decks are broad and uncluttered. The space up top is designed to concertina down flat, hence the hydraulic rams, fold-down seat back and lowering console. It makes a great sailing position, though, with all round visibility, and is also perfect for sundowners at anchor. When the rain comes down, this feels quite exposed, but there is a fully sheltered helm at the front of the saloon, and it is also possible to drive the boat from anywhere using a tablet thanks to smart electronics. Under power, the handling is superb. The quietness of the motors is astonishing, and I gather they’ll be inaudible on the next boat, which will do away with the gearbox. Even in the aft cabins, directly above the motors, there is no more than a distant hum. The boat responds instantly to the power and the wind seemed to have no impact at all. As with any propulsion system, the power consumption jumps as you pile on the speed – it was sobering to see. At 6 knots, both motors drew 10kW but at 8 knots it was closer to 30kW. I liked the huge saloon with its raised table for 360º views. And the sliding door and window gives great access aft, connecting the saloon and cockpit in fine conditions. The finish was smart and in muted tones, feeling more Scandinavian than German.

Intriguingly, at least it seems to me, Köhler has tapped into something with the concept behind Silent Yachts – but not entirely for the reasons that he expected. Buyers are opting for the sail or kite versions of the boat because they want a comfortable wind-powered craft with abundant, quiet energy on tap. It brings a whole new meaning to the 
term ‘powercat’

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SILENT Yachts

SILENT 55 – The award-winning solar yacht

In November 2019 the SILENT 55 won the “Best of Boats Award” in the “Best for Travel” category.

This special category is defined as “suitable for long-distance travel with all the amenities to live permanently on board, adapted to both inland waters and the harsh conditions at sea”.

In general, it can be handled easily by two people, which makes the SILENT 55 ideal for families who travel with or without additional crew.

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Trans-Ocean

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500 – 1.000 L

Dirty water

600 – 1.600 L

Solar panels

Ce certification, sunlight yachts, office mallorca, privacy overview.

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Silent Yachts 55: Liveaboard test of this future-proof electric catamaran

• Photos: Jack Haines / Silent Yachts

With there being no engine noise the skipper could make an early start without disturbing charter guests

The crew meet up with another Silent 55 on charter in Mallorca

• Silent Yachts CEO and Tinker head ashore on the tender

The solar array is most effective with the hardtop retracted so it doesn’t shade the other panels

• The 27ft 7in beam gives the 55 excellent natural stability when at rest or on anchor
• You only need to head into port to replenish food stocks – the rest takes care of itself

Returning to the Silent 55 after an evening walk ashore

Breakfast at anchor is the norm when shore power isn’t an issue

• The heart of the boat is a brilliantly sociable space
• The American-style domestic fridge/freezer in the galley

The internal dinette is the team’s workspace during the summer months

• Familiar controls mean the Silent 55 feels no different to helm than a “normal” boat
• The master suite is a great cabin but it needs blinds or curtains
• The VIP ensuite runs most of the length of the starboard hull and it’s a real gem

This spectacular Mallorcan sunset marks a suitable end to a day of silent cruising

• The energy harnessed from the solar panels is stored in a 210kWh battery bank
• The compact electric motors reside beneath the floor
• The digital management system displays power usage and battery life
• Top stories

An extended stay on board the revolutionary Silent Yachts 55 allows us to assess whether this really is the future of the motorboat

The April 2019 edition of MBY – our Future of Boating special – included a boat test of the Silent Yachts 55 in, shall we say, less than ideal conditions. Given that the boat is a solar-powered power catamaran the sheeting rain that we endured during our short sea trial somewhat hindered the boat’s ability to show us what it could do.

At the time I lamented the weather and commented that to assess properly whether the Silent 55 is a viable cruising machine we’d need more time on board to test its technology in realistic conditions and, ideally, somewhere sunny. Luckily, Silent Yachts agreed so in July we headed out to Mallorca to live aboard the boat for three days to see if it works.

