ExploMar Brings 300hp Electric Outboard Platform to Superyacht Tender Market

ExploMar used the 2026 Monaco Yacht Show to put its WAVE electric-outboard platform in front of the superyacht market, with the 300hp WAVE 300 at the centre of the display. The company’s presence at Darse Sud brought high-output electric propulsion directly into conversations around tenders, chase boats and other auxiliary craft.

For superyacht operations, that application is more relevant than the motor’s headline horsepower alone. Tender duty cycles involve repeated transfers, idling, rapid acceleration and frequent returns to a parent yacht or marina, making charging arrangements and usable range central to any propulsion decision.

WAVE 300 reaches 225kW peak output

ExploMar lists the WAVE 300 at 225kW peak output, equivalent to 300hp, with continuous output rated at 150kW. The 25-inch version is listed at approximately 218kg before batteries and the rest of the propulsion installation are taken into account.

The complete system weight is therefore substantially greater than the motor figure by itself. Designers need to consider battery capacity, distribution, cooling, steering and control equipment when comparing an electric package with a conventional tender installation.

Twin installations extend into larger tenders

The manufacturer’s system catalogue includes twin WAVE 300 installations producing a combined 600hp for craft in roughly the eight-to-15-metre range. Published battery configurations include 360kWh, 480kWh and 540kWh packages.

That vessel-size range overlaps with the tenders and chase boats carried or operated alongside large yachts. It does not mean every 15-metre boat can achieve an acceptable operating profile with the same battery package; hull form, speed, load and route remain decisive.

Electric propulsion changes tender logistics

An electric outboard can reduce local exhaust emissions and change noise and vibration characteristics around a yacht’s swim platform or beach club. It also shifts part of the operational planning from fuel transfer to electrical charging and available onboard or shoreside power.

For a superyacht carrying high-capacity generation and battery systems, that integration may be attractive. For others, charging time and electrical capacity can become constraints, particularly during intensive guest operations away from marinas.

Monaco provides a direct superyacht test market

ExploMar’s Monaco appearance places the system before builders, designers, captains and owner representatives who can evaluate it against real tender requirements. The company’s wider range extends well beyond 300hp through multi-motor configurations, but each installation still requires vessel-specific engineering.

The immediate significance is that electric outboards are moving into power levels relevant to substantial superyacht auxiliaries. Whether they replace conventional propulsion will depend on operating range and charging infrastructure as much as motor output.