All Bruno Hervouet wanted was a day of sailing with his family free from the smell and noise of a diesel-powered boat motor. What the champion sailor now has is the Aequus 7.0, a first-of-its-kind solar-electric day cruiser powered by solar panels that are embedded in the cruiser’s retractable Canopy.
The French company Aequus, working with Hervouet, released the boat just over a month ago after testing 18 different hulls in a test wave tank. The Aequus has a motor of 4-kilowatts (kW) — enough oomph to purportedly reach a cruising speed of 7 knots — and is currently selling for a ripple over $70,000. The cruiser is equipped with enough lead-acid batteries to allow the ship’s crew to enjoy up to eight hours of sailing without the sun.
When it comes to on-board amenities, Aequus didn’t cut any corners. The seven-meter-long vessel can accommodate up to seven people and comes standard with a refrigerator, toilet and waste water tank. But if you have the funds to splurge on all the trimmings, you can also purchase extra batteries, electric windlass (winch) and a custom trailer.
Depending on national regulations, the Auquus 7.0 can be operated without a marine license because it is a Class C vessel. It can be handled by a single person, and its electric system requires no check ups, oil changes or fuel.
