Boating has quite the history; one that can be traced back to pre-historical times when boats were primarily used for work. Their use for pleasure in England began as a sport for kings and the socially elite with regattas on the River Thames in the mid-1600s. This sparked interest for many others, with the formation of sailing clubs in the 1700s. Sailing at that time involved hard physical work for the crew, but this changed in the late 1800s when the first engine was created, revolutionising the industry and making recreational boating much more accessible to the public.
Engines evolved in the same way as the automobile industry, allowing boating to become more economical and the industry to boom after the war. There have been challenges, especially in the early 1980s when unemployment and inflation were high, but today recreational boating is on the rise as the public seeks outdoor leisure activities in the wake of Covid-19.
People are in search of the harmony of the river or sea; to hear the sound of water against the side of the boat not the noise of engines – which raises the question: is now the time for the industry to revolutionise again with the introduction of electric boats?
We have seen a shift in political views, with companies’ ESG criteria taking priority and an influx of new technology making it an easy step to piggy-back on the electric car industry. The first Green Tech Boat Show took place recently at Queen Anne’s Battery in Plymouth for boat owners wishing to make the switch to greener options and prospective owners who would like to start their boating journey in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
But while the automotive industry is heavily preoccupied with the transition to electric cars, on the water we haven’t seen the same pace of change. The marine industry has been slower to phase out fossil fuels, but there are now a number of companies striving to become the Tesla of the sea.
As electric boating grows in popularity there is a number of things the marine industry can learn from the automotive industry, such as the need for electric boat charging outlets. Now is the time for marinas to invest in charging points; the car industry was slow with this process, but as marinas already have electricity for visiting boats this roll-out should be more achievable. The Broads Authority is also encouraging greener ways to travel, with reduced charges for electrically powered motor craft and a network of charging points.
We are going to see the electric marine industry making waves over the next few years, but it is difficult to predict whether this will become a mainstream shift as with the automotive industry. However, perhaps this is less of an issue as boating still remains a relatively elite pastime with the younger future customer having a much more eco-conscious outlook.
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