Our meeting point is Santa Ponsa in Mallorca’s south west, not the most salubrious of locations, but the bay, with shelter from the prevailing winds and excellent holding, is where the Silent Yachts team base themselves for the summer months.

It says much about the liveaboard potential of this boat that Silent Yachts’ CEO Michael Köhler and his wife Heike run the business from the Silent 55 during the season and are regularly joined by members of their team and potential clients so that they can experience the boat for themselves.

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A sailor at heart, Michael is not a man who likes to be tied to marinas (they spent one night in port last season) so this tranquil anchorage is ideal. We are met on the quayside by the tender (powered by a Torqeedo electric outboard , naturally) and whisked silently towards the transom of the awaiting Silent 55 where we are welcomed by the Köhler’s Australian sheepdog, Tinker, and meet the other crew members Euan and Christian, who both work for the shipyard.

Every berth on board is occupied, meaning the boat’s living spaces and the technology used to keep the creature comforts running smoothly are going to be thoroughly tested.

Article continues below…

VIDEO: Silent Yachts 55 review

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Our hosts graciously offer me and my wife our pick of the cabins but they usher us towards the master suite and after some token protestations, we cave and head forward to stow our bags. The master on this four-cabin version (there are five- or six-cabin options available) is a beauty that straddles the hulls and has a vast ensuite that occupies the forward portion of the starboard hull.

The bed is huge, there’s more storage space than you can shake a stick at and the separate toilet, shower cubicle and open-plan basin are particularly luxurious touches. The lack of curtains or blinds over any of the numerous windows catches my eye, however, as this odd omission was also noted on the boat I originally tested back in April.

The boat we’re on is the E-Power version; there is a Cruiser with smaller electric motors and a Hybrid , which mates two 14kW electric motors to a pair of 220hp diesel engines. Our boat has two 250kW (the equivalent of 335hp each) electric motors, an array of 30 solar panels on the roof with a maximum output of 10kW and a 210kWh battery bank.

This neatly interlinked system is tasked with propelling the boat up to a top speed of 18 knots and running its domestic supply, which on top of the usual lighting and sockets includes an American-style domestic fridge/freezer, air-conditioning and a water maker. There is some internal combustion going on, though, because there is a 100kW generator on board, employed as a range extender or charging aid if there is nothing but liquid sunshine in the air.

It’s a beautiful late afternoon so we haul the anchor and creep, in total silence, past our neighbouring boats for a shakedown around the headland. Much of the driving experience is the same as a boat with engines: you turn a key to activate the drivetrain and, though there is no gearbox, the throttles still have neutral, forward and reverse settings – more for their familiarity than anything else.

And it is totally silent; the gearbox whine of the boat I tested earlier this year now eradicated, all you can hear is the gentle swish of water folding around the bathing platform.

Though our boat has twin 250kW motors it’s only got 70kW of power per side because it is still in the final stages of manufacturer testing, which is a shame. That said, even with the full 500kW on tap, you’re still going to run the boat most economically at 6 knots.

Even an increase of speed to 10 knots could decrease running time by two hours or more, so it pays to stick in the slow lane – no hardship on a power cat of such dimensions and inherent stability with a litany of places to chill out in as the boat glides towards its destination.

We found ourselves gravitating towards the padded nets on the foredeck where you can sit with the sun on your face and breeze in your hair, gently bobbing up and down with the motion of the swell. The nets, your proximity to the water and the hushed progress engender a unique connection to the sea beneath you that is really rather special.

Though we have over 50% charge in the batteries Michael fires up the generator on the way back to base to top them up a touch; doing this while running is the best time because you barely notice the noise of the generator on the move.

We awake early the next morning as bright sunshine cascades through the windows of our cabin. Every other cabin on board is fitted with blinds, but the splendour of our huge master suite is dampened a touch by the lack of them in here. The windows are at least heavily tinted so we can get changed safe in the knowledge that we can’t be seen by the crew on deck.

