Yachting USA — March 2018

8 8 YACHTING MARCH 2018

INSIGHTS TRENDS Avon eJet

BATTERIES INCLUDED

The Avon eJet is a groundbreaking electric tender..

By Michael Verdon

A

von’s ejet 14-foot-
8-inch RIB, introduced last
year at the Cannes Yacht-
ing Festival, combines an
80 hp Torqeedo Deep Blue electric
motor with a new Avon RIB hull form.
The boat pushes across the wa-
ter via jet drives rather
than props. Deep Blue is a
high-voltage, brushless motor
with NMEA 2000 and J1939
CAN interfaces that give the
helmsman battery data, avail-
able range and other critical infor-
mation on a helm display.
The vessel’s 32 kWh BMW battery,
first used in BMW’s i3 series cars,
should provide 90 minutes of run time
at the eJet’s estimated 26-knot top-
end with two people on board. Avon

also is estimating seven hours of run

time at a more leisurely 5 to 6 knots.

The builder says the RIB’s standard

cruise speed will be around 20 knots.

Compared to RIBs with gas or die-

sel engines, the eJet’s benefi ts include

no fuel or oil to service or change. As

with an electric car, owners will

appreciate the vessel’s instant

torque and near-silent running.

The Avon team says it opti-

mized usable space throughout

the interior, and added a swim

platform to augment that initiative.

With its projected top hop and

easy-to-stow size, the Avon eJet could

claim many tender garages when it

hits the production line next year.

Take the next step: avonmarine.com

INNOVATIONS

1. Avon went high-end with
   Serge Ferrari upholstery on the
   eJet; the quilted fabric is
   hand-sewn. 2. The builder has
   used its tried-and-tested
   Hypalon fabric on the hull, a
   material that resists UV rays,
   temperature extremes and
   chemicals. 3. The eJet’s position
   and batteries can be
   monitored via smartphone.

The Avon eJet RIB uses the same battery as BMW’s i3 series automobiles.

2

3

1

LOA

14'8"

TOP

SPEED

26 KNOTS