What if the passion for old-fashioned speedboats, like the iconic Rivas of the 1960s, was back? Reviving the classic speedboat in 2019 is being attempted by a Belgian, Michael Goddaert soul of the Belgian shipyard Domani, which at the Dusseldorf show presented the design of the Domani E32 (9.50 m) that will be in the water by summer. The big difference from the motorboats of the golden age, those of the Dolce Vita of the 1960s/70s, lies in the noise.
Boats of yesterday VS boats of today
In fact, the Tomorrow 32 sails in perfect silence, much as those of the past were loud and made a point of boasting about it, complete with chrome-plated, steaming exhausts at the water’s edge. But times have changed, and in this brand-new nine-meter boat that otherwise evokes, actualized, the design of sporty open boats of the past, you can’t hear anything but the rustle of waves created by the hull when it moves. It comes about thanks to 100% electric motorization that enables it to reach 20 knots by means of the Torqeedo Deep Blue 80i 1800 rpm system.
The maximum range it can achieve is 200 km (but cruising at 10 km/hour) and is provided by 40kWh Samsung Lithium batteries, identical to those installed on the electric car, the BMW i3. Recharging them takes only four hours in fast mode, 13 in standard mode. Alternatively, one can choose hybrid mode, just as in today’s best-selling cars, with an internal battery pack charging generator that powers the electric powertrain.
The innovations of Tomorrow E32
Also included on the Domani E32 is one of today’s innovations that was missing on the powerboats from which it was inspired: the stabilizer, which keeps the boat motionless without rolling either under sail or at anchor. Another innovative element is the choice of three versions: hard top, soft top, targa, or open.
Another feature that makes the Domani E32 different from a similarly sized boat of the past is its weight, which is 2,000/2,200 kilograms, at least half the weight of a powerboat of 40/50 years ago. This is quite a leap forward, thanks to the hi-tech fiberglass construction, but also thanks to the absence of heavy heat engines. The lightness benefits the softer and more comfortable passage over the wave for those on board in addition to the saving of energy when advancing on the wave which means less consumption.
As for the design you only have to look at the sketches on this page to realize that there are many, many references to speedboats of the past. And that’s certainly not a bad thing for those who want a “glamorous” boat with an elegance that many of today’s boats no longer have.
Data Sheet of the boat: Tomorrow E32
- Overall length: 9.50 m
- Maximum width: 2.70 m
- Total weight: 2,200 kg
- Motor: electric with foot and propeller, Torqeedo Deep Blue 80i 1800 rpm
- Approximate price: 197,000 euros excluding VAT
info@domaniyachts.com
www.domaniyachts.com