These quibbles evaporate as we head to the main deck for breakfast, which is laid out invitingly on the sprawling cockpit table. This is the heart of the boat, an area where the cockpit and galley merge and one where the crew naturally congregates. The weather is beautiful so we plan a longer cruise to an anchorage a few miles east near Puerto Portals.

With the sun beating down already we depart our base with 65% charge in the batteries, pick up the 6-knot cruising speed and settle in for the ride. To get the best out of this boat you have to think like a sailor when passage planning, manipulating the elements as best you can so that they are helping and not hindering progress.

Tidal flow or current and wind direction all have an impact on range so it pays to have nature’s forces on your side. If high-speed blasts between islands is your thing then this boat isn’t going to work for you, but if time is your friend then the Silent 55 makes a lot of sense. Consider this too, if it’s autonomy you’re after then the 55 is in a league of its own. You only need to head in to port to top up with water (if you don’t have the water maker) and replenish food stocks.

With a 600-litre diesel capacity the generator’s tank will not need regular fills and there are no mechanicals to service apart from the generator itself so you need to carry very few spare components. You don’t depend on shore power either so if you genuinely want to live on board and get away from the crowded surroundings of a marina this boat delivers that.

The powercat frame is ideal for this usage too, given the sheer amount of living space. Where you’d normally find a pair of big engines are two enormous storage voids because the compact electric motors live beneath the floor in the aft cabins. Its twin hulls and 27ft 7in (8.46m) beam endow it with inherent stability, too, creating what feels like your own little island and a tremendous base from which to enjoy the piercing blue water of a Mallorcan cove .

She’s electric

Our 10nm mile journey on electric power took around two hours and during that trip the charge diminished from 65% to 48% (giving a theoretical range of 59 miles on a full charge). Once the anchor hits the seabed we use just 2kW of power running the domestic supply, though there is a spike when we turn on the air-conditioning to cool the cabins down before bed.

There is sufficient energy to run the air-con without turning the generator on, but with a stiff breeze blowing through the boat a quick blast is all we need for a comfortable night’s sleep. As the day boats make a dash for home at dusk, the bay becomes our own and after a refreshing dip we shower and change before the teppanyaki grill is set up on the cockpit table and we prepare to enjoy a beautiful dinner as the sun melts into the horizon.

The next day we have to return to Santa Ponsa so it’s up early for a glorious morning dip to shake off the previous evening’s digestif. The pace of life mirrors the pace of boat, but we decide to have breakfast on the move so we can get back to base before it gets too busy.

With there being no engine noise or vibration the skipper could easily make an early start without disturbing charter guests, something you would struggle to achieve on even the most well-insulated diesel boats.

Maybe it was the Mallorcan sun or a case of being caught in the moment but as we cruised silently west and I took to the cosy perch on the Silent 55’s port side deck I couldn’t help thinking what hard work it looked as other boats charged about with their bows in the air and guests glued to their seats. We pull up in Santa Ponsa with a healthy 37% of charge remaining in the batteries.

Our verdict

The Silent 55 is not perfect and you can see and feel the yard’s immaturity in the rudimentary finishing in places. I also have an issue with the terrible view from the lower helm, even though you spend most of your time helming from the flybridge. Nor is the Silent 55 a handsome craft; designs for the 80 and 60ft versions show a far more attractive look with much neater proportions and a tidier window line.

In early September, though, I receive a video from Michael via WhatsApp. It’s of him standing on one of the bathing platforms as the Silent 55 charges through the water at 17 knots on electric power. The testing phase, it seems, is complete and all 500kw can be laid down at once; it’s quite a sight to see the boat travelling at such speed with no engine noise whatsoever. The boat may still need some of its rough edges smoothing off but the technology works and sets an important motorboating milestone.

