yacht the c is silent

• Yachting World
• Digital Edition

Review: Silent 55, the extraordinary solar powered yacht

• January 18, 2019

Silent Yachts is tapping into the solar zeitgeist and creating a new meaning for the term ‘powercat’.  Sam Fortescue reports

There is a slow, silent revolution under way in the yachting world. It is a revolution that is introducing tonnes of lithium and a sprinkling of silicon to the spec list of new boats. Holding out the promise of silent mobility, plus limitless domestic power on board, it made a big splash at the last Cannes Festival of Yachting – not least thanks to the new Silent 55 catamaran which debuted there.

From the pontoon side, the Silent 55 looks like a typical modern catamaran, with a big coachroof studded with windows and a flybridge helm. Except there’s no mast. Now, bear with me here. I realise that this is a sailing magazine, but we will shortly get back to more familiar territory. The unique qualities of this catamaran only become apparent from up top, where an expanse of solar panels stretches away fore and aft, embedded into the coachroof. The hard top itself carries yet more panels, and can be folded down flush to give an unshaded solar array of 49m2. During the heat of a summer day in the Med, this is capable of generating 10kW of power and up to around 60kWh in the course of the day.

But to make a solar system work in reality, Köhler had to go back to the drawing board on yacht design. The saloon and hulls have extra thermal insulation to keep air-con losses down, and the use of carbon and aramid in key areas helps reduce the overall weight to a decent 17 tonnes (a Lagoon 52 weighs 22.5 tonnes). He has tried to keep windows out of the direct sun with long overhangs and in contrast to the Lagoon’s 12 deck hatches, the Silent 55 has just two.

Holistic design

On the other hand, it has lots of opening windows, to allow a natural draught to do its job. “It’s a holistic approach – you can’t take the batteries and the drivetrain and drop it into another boat.”

Of course, using the propulsion system quickly takes its toll of the boat’s 140kW battery bank. The model on display at Cannes had two 135kW motors, giving you just half an hour of silent motoring flat-out, albeit at a top speed of over 20 knots. More reasonable 30kW engines and a single-digit speed give you greater range. Nonetheless, the electric drive alone isn’t going to allow you to outrun a storm, or race home after a day at anchor, so the boat is designed to work with a generator hidden in the heavily insulated transom of its starboard hull. At cruising speed of around 5-6 knots, Köhler says there is rarely any need to use the generator, citing an owner who has just emailed him triumphantly about a second year totally generator-free. “In the end, you have to compare it to the performance of a sailing boat,” Köhler says. “It is as fast as a sailing boat in similar conditions – after all, there is no wind without sun.” He went so far as to tell me during the sea trial in Palma, Mallorca, that he believed the majority of sailors would happily dispense with the hassle of sails and a rig if only they could enjoy silent motoring and anchoring. “As soon as people realise the incredible concept of this boat, they won’t understand why they ever did anything else.”

The market does not seem to agree with him – yet. Sales of the boat have been good – they have already sold six, five of which are already in the water. But of those, four customers have taken the sail option, which means planting a 19.7m tall mast complete with boom and rigging slap bang in the middle of the coachroof solar array. “I was a bit amazed,” Köhler admits. “The shade from the rig reduces the energy generated by the solar area, while it costs more and is heavier, so consumes more fuel. Maybe it is for optical reasons.” In fact, the shade of the rig slashes the average yield of the solar panels in half. In the Med, that means around 30kWh per day. But perhaps it figures. The typical profile of buyers is an environmentalist who has a Tesla electric car and is “an early adopter who likes to have things before others”. And at low speeds, with modest use of the air-con, the reduced energy generation should still cover daily consumption.

The performance under sail should be reasonable because of the lightweight build of the boat, its broad 8.47m beam and stub keels added to each hull. Control lines are led back via conduits in the coachroof to the flybridge helm station, to make single-handing under sail a possibility.

More interesting, I think, is a sort of halfway-house option using a kite rig. This optimises the performance of the solar panels and gives plenty of propulsion. On the smaller 55 and the 64, Silent Yachts currently recommends a 19m2 kite that costs around €25,000 – a fraction of the cost of a new mast, boom, shrouds and sails. “The sail automatically makes a figure of eight above the boat, and you can steer it with a joystick or an app on an android phone,” Köhler explains. “It can propel the 55 at up to 6 knots, even in light winds.” Perfect for an Atlantic crossing, then.

For the bigger Silent 79, which will hit the water in the summer, a commercial grade Sky Sail system needs to be used – a smaller version of the ones used on cargo ships. This kite can propel the boat at ten knots, but it costs more than ten times as much as its smaller cousin. Both are capable of pulling the boat upwind. So far, so new. But outside the novel energy and propulsion system, the Silent 55 aims to do what many other cruising catamarans are trying to achieve. “Most of our clients order for circumnavigation and long-term cruising,” Köhler says. So the boat is aimed to be as comfortable and capable as possible with watermakers, TVs and an induction hob that all capitalise on the boat’s abundant energy. A flexible configuration allows owners the choice 
of between three and six cabins – the latter designed for charter. The owner’s cabin lies forward of the saloon, under the windows of the coachroof, which provide magnificent views and abundant natural light. There’s a walk-around bed and steps down into the starboard hull give access to an en-suite shower room and heads.

In my view, the best cabin lies aft of this, accessed in the traditional manner down steps out of the saloon. The king-sized bed lies athwartships and the shower is larger than that of the master cabin. There’s more space down here, better headroom and still plenty of light courtesy of the many hull lights.