Price as reviewed:

£1,730,000.00 (ex. VAT)

Price from : €1,400,000 ex VAT LOA : 54ft 8in (16.7m) Beam: 27ft 7in (8.46m) Draught : 2ft 1in (0.64m) Displacement : 19 tonnes (light) Fuel capacity : 600 litres (132 gal) Water capacity : 500 litres (110 gal) RCD category: A for 12 people Design: Michael Köhler & iYacht

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2021 Silent Yachts Silent 55

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SILENT YACHTS 55

SPECIFICATIONS

• Length Overall 54' 8
• Max Draft 3' 9
• Displacement 34,400 Lbs.
• Water Capacity 264 Gallons
• Fuel Capacity 422 Gallons

The Silent Yachts 55 is an ocean-going catamaran that meets the highest ship building standards, respects the enviornment, and makes no compromises regarding luxury cruising at the same time. This yacht is powered by solar energy. In the standard configuration, the two 30 kW electric motors achieve a maximum speed of 12 knots.

With a Silent Yacht, it is possible to cross the oceans with pure and clean solar energy, without giving up any comfort from a conventionally powered yacht. Imagine silent cruising every day with an inspiring sunrise as well as a breathtaking sunset.

Up to eight guests can enjor four luxury staterooms on board the Silent 55. Each suite is equipped with air conditioning and an ensuite bathroom. Thanks to the 27' 7" beam, the Silent 55 has a massive platform to create an incredibly comfortable and spacious interior.

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Silent Yachts 80

Bahamas, The Bahamas

In November of 2019, the Silent 55 won the “Best of Boats Award” in the category “Best for Travel”. This specific category is clearly defined as “suitable for long distance travels with all amenities to live on board permanently”.

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Silent-Yachts Updates Its 55

• By Victor Tan
• Updated: July 9, 2019

Silent-Yachts has updated its eco-friendly Silent 55 power catamaran .

The upgrades start with a revised drive-train. It has twin 250 kW e-motors, a 210 kWh battery capacity (a 90 kW increase from the previous battery) and 32 solar panels that allow the yacht to run solely on solar power. The new Silent 55 can reach a reported 20-knot top hop and cruises at 12 knots. A 15 kVA inverter also supplies power to all appliances.

The newer Silent 55 has five accommodations layouts, ranging from three to six staterooms and three or four heads. The master stateroom is amidships and full-beam (28 feet). Speaking of space, the updated Silent 55 has about 131 square feet of it between its salon, helm and galley. And the yacht’s flybridge overhang shades the cockpit. The flybridge provides unobstructed sightlines.

The new Silent 55 comes with a 50,000 Btu air-conditioning system. When cruising in cooler climes, the system’s reverse-cycle heat should keep everyone warm. Guests can also adjust temperature in each room. Structural improvements also lend themselves to better noise reduction. The Silent 55 is built via vacuum-bagged resin-infusion. Additionally, the Silent 55’s hull form has carbon-fiber reinforcement at the vessel’s stress points and vinylester resin helps prevent osmotic blistering.

The upgraded Silent 55 should debut at the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival in September.

For more information, visit: silent-yachts.com

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Stay at Sea Forever with Solar-Powered Yacht

Silent yachts’ silent 55 catamaran runs on 100-percent solar power for weeks on end., john lyon's most recent stories.

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Like the automotive, aviation, and, let’s face it, nearly every other industry, yacht builders have caught on to the power (pardon the pun) of eco-friendly design. To be fair, the concept is nothing new: There are plenty of hybrid-electric yachts out there, and even a few equipped with large banks of photovoltaic cells. But traditional hybrid models still rely—to some degree—on burning fossil fuels, and the solar panels are generally able to produce only enough energy to power onboard systems.

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The Silent Yachts Silent 55 catamaran that made its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival last week , however, changes all that. It’s able to generate enough power through its high-efficiency solar cells to power both onboard amenities as well as propulsion. Translation? Like a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that can spend huge amounts of time at sea, the 55-foot yacht can be configured to be almost entirely self-sufficient. Not only does this mean that the boat doesn’t produce any nasty exhaust, distracting operating noise, or excessive vibrations from traditional engines, it also means that it has an essentially unlimited range (as long as the sun keeps shining). For inclement weather and emergencies, there is a generator on board that can charge the battery. The yacht is even able to harness the solar-electric system to power a water maker capable of supplying as many as six staterooms.