When I had the chance to sea trial the Silent 55, albeit in motorboat format, I jumped at it. It was a contrary autumn day on Mallorca with 15 knots breeze – just a shame, then, that this wasn’t one of the sailing configured versions.

To start with, getting on board is made really easy courtesy of deep boarding platforms on the skirts. She feels rather square because of that vast, glazed saloon with its deep overhang, and perhaps because of the utilitarian nature of the hard top, which is really about supporting more solar panels. Nevertheless, the side decks are broad and uncluttered. The space up top is designed to concertina down flat, hence the hydraulic rams, fold-down seat back and lowering console. It makes a great sailing position, though, with all round visibility, and is also perfect for sundowners at anchor. When the rain comes down, this feels quite exposed, but there is a fully sheltered helm at the front of the saloon, and it is also possible to drive the boat from anywhere using a tablet thanks to smart electronics. Under power, the handling is superb. The quietness of the motors is astonishing, and I gather they’ll be inaudible on the next boat, which will do away with the gearbox. Even in the aft cabins, directly above the motors, there is no more than a distant hum. The boat responds instantly to the power and the wind seemed to have no impact at all. As with any propulsion system, the power consumption jumps as you pile on the speed – it was sobering to see. At 6 knots, both motors drew 10kW but at 8 knots it was closer to 30kW. I liked the huge saloon with its raised table for 360º views. And the sliding door and window gives great access aft, connecting the saloon and cockpit in fine conditions. The finish was smart and in muted tones, feeling more Scandinavian than German.

Intriguingly, at least it seems to me, Köhler has tapped into something with the concept behind Silent Yachts – but not entirely for the reasons that he expected. Buyers are opting for the sail or kite versions of the boat because they want a comfortable wind-powered craft with abundant, quiet energy on tap. It brings a whole new meaning to the 
term ‘powercat’

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Electric Yachts

Silent yachts.

• Silent-60 Yacht

First voyage on the solar electric SILENT 60 yacht

After previously following and reporting on Silent Yachts , the solar-electric boat maker invited me down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to experience a cruise on the vessel for myself. The SILENT 60 yacht is a solar electric catamaran that represents the future of zero-emissions maritime travel and a mere stepping stone to the more advanced vessels Silent Yachts is already developing next.

For those of you unfamiliar, Silent Yachts was founded by Heike and Michael Köhle, who together have sailed over 75,000 nautical miles around the world. Following their extensive travels at sea, the founders decided there had to be a better way to propel yachts with clean energy.

Their research into solar yacht technologies began in 2004, kicking off five years of gathering sailing data  before constructing the company’s first fully self-sufficient  solar-powered catamaran , the Solarwave 46.

After a five-year trial at sea that began in 2010, Silent Yachts had a proven solar yacht concept, and began serial production of luxury sustainable vessels in 2016 with the SILENT 64. By 2018, The SILENT 64 had become the first serial-production  solar-powered bluewater catamaran  to cross the Atlantic, from Cartagena, Spain, to Barbados in 16 days.

In 2021, Silent Yachts launched the SILENT 60 yacht as a more powerful, revamped generation of its 64-foot predecessor. After accepting and invite from Silent Yachts to climb aboard the SILENT 60, I learned much more about the solar electric catamaran firsthand, in addition to what the company has in store next.

A (quick) trip aboard the SILENT 60 yacht

Following a quick visit to Silent Yacht’s North American office in south Florida, a couple of other writers and I were invited aboard the SILENT 60 – Silent Yachts 60-foot yacht mentioned above. Two things were particularly interesting about this voyage.

First, I was planning to be at sea all day, but that unfortunately was not the case. It was a trip just over an hour, but certainly enough time to explore the solar electric yacht and enjoy some time in the Florida sun cruising without any emissions.

Another interesting facet to this trip was that we were onboard with several potential customers as well. At a starting price of just over $2.75 million, it’s easy to imagine the level of affluence onboard, and since there were no real introductions, I used it as an opportunity to rub elbows with my ultra-wealthy deck mates.

At one point, one of the potential customers came up to me and asked if I was going to buy one. As a lowly writer no stranger to economy class flights, I naturally said “I’m seriously considering it, but I think I may go bigger.” That customer told me he was going to pull the trigger that day, and two other clients onboard also verbally committed to purchases and did in fact plan to go bigger.

This offers a testament to the quality and luxury of the SILENT 60 electric yacht – just 30 minutes aboard is all it takes to sell itself… as long as you have millions upon millions of dollars. I mean, the tax alone! The vessel we rode aboard had five bed across four separate cabins. Have a look at some of the interior images below.

Can this solar electric yacht perform? A look ahead

When we first untied and shoved off, it was amazing to experience how quiet the electric yacht was. I personally think this is a huge selling point for potential customers if you can get them on the water.

We were aboard the original two-deck version of the SILENT 60 yacht, which has since been replaced by the SILENT 62 three-deck option , based on the fact that a majority of customers favored the third deck. While our solar electric catamaran didn’t have the wing sail we covered when it debuted, it still had plenty of cool electrified specs to offer.

• Note this propulsion option is no longer offered, you can go bigger or smaller
• 225 kWh battery bank equipped with lithium-ion NMC cells
• According to Silent Yachts brand ambassador Kyle Miller, the combustion generator had not been turned on once since the vessel arrived in the US
• The upcoming SILENT 80 will have a 26 kWp array
• The rear deck can be raised and lowered to hold a dingy or become a swim platform

Truthfully, the SILENT 60 I got to ride upon offers clean quiet energy in the utmost form of luxury, but Silent Yachts isn’t the only one doing it. That being said, the electric yacht builder appears to be growing at a quick rate, especially in terms of innovation. Selling your products for multimillions probably helps with the R&D budget too.