The model shown at Cannes was the E-Power version, which uses two 135 kW motors to travel as fast as 14 knots. But the boat can also be configured in the slower Cruiser version or the more powerful Hybrid Power variation, which pairs two electric motors with two diesel engines. Finally, the sailing set can invest in the Sailor version, which has a mast as well as any previously mentioned motor configuration.

The customization continues inside, with the shipbuilder offering five interior layouts available that accommodate anywhere from three to six staterooms—each of which can be equipped with double or twin berths. If you’re focused on personal pampering, three of the layouts include a full-beam owner’s stateroom. A deck above, you’ll find a combination galley, saloon, and helm, where guests will spend much of their time.

Given all the problems in the world, we wouldn’t blame you for abandoning land altogether, and since the Silent 55’s has the ability to travel 100 miles a day for weeks on end without needing to stop at port, you may have found your perfect escape from reality.

John Lyon joined the Robb Report team in 2009. Starting out as an intern, he has worn many hats over the years and written and edited for nearly every category. However, his lifelong love of all…

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A solar-powered yacht that claims to be virtually silent as it cruises is on the market for $1.54 million — here's a look inside

• Austrian shipyard Silent Yachts debuted a new 55-foot catamaran that runs on solar power earlier this year at the Cannes Yachting Festival .
• The Silent 55 later appeared at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November.
• The eco-friendly yacht does not sacrifice luxury. In addition to running on solar energy, the company says the yacht runs silently. It also has lavish amenities, including a master suite that occupies an entire beam.
• Its release marks yet another example in a recent trend towards sustainable luxury travel .
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Silent 55 takes "chasing the sun" to a whole new level.

The Austrian shipyard Silent Yachts has been experimenting with alternative energy sources for yachts since 2005. Its newest yacht, the Silent 55, is a solar-electric catamaran that the company says can run completely on solar energy and cruises silently.

The Silent 55 catamaran made its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival earlier this year and has since been making the boat show circuit, most recently appearing at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show .

Solar panels lining the vessel not only support solar-propulsion, but air conditioning and lighting, too, eliminating the need for a generator. When necessary, electric-propulsion can support the vessel as well. This eco-friendly yacht is just one example in a recent trend of of sustainable luxury travel .

Robb Report's Julia Zaltzman reported the Silent 55 is selling for 1.4 million euros (or about $1.54 million).

Here's a look inside the vessel.

Austrian shipyard Silent Yachts unveiled a new solar-powered catamaran at this year's Cannes Yachting Festival.

It has since appeared at the famed Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Source: Silent Yachts

The 55-foot vessel is lined with 30 solar panels that reach 10 kilowatts each.

The panels use maximum power point tracking solar charge regulators and lithium batteries. An inverter provides power to other necessities like air conditioning and lighting in the cabins.

Source: Silent Yachts , Robb Report

The catamaran was designed to have zero emissions and to cruise up to 100 miles per day.

In addition to its eco-friendly features, the vessel also has lavish amenities.

There are multiple spots to lounge, including trampoline-like netting along the bow of the boat.

There are also outdoor ...

... and indoor dining areas.

The two hulls encompass four cabins ...

... including a full-beam master suite with natural light.

Each cabin is additionally equipped with its own private bathroom.

The Silent 55 represents "an entirely new dynamic in yachting," Silent Yachts president and founder, Michael Kohler said in a press release. Boaters are striving to be more eco-friendly but are unwilling to sacrifice luxury.

The "new dynamic" in yachting that Kohler references has particularly taken off in 2019.

Business Insider previously reported that  a model for the first hydrogen-powered yacht was unveiled in September by Sinot, a Dutch yacht-design company. The concept is similar to that of the Silent 55, albeit on a larger scale. The 367-foot vessel will be completely powered by liquid hydrogen and fuel-cell technology. Its only emission will be water.