Many of the features and customizations I was able to see up close on the SILENT 60 have already been improved and implemented on newer, upcoming electric yacht models. I already mentioned the three-deck layout, which can be assembled to multiple forms of open or closed walls depending on customer preference.

Silent Yachts is also going longer in its maritime range of available options. However, some of those larger vessels will be hybrid models to haul the larger ships, so that’s not much interest to me. What is of interest however are some of the new technologies Kyle Miller teased me with.

Silent Yachts is working on developing its own electric dingy which will sit on the rear deck of the SILENT 62 and in the hull of the SILENT 80. Other technologies mentioned were the possibility of liquid cooled batteries, and bi-directional charging.

The boat maker announced Silent Resorts earlier this year, focused on zero-carbon fully sustainable destinations for the electric yachts to venture to. Silent Yachts plans to use its all electric catamarans like the SILENT 60 yacht to help power the buildings, beginning in the Bahamas. Sign me up for that visit.

All in all, it was an interesting trip and I would love another chance to climb aboard one of Silent Yacht’s newer vessels – they clearly have plenty in their pipeline. Until then.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. When he’s not offering the latest tech how tos or insights, he’s probably watching Chicago sports. Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at [email protected]

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Greener and Better: the Silent 60

• By Chris Caswell
• December 16, 2022

If there was any question that the “Tesla moment” has arrived in yachting, the Silent 60 clearly provides a positive response.

Consider, for a moment, crossing oceans in silence at 5 to 6 knots without consuming a drop of fuel and never needing to plan your course between fuel stops. Imagine sitting at anchor and running the air conditioning all night, not to mention all the galley appliances plus the washer-dryer, without the hum or fumes from a genset.

During my time aboard the Silent-Yachts 60, the electric yacht cruised easily at 8 knots. When I whipped out my sound meter, it barely registered 52 decibels, which is about the sound of a dishwasher. The Silent monitors at the helm showed we were charging our 286 kWh lithium batteries at more wattage than we were using to spin the 340 kW motors, so we were ahead of the power-usage game—and this was in South Florida rain under a solid cloud layer. Had we upped the ante to the yacht’s top speed of 20 knots, it would have been drawing from rather than adding to the batteries, but the speed capability gives skippers the option to outrun weather (or just get to the best moorings first).

The Silent 60 is a catamaran design for several reasons. First, the twin hulls are easily driven to minimize the power needed. Second, with nearly 30 feet of beam, there is enough deck area for the solar panels needed to create power.

Buyers can choose as many as six staterooms, each en suite with stall showers and nearly king-size berths. The salon also uses that beam well, providing bowling-alley space under 7-foot-6-inch headroom. With the Silent 60, the interior is basically a blank sheet, allowing buyers to tailor the layout to their cruising needs.

As for the engine rooms, NASA could take a page from Silent-Yachts: Everything is precisely labeled, placed for easy access and surgery-suite spotless. Externally, the Silent 60 is striking, with reversed bows and black graphic slashes on the topside that conceal dark-tinted windows (which provide bright, airy interiors to the staterooms). What catches the eye most, however, are the 42 solar panels that cover every inch of the cabin top as well as the hardtop over the flybridge. Produced by SunPower in California, these panels feed power to a lithium battery pack reportedly good for 3,000 charge cycles—or an estimated 35 years of normal boating use.

The Silent 60 I got aboard, which was Hull No. 3, had a four-stateroom layout. A larger stateroom forward in the starboard hull served as the master, with an athwartships berth, settee and built-in vanity. This yacht also had a walk-through Dutch door forward in the salon next to the helm, leading to settees on the foredeck as well as providing salon ventilation. Another benefit of the door for short-handed cruisers is quick access to the anchor gear under the foredeck.

Owners can sacrifice the forward door in favor of a forward master stateroom with a king berth just a couple of steps below the salon and an en suite head in the starboard hull. An intriguing design feature is the two outward-facing “window seats” indented into the stateroom on each side deck, which would make a wonderful spot at anchor with a good book.

The salon has a fixed dining table that easily seats eight people on the wraparound settee. There also are loose chairs and a pad just forward for lounging. The helm is raised one step and has twin Simrad multifunction displays plus the Silent systems monitor, all easily understood.

Aft and to port, the U-shaped galley has a dishwasher as well as a full-height fridge to starboard. The fridge setup may change to a pair of undercounter drawer fridges on future boats for easier access and to eliminate a blind spot for the skipper.

Abaft the galley, a window slides open for easy pass-through to the cockpit to serve whatever the cooks have prepared using the Hafele four-burner, two-zone cooktop.

The Silent 60 is a work in progress, and additional changes might be on the way, such as the addition of twin berths that slide together, and a different location for what is now the midsalon washer-dryer (in a console abaft the helm). This hull was built in Thailand, but production is moving to Italy.

Still, the yacht has exceedingly clever design ideas, such as the hinged hardtop on the bridge. The top lowers electrically to seal off the bridge from the weather as well as keep the solar cells from being shadowed. The bridge itself is conventional, with a double-wide helm seat to port that reverses to create wraparound seating for the dining table, and double lounge pads for relaxing, not sunning, since the solar panels take up every bit of sun space.

The cockpit has a settee and an L-shaped table. A hydraulic swim platform is available in varying widths to handle up to a 13-foot tender without impinging on the platforms on either hull. Silent-Yachts also gets points for good walk-around decks protected by toe kicks as well as welded stainless-steel rails.

The Silent 60 is on the leading edge of a greener yachting experience. For cruisers who are looking to lessen their carbon footprint while enjoying some quietude at sea, this yacht is worth serious consideration. 

Built for Safety

Future Silent 60s from Italy will have fully resin-infused fiberglass sandwich construction with carbon reinforcements in high-stress areas. Each of the hulls has watertight bulkheads, sealed floors and three collision compartments for enhanced safety. The foam sandwich core provides thermal and sound insulation.

Kite Sailing

One option available on the Silent 60 is a kite-wing propulsion system using a collapsing mast and hidden winch to fly a 140-square-foot sail. (By comparison, a Laser sail is 76 square feet.) With open ocean breezes of 17 to 21 knots, the builder says the kite can power the Silent 60 at 6 to 7 knots alone, or it can bump the speed with motors to go faster than the usual 8-knot cruise speed. 

Big Sisters

In addition to the Silent-Yachts 60, the boatbuilder has 62-, 80- and 120-foot electric power cats available for owners looking for something bigger. Additionally, it recently started work on the hybrid-powered Silent VisionF 82. 

Take the next step: silent-yachts.com

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Boat of the Week: This Solar-Powered Electric Catamaran Can Cruise Silently and Emissions Free

Minimal emissions from a solar-powered, 60-foot motoryacht is a very big deal. but we found other big features that could be improved., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories, this speedy 70-foot power catamaran is designed to cut through rough waters.

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John, Paul, George and Ringo singing “Here Comes the Sun” would make the perfect anthem for Austrian-owned Silent Group’s newest 60-foot power catamaran, the $3 million Silent 60.

Why? Without sunshine, you won’t get very far.

Thankfully, the searing Florida sun is beating down as we take to Fort Lauderdale’s bustling Intracoastal Waterway to try-out this eco-friendly Silent 60. With its roof and foredeck crammed full of solar panels, the sixty-footer is humming along at a leisurely six mph on just zero-emissions battery power.

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The batteries are recharged by solar panels that occupy nearly every available square foot of exterior space.  Courtesy Silent Yachts

Just as its name suggests, the ride is hushed, with just the gentle, soothing sound of water bubbling-up in the wake to interrupt the peace and quiet.

“Silent running is top of the list when it comes to what appeals to our customers. They don’t want to hear engines or feel vibration,” Silent Yachts ‘ in-house designer Juliana Miguel told Robb Report , during the run.

“These days it’s also about fuel costs,” adds US sales director, Philip Bell. “One customer ordered a new 60 after getting tired of using his 80-foot Italian motoryacht for weekend trips to the Bahamas and spending $12,000 on fuel each time.”

The 30-foot beam delivers strong interior space and wide social areas on the outside.  Courtesy Silent Yachts

The Silent 60’s claim to fame? Quiet, zero-emission, electric-only cruising at 7 to 8 mph for up to nine hours, or roughly 100 nautical miles a day. Throttle back to 4 mph, and the company says you have the possibility of near perpetual motion.

We’re sampling the third hull of the constantly evolving Silent 60 series that launched last summer. Silent has been the leader in inventing the solar-powered electric-cruiser niche. Replacing the original Silent 55, the 60 has been such a boat-show hit that more than 30 are currently awaiting construction at Silent’s yards in Fano, Italy and Istanbul, Turkey.

The yacht we’re on is an original folding-hardtop version, with its cantilevered roof panel that, at the push of a button, lowers to cover the small, open flybridge area. Tastes, however, are evolving.

The boat’s 30-foot beam allows for an apartment-sized, open salon.  Courtesy Quin Bassett

According to Bell, most of the new 60s currently in build are “tri-deck” models, featuring a significantly larger flybridge area, a fixed rather than folding roof (also covered with solar panels), and the option of a fully open flybridge, or glass-enclosed “sky lounge,” designed for additional entertaining space or even a master suite.

At the dock, given its 30-foot beam, the 60 looks humongous. To our eyes, it’s not going to win any beauty contests. Towering, vertical hull-sides, a fairly-shapeless upright bow design, and straight up-and-down cabin sides give the catamaran a square-edged, boxy look. All function with little form.

But what the owner gets are huge interior spaces. Inside, it feels like a floating apartment, with a cavernous salon, spacious galley, large dining area, and huge aft deck. Down below are choices of three or four spacious en-suite cabins in the hulls.

A good boat for the sunny canals of Fort Lauderdale.  Courtesy Quin Bissett/Silent Yachts

But the quality of the interior doesn’t track with the boat’s $3 million-plus price tag. Thin cabinet doors, dull-looking fabrics, gelcoat fiberglass on the salon ceilings, faux-wood vinyl flooring, and an inside helm station that was little more than an upholstered board with instruments that looked haphazardly arranged, were all below par, considering the upscale market Silent is targeting.

Miguel says the interior will change with the next generation of 60s arriving towards the end of the year, with a big step-up in terms of quality of materials, attention to detail, style, and fit and finish. So, why didn’t they wait to unveil the boat to the media before they got to that point?

The man at the helm is Silent Yachts’ delivery captain and chief tester Kyle Miller. With a jiggle of a joystick control and a touch of bow-thruster, he maneuvers the 60 out of its tight, side-on slip and eases into the busy Intracoastal Waterway.