The idea of alternative sources powering luxury vessels extends from yachts to cruises: The world's first hybrid cruise ship is currently on its maiden voyage to Antarctica. The MS Roald Amundsen runs on low sulfur diesel fuel supported by battery packs, cutting cruise ship emissions by 20%.

Increased attention to sustainability and conservation in the luxury travel sector play into the larger trend of  "transformational travel." Ultimately, the ultrawealthy want to leave their vacation with a transformative, emotional experience to bring home, and in some cases,  want to make a positive impact on the places they visit.

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SILENT 55 Boat for Sale

55' silent | 2019 | $2,195,000.

• Yachts for sale
• motoryachts

Last updated Oct 30, 2023

Silent 55 Yacht | 55' Silent 2019

An Amazing opportunity to purchase the only Silent/ Eco vessel in the US that is Charter ready and comes with a Florida LLC. 

A one stop eco charter vessel just waiting for the right new owner!

Silent Yachts presents the first and only ocean going production yachts in the world that are fully sustainable and powered by solar energy.

• Unlimited range
• Solar panels - zero maintenance and 25 year warranty
• Lithium Ion batteries - zero maintenance and 8 year warranty
• Electric motors - zero maintenance and lifetime warranty
• No more noise and fumes
• No more fuel bills
• No more maina electric bills
• Considerable reduction in maintenance
• Industry leading components

Denison Yachting is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Silent Yachts North America.

Denison Yacht Sales offers the details of this yacht in good faith but can’t guarantee the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of this boat for sale. This yacht for sale is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal from that yacht market without notice. She is offered as a convenience by this yacht broker to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a specific yacht for sale.

INQUIRE ABOUT SILENT 55

Have questions about this yacht? Fill out the form below and our team of experts will contact you soon.

Your privacy is important to us. Find out how we protect it. Privacy Policy

First-Time Buyer?

Read our guide to learn the process for buying SILENT 55

Silent 55 HIGHLIGHTS

• Yacht Details: 55' Silent 2019
• Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Engines: Kräutler
• Last Updated: Oct 30, 2023
• Asking Price: $2,195,000
• Maximum Speed: 15 kn
• Max Draft: 3' 9''

Silent 55 additional information

• Cruising Speed: 6 kn
• Beam: 27' 8''
• Hull Material: Fiberglass
• Fuel Tank: 1 x 1735|liter
• Fresh Water: 1 x 500|liter
• Holding: 2 x 500|liter
• Max Passengers: 16
• Solar panels – zero maintenance & 25yr warranty
• Lithium Ion batteries - zero maintenance & 8yr warranty
• Electric motors - zero maintenance & lifetime warranty
• No more noise & fumes
• No more marina electric bills

Silent Yachts presents the first and only ocean going production yachts in the world that are fully sustainable and powered by solar energy. Pure solar-powered luxury.

Silent Yachts was founded on the dream of eliminating the industries effects on the environment without sacrificing the slightest bit of luxury. The future of luxury yachting is individualistic, noiseless, self-sufficient and honoring nature and the environment.

Imagine starting every morning with an awe inspiring sunrise and ending the day with a breathtaking sunset! Watch, smell, feel nature and be aware that you take responsibility for the environment.

It is both our philosophy and our commitment to offer the best available solar-powered yachts, uniquely designed and constructed, offering unlimited worldwide range and electric motors capable of achieving speeds of up to 17 knots

Many years of research and proven use have demonstrated that a Silent yacht can cruise exclusively on solar power for up to 100 miles per day, run all household appliances including air conditioning, permanently.

Range is unlimited with solar powered electric propulsion, therefore more than Transocean-range.

While combustion engines have an energy efficiency of around 30%, electric motors feature an energy efficiency rate of more than 98%. This saves a lot of power and emits significantly less heat.

High levels of luxury require permanently available energy. On a Silent yacht, you can watch TV, enjoy a cold beer, have the air conditioning running and produce up to 2000 liters of drinking water per day without starting the generator.