All function, no form? The 60-footer’s boxy shape is out of synch with other cat manufacturers that use more curves in their superstructures.  Courtesy Silent Yachts

The yacht features Silent’s E-Power propulsion package, with twin Dana TM4 200kW or 268 hp electric motors and 207kWh lithium-ion batteries. They’re good for an 8 mph cruise speed and claimed 16 mph top speed. There’s also a base version with twin 50kW or 67 hp motors juiced by a 143kWh lithium-ion battery bank. Even Miller admits this is short on power.

The best, and of course the priciest, option is the E-Power+ package, featuring twin 340kW 455 hp motors and 286kWh batteries. It’s said to be good for tide-punching bursts of up to 20 mph.

“For anyone who wants to dash around at 17 knots all day long, our recommendation is to buy a different boat,” says Miller. “The Silent 60 is designed for relaxing on the move, gliding from one anchorage to the next, and being self-sufficient on the hook.”

Open space on the flybridge.  Courtesy Silent Yachts

As we discovered, the 60 isn’t always a Tesla of the seas. Running over 6 mph will necessitate firing up the Hyundai diesel generator for one of every three hours of running time to keep the batteries charged. And that’s not silent.

While ambling along at 6 mph is fine for laid-back cruising, we also had concerns about a lack of reserve power for tackling strong currents and adverse tides.

Even our test boat’s twin 200kW motors struggled to keep the 60 under control when maneuvering against a fast, incoming tide under Lauderdale’s narrow 17th Street Bridge. The bigger 340kW motors are definitely the way to go for running in fast currents or tidal waters.

Galley and dining area  Courtesy Silent Yachts

Without doubt, this new Silent 60 showcases the appeal of electric power on the water. The way it efficiently and effectively harnesses the sun’s rays, its largely zero-emissions running, coupled with its huge and versatile interior space, is impressive for a family cruiser.

Just don’t plan on getting anywhere in a hurry—and beware of fast-running tides.

Read More On:

• Electric Yacht
• Silent Yachts

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Headlining the news is the announcement that Austrian-owned Silent-Yachts has been restructured as Silent Group comprising several distinct divisions.

Silent-Yachts:  Offering fully electric, solar-powered catamarans from 60-120 feet for noiseless, zero-emission cruising. In addition, from now on a new sub-division will also build hybrid yachts that make use of both conventional propulsion and renewable solar energy. The first hybrid yacht is an 82-foot model to be built in partnership with VisionF Yachts.

Through the cooperation with VisionF, Silent-Yachts aims to support the Turkey based shipyard towards making their catamarans more sustainable. The extended hardtop flybridge of the so-called Silent VisionF 82 is fitted with a large solar array and a powerfull battery bank in order to provide sufficient energy to power all household and comfort appliances on board. As a result, guests will be able to enjoy the noiseless Silent experience without compromises when anchoring in a bay or docked in a marina. The alliance showcases the willingness of Silent-Yachts to assist other manufacturers to reduce their vessels dependency on fossil fuels by incorporating the proven solar technology of the Austrian pioneer. 

Silent-Tenders:  Offering a new range of electric Silent tenders, starting with a model of 4 metres in length. Further models will be announced during 2022. 

Silent-Management:  Offering the full spectrum of management services for Silent clients, from documentation, flag registration, certification and inspections to crew hiring, charter and yacht management, maintenance and servicing. 

Silent-Charter:  Offering Silent yachts for charter from the fleet base in Port Adriano, Mallorca and around the world.

Silent-Brokerage:  Offering brokerage services for pre-owned vessels for sale by Silent and its clients. 

Silent-Resorts:  Stunning zero-carbon, ultra-sustainable resorts with luxurious beachfront solar-powered residences. 

Silent-Shop:  A web-based outlet for electric water toys, smart electric gadgets as well as Silent merchandising products.

New production sites The Silent Group can draw on three production facilities around the world. Its shipyard on Italy’s Adriatic coast has five construction sheds with 22,000 m² of covered space and about the same area outside for building the Silent 60 series & and the Silent 80 series. 

The Swiss-owned and managed PMG Shipyard in Thailand builds the Silent 60 series. The yard has a 20,800-m² facility in Rayong with dedicated areas for each stage of the production process.

A new partnership with Coşkun Bayraktar in Turkey, founder of the Viaport Group has opened up more production opportunities. Bayraktar, who also owns VisionF Yachts in Istanbul, has invested considerable manpower in recent months to start up production of the Silent 60 series, Silent 80 series, SILENT 100 series as well as the new Silent VisionF 82. Boats of each series are already being built in Turkey. Including the Tuzla Viaport Marina, the copperation with VisionF Yachting provides access to more than 100,000 m² of production area.

Record sales in 2021 – the current order book 2021 was a record-breaking year for the brand with 21 yachts sold. There are 17 yachts currently in build at different stages of production, among them eight Silent 60 series, six Silent 80 series, two Silent VisionF 82 and the first Silent 120 (ex-Silent 100). 

Upcoming new launch The next unit to be launched will be a Silent 60 – Front Exit version. The solar electric catamaran will touch the water this month February 2022 and will head straight to the US where the owner is waiting. Another Silent 60 Front Exit will be launched by April and will be followed by more yachts later this year.

“I’m immensely proud of what Silent-Yacht has achieved over the years,” says Silent-Yachts founder and CEO Michael Köhler. “After beginning our research into solar yacht technologies in 2004, the company has evolved and expanded and last year’s sales show that we continue to grow. We are now a truly international Group with diverse interests requiring more extensive resources and production space. This enables us to collaborate with other shipyards such as VisionF to assist them in harnessing solar technology as a step towards a more sustainable future.”

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Brit lookout and engineer on doomed Bayesian superyacht placed under manslaughter probe along with ‘silent’ Captain

• Emily-Jane Heap
• Ellie Doughty
• Published : 9:56, 28 Aug 2024
• Updated : 14:59, 28 Aug 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

TWO Brits are being investigated over the sinking of doomed superyacht Bayesian which killed seven people. 

Ship engineer Tim Parker Eaton, from Clophill, Beds, and sailor Matthew Griffith, 22, are being probed by Italian prosecutors for culpable shipwreck and multiple manslaughter.

It comes after the luxury yacht owned by tech tycoon Mike Lynch capsized off the coast of Sicily last week, a judicial source told Reuters.

Griffith is understood to have been on watch duty the night of the tragedy, while Parker Eaton is suspected of having failed to protect the £14 million vessel’s engine room and operating systems when it was hit by a storm in the early hours of August 19.

Reports suggest crew bedrooms have been searched, with at least two phones seized.

It comes after the boat’s captain James Cutfield, 51, was placed under investigation for the same offences on Monday.

READ MORE ON the BAYESIAN

Captain of Bayesian superyacht 'under official investigation for manslaughter'

Manslaughter probe launched over Bayesian disaster as cops scour CCTV

The New Zealander was quizzed the following day but refused to answer questions as he was too “shaken up” .

Speaking to The Times on Tuesday, Cutfield’s lawyer Aldo Mordiglia said his client “exercised his right to remain silent”.

He added: “There were two reasons. He is understandably very shaken up, and secondly, us lawyers were only appointed yesterday and we need to acquire information we do not have in order to defend him.”

Prosecutors are also preparing to investigate Dutch first officer Tijs Koopmans, according to Italian media.

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Under Italian maritime laws, the full responsibility for the welfare of a ship, its crew, and passengers lies with the captain of a vessel.

Being under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt and does not necessarily mean formal criminal charges will follow. 

The 184 ft Bayesian was carrying 22 people when it sank within minutes of being hit by a downburst - a strong, localised wind - while anchored in Porticello near Palermo around 4am last Monday. 

Fifteen of those on board were rescued on a life raft, while the yacht’s cook Recaldo Thomas was discovered dead in the water shortly afterwards.

Specialist divers recovered the bodies of billionaire Lynch, 59, and four of his guests, from the first cabin on the left.

They were identified as Morgan Stanley International chief Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was discovered in the third cabin.

Officials said the victims had scrambled to reach air pockets in the yacht, which sank 164ft stern-first before rolling onto its right side on the seabed. 

Investigators are understood to be rifling through CCTV footage and photographs taken by locals on the night of the storm to understand why the boat sank so quickly. 

At a press conference at the Termini Imerese Courthouse on Saturday, Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said there may have been “behaviours that were not perfectly in order with regard to the responsibility everybody had.” 

His team will probe if hatches were left open, allowing water to flood in.

hey will also look into whether the crew raised the alarm before escaping. 

He vowed to “discover how much they knew and to what extent all the people (passengers) were warned.”

Mr Cartosio added: “There could be in fact the question of homicide. But this is the beginning of the inquiry, we cannot exclude anything at all…We will establish each element’s (crew) responsibility.

"For me, it is probable that offences were committed — that it could be a case of manslaughter.”

It comes as former Bayesian captain Stephen Edwards, who was in charge of the vessel between 2015 and 2020, says he is “one hundred per cent” sure the hull would not have been left open at night - adding that there are no opening windows or portholes on board. 

Writing on Scuttlebutt, he said the boat was “sound and seaworthy by design” but that heeling her to more than 45 degrees “could result in flooding and subsequent loss if the flooding could not be controlled”.

He suggested the weather conditions could have created these “extreme circumstances” with little warning or time for the crew to react. 

The surviving passengers, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, 57, left Sicily in a private jet on Sunday, with most of the crew also set to leave after being grilled by investigators. 

Inside The Bayesian's final 16 minutes

By Ellie Doughty , Foreign News Reporter

Data recovered from the Bayesian's Automatic Identification System (AIS) breaks down  exactly how it sank  in a painful minute-by-minute timeline.

At 3.50am on Monday August 19 the Bayesian began to shake "dangerously" during a fierce storm, Italian outlet  Corriere  revealed.

Just minutes later at 3.59am the boat's anchor gave way, with a source saying the data showed there was "no anchor left to hold".

After the ferocious weather ripped away the boat's mooring it was dragged some 358 metres through the water.

By 4am it had began to take on water and was plunged into a blackout, indicating that the waves had reached its generator or even engine room.

At 4.05am the  Bayesian fully disappeared  underneath the waves.

An emergency GPS signal was finally emitted at 4.06am to the coastguard station in Bari, a city nearby, alerting them that the vessel had sunk.

Early reports suggested the disaster struck around 5am local time off the coast of Porticello Harbour in Palermo, Sicily.

The new data pulled from the boat's AIS appears to suggest it happened an hour earlier at around 4am.

Some 15 of the 22 onboard were rescued, 11 of them scrambling onto an inflatable life raft that sprung up on the deck.

A smaller nearby boat - named Sir Robert Baden Powell - then helped take those people to shore.

Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said the victims would have been asleep when a tornado-like waterspout struck the boat, leaving them unable to escape.

Witnesses and officials have said the swirling cloud of air and water hit the boat's mast, toppling it and causing it to capsize.

In a press conference on Saturday, Mr Cartosio said there may have been “behaviours that were not perfectly in order with regard to the responsibility everybody had”.

He added: “There could be in fact the question of homicide. But this is the beginning of the inquiry, we cannot exclude anything at all.”

He said one line of inquiry was whether the crew attempted to raise the alarm with passengers before getting on the lifeboat and escaping.

Mr Cartosio vowed to “discover how much they (the crew) knew and to what extent all the people (passengers) were warned.”

He said: “We will establish each element’s (crew) responsibility. For me, it is probable that offences were committed — that it could be a case of manslaughter.”

Lead prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said Italy’s Air Force found the boat was sunk by a downburst that descended from a thunderstorm.

He said there were forecasts of strong winds and a storm alert but good visibility and no suggestion of a tornado.

He added: “Given the conditions were such, there wasn’t anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation.

“There are vessels that can monitor these events and one would have thought the captain had taken precautions.”

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He said one person was on watch in the cockpit at the time of the accident.

Authorities now face a delicate task in extracting the wreck from the sea intact so that it can be properly investigated.

• Bayesian yacht sinks

Two British Bayesian crew members under investigation

Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffiths to be questioned by Italian prosecutors after Mike Lynch’s superyacht sank off Sicily

Two British crew members of Mike Lynch’s sunken superyacht have been placed under investigation for multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck.

It comes after James Cutfield, the captain of the £30 million Bayesian, was put under investigation on Monday.

The inquiry into the tragedy has widened to Tim Parker Eaton, 56, from Bedfordshire, who was in charge of the engine room, and Matthew Griffiths, 22, who was reportedly on watch when the yacht was hit by a violent storm and sank 16 minutes later.

Under the Italian legal system, being placed under investigation does not imply guilt and does not necessarily mean that charges will be made.

Mr Cutfield is expected to be allowed to leave Italy today, several Italian media outlets are reporting. 

The Kiwi skipper has not been charged with any offence and is free to leave the country and return to the home he shares with his wife Cristina in La Palma, Majorca. 

He lost his passport when the Bayesian sank last week but has been given a replacement travel document.

Prosecutors said at the weekend that while he was not obliged to remain in Sicily, they expect him to cooperate with their investigation into why the yacht sank with the loss of seven lives.

Mr Cutfield has an injury to his knee which requires him to use a crutch, according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos.

Seven people, including British tech tycoon Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah , died when the superyacht sank after it was struck by an extreme weather event known as a downburst about half a mile off the fishing town of Porticello, Sicily. Fifteen people survived, including Mr Lynch’s wife.

Mr Cutfield, the skipper, declined to answer prosecutors’ questions on Tuesday, invoking his legal right to remain silent.

He broke down in tears when he met investigators, according to Italian media reports, with Aldo Mordiglia, his lawyer, saying there were two reasons for Mr Cutfield’s decision not to respond to questions.

“He is understandably distressed,” he said. “In addition, we were only appointed as his lawyers [on Monday] and we need to gather information, which we do not have yet, in order to prepare the defence.”

Supporters of Mr Cutfield in Majorca, where he lives with his wife, have launched a fundraising initiative for him and the crew. Mr Cutfield was reportedly well-known in yachting circles, as were other members of the crew mincluding Mr Thomas. So far, more than £6,800 has been raised.

Paul Madden, the expat behind the initiative, wrote: “I would like the yachting community and anyone else to donate to support the crew and the fellow crew member who sadly lost his life in the line of duty. 

“The funds will be shared equally amongst all of the crew to support them in the mental, physical and financial challenges that lie ahead. I hope the outcome of our help allows the crew to move forward with their lives and can rely on the support of our yachting community.”

Investigators want to establish what measures the crew took to raise the alarm and why the six passengers who died did not leave their cabins and escape to the deck in time.

Asked whether the passengers were warned of the approaching storm, Raffaele Cammarano, one of two prosecutors leading the case, said: “That’s precisely what we’re trying to ascertain from the statements made by the survivors.”

Investigators said the storm that hit the Bayesian about 4am local time on Aug 19 was “an extreme event” that happened “really, really suddenly”.

Prosecutors are scrutinising whether any hatches were left open and whether the keel was partially raised – which would have rendered the yacht less stable.

Post-mortem examinations on the seven victims are expected to be carried out this week at an institute of forensic medicine in nearby Palermo.

Prosecutors say they want the wreck of the yacht to be raised from the seabed as soon as possible, as part of their investigation into how the disaster unfolded.

• Bayesian Yacht Sinking,
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Here you can find the answers to all of the most frequently asked questions about Silent Yachts. If you have additional questions, our team will be happy to advise you.

01. What is the price of a Silent yacht?

For more information about the prices of our Silent yacht models, please get in touch here: Contact

02. Can a Silent yacht cross the Atlantic?

All our yachts are CE-A certified, which means that they are suitable for ocean crossings. In 2018, the Silent 64 set a world record as the first serial production solar powered electric yacht to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

03. Are electrical yachts practical?

Yes. As the propulsion system of an electrical yacht has fewer components and is much smaller than a conventional drivetrain, there is an additional amount of space on board which can be used for a variety of purposes.

04. Are electric yachts quiet?

Silent yachts are quiet, as the electric motors are noiseless. However, some manufacturers make use gearboxes which could be relatively noisy.

05. Are electric yachts cheaper?

While the purchasing price of electric yachts is similar to the price of conventionally powered yachts, the ownership costs are far lower. This is a result of lower maintenance due to the lack of moving parts of a normal engine, less repairs bills and minimal to no expenses for fuel.

06. Can you buy a Silent yacht?

Yes, Silent Yachts offers full serial production solar powered electric yachts ranging from 60 to 120 feet.

07. Is there any electric yacht?

Silent Yachts are the first ocean-going electric production yachts in the world, which are powered by solar energy. Storing the energy of the sun in state of the art battery banks enables guests on board to be fully solar sustainable while having the possibility of unlimited range with zero emission.

08. Do you offer sustainable materials on board?

Yes, we do. You have a choice to choose between premium sustainable materials such as bamboo, flax fibre, basalt fibre and cork. They help shape a unique yachting experience while significantly reducing the overall footprint on the environment. For more details, please visit our dedicated sustainability chapter.

09. What is the meaning of the number in each of the Silent Yachts model names?

The number of each model (Silent 60, Silent 62, Silent 80, Silent 120) indicates the overall length of the yacht in feet.

10. Which boating licence do I need?

Silent yachts require the same motorboat license as any other boat of the same length in the same operational area. No specific license required.

11. What about the CE-A Certification? What does it mean for the buyer?

All boats available on the market are classified according to four different CE categories.

Category A – Ocean: This is the certification level with the toughest standards and covers vessels of 40’ and over which are designed to be self-sufficient for extended voyages. It is defined as the “category of boats considered suitable for seas with significant wave heights of up to 23 feet (7 meters) and winds of Beaufort force 9 (41-47 knots) or less, but excluding abnormal conditions such as hurricanes.”

Category B – Offshore: Boats operating offshore with winds to 40 knots and significant seas to 13 feet.

Category C – Inshore: Boats operating in coastal waters and large bays and lakes with winds to force 6, up to 27 knots, and significant seas 7 feet high.

Category D – Inland or sheltered coastal waters: boats in small lakes and rivers with winds to force 4 and significant wave heights to 18 inches.

All our yachts are CE-A certified, which is the highest level of certification obtainable in Europe. As a result, all Silent Yachts are true ocean cruisers designed to circumnavigate the world.

12. What are advanced sea trials?

The goal of advanced sea trials is to experience solar powered yachting first-hand and receive a personal introduction to understand the technology and its benefits in order to be able to make an informed purchase decision.

If you would like to come on board and do an advanced sea trial, please get in touch here: Contact

13. How much does it cost to operate a solar powered yacht?

The operational costs of a solar powered yacht are far lower in comparison to regular diesel-powered motor yachts. The main reason here fore is the fact that an electric motor only has one moving part in comparison to the hundreds of moving components of an internal combustion engine. Virtually no maintenance means virtually no maintenance costs. Secondly, refueling the conventional yacht with diesel makes up for a significant proportion of the operational costs. Recharging a Silent with the help of the sun however is free.

14. Are there different cabin configurations for each Silent yacht model?

Yes, every model in our range offers a variety of different cabin configurations to suit different needs. On our website you can find the standard cabin configuration of each model. If you would like to take a look at further cabin configurations, please get in touch with our team and they will provide you with the respective model brochures which showcase all options.

15. What are the main advantages of a solar powered Silent yacht?

In terms of the actual yachting experience, Silent yachts offer virtually unlimited range with zero emission. Furthermore, noiseless cruising makes sure you will have relaxing time on board.

The solar-electric drivetrain is not only the safest and most reliable marine propulsion system, in comparison to regular internal combustion engines there is virtually no maintenance required as well.

From an operations point of view, there are 8 years of warranty on the battery banks, 40 years on the solar panels and life-time warranty on the electric motors. Every Silent yacht is CE-A certified and therefore offers full trans-ocean crossing capabilities.

For more information, check out “Why Solar Power?” and “Why Silent Technology?”

16. What is the difference between a solar powered electric Silent yacht and a conventional powered yacht?

Conventional motor yachts are powered by diesel- or gas-engines. Additionally, they have one or even two generators on board to supply all household appliances. Hence, depending on the size of the yacht, a total number of 3 or 4 diesel engines are used to provide propulsion and feed the household devices with energy.

Sailing yachts need a diesel-engine too. Depending on the operational area as well as the wind- and weather-conditions, a diesel engine is required in addition to the sails for the propulsion of the boat. When anchoring in a quiet bay, the diesel generators ensure the energy-supply of the household appliances on board. In fact sailing vessels have a very similar engine setup as a motor yacht, just less powerful, therefore a sailing catamaran of 80 feed has always 2 diesel engines for the propulsion and 2 diesel generators. Compared to that an electric Silent yacht requires only one diesel generator, which reduces the required maintenance and the costs significantly.

As most yachts use gas for cooking, the open flame not only heats up the interior but also causes an imminent threat. Furthermore, on many yachts the consumables like water and energy are managed in a way that enforces the skipper to visit a marina every two or three days to charge the batteries and to buy water for showering and drinking. In contrast to that a Silent yacht is autonomous and self-sufficient. Therefore there is need to go to a marina on a regular basis, as a Silent produces the energy and the water it needs on its own with solar energy.

Lastly, a conventionally powered boat has a range of 300 to 500 nautical miles before needing to refill the diesel engine. The use of a combustion-engine is, of course, inevitably also combined with noise, exhausts and oily films in the water.

In comparison, a Silent yacht can cross oceans and stay in a bay for months by storing the energy generated through the solar panels in large capacity batteries. This electrical energy is used for propulsion and well as powering all household appliances on board. All this happens completely noiseless, without vibrations and pollution while also offering the possibility of having virtually unlimited range.

01. How big of an electric motor do I need for my solar powered yacht?

The smallest electric motors fitted to a Silent yacht are two 50 kW motors on the cruiser