High-efficiency solar cells and light-weight Lithium-Batteries provide ample energy and charging for the propulsion as well as for all household appliances, e.g. for television, air-conditioning, ice-machine, water-maker, laptop etc.

Silent Yachts has established a partnership with MG Energy Systems to provide energy systems for all models. There are numerous types of lithium batteries on the market. The brand we are using is universally regarded as industry leader with regards safety, performance, weight and life-span.

A diesel generator (range extender) is fitted as a safety back up. If necessary, due to longer periods of bad weather or where extended durations of higher speed is required, will automatically start when the batteries register below 30%, and seamlessly integrates into the charging system.

Due to the lack of “moving Parts” associated with this technology, our yachts are considerably more reliable, and much less expensive to operate and maintain.

• Solar panels fitted to Silent Yachts are zero maintenance and guaranteed for 25 years.
• Lithium batteries are zero maintenance and guaranteed for 8 years.
• The electric motors have a lifetime warranty, and are virtually zero maintenance, with only a set of inexpensive bearings needing to be changed every 50,000 hours of use. When you consider the average yearly usage is 400 – 600 hours, don’t forget to schedule that service call every 80 years.
• Depending on the optional usage of the range extender generator, standard maintenance is required, often on a 100hr basis. One owner recently reported only running their generator for 6 hours, during their transatlantic crossing.
• Electric Motor……...Lifetime
• Solar Panels……….25 years
• Batteries……………8 years
• Hull/GRP parts….…5 years
• General Fit/Finish…2 years

All the electrical components are of high industrial quality and are being engineered / built in Europe and the USA.

Motors, inverters and their cables are IP69 certified. This means that they’re rated to work when permanently submerged in highly pressurized water. In comparison to a conventional diesel powered propulsion system an electric motor is far more reliable as the only moving parts are the rotor and its two bearings.

All wiring is tin-coated and all plugs feature a custom design which prevents humidity and water from entering. Additionally, all parts exposed to the marine environment are made of corrosion resistant materials.

All vital components are redundant to ensure double safety. The configuration of all components makes sure an overload is impossible, deeming the solar-electric drivetrain far safer than conventional propulsion systems. We are also proud to say that our catamarans were the first to be certified according to DIN EN ISO 16315 for the marine operations of electrically powered yachts.

Underwater lines are optimized by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and towing-tank tests. The lightweight construction is a result of bionic design, the use of carbon fibers and high-quality resins.

Interior furniture is made of stiff and lightweight composite plates with real wood-veneer. This reduces the weight significantly to about half the weight of a conventionally constructed and powered yacht.

Each kg/Lb saved is equivalent to less wave drag and friction and therefore less energy required to move the vessel through the water. Overall, this leads to high levels of efficiency enabling fast and self-sustaining propulsion.

Salon and cabins are wrapped in thermal insulation. Furthermore, all windows are shaded by either the roof and/or the hull, thus lowering the energy consumption needed to keep the interior at comfortable temperature levels.

The photovoltaic modules recharge the batteries with a maximum output of 10 kWp, and are the main power source of our yachts. We use the most efficient, most advanced and highest quality modules currently available. Their arrangement, the positioning and the regulation of charge are some of the main secrets and reasons why our yachts are able to harvest that much energy from the sun - sufficient to power all household appliances, all devices that you need for your comfort and even the propulsion system.

A new class of yachting is on the rise. Freedom from the need to return to the shore ensures a refreshingly autonomous experience onboard the Silent 55. With solar power and a wide range of options to make untethered cruising a joy, the only reason to enter a marina is to explore exciting new places or pick up local delicacies.

Under way all that can be heard is the gentle swish of water around the hull and the soothing sounds of the natural environment.

Shore Power Inlet

Lithium battery capacity - 210kWh

Depth sounder

Log-Speedometer

Navigation Center – Simrad EVO3

Tender (Zodiac 5+1 person)

Electric Engine - Torqeedo Travel 1103 CS with 2 batteries

EXPLORE THIS YACHT

Schedule a Tour of SILENT 55

Contact our team to schedule a private showing.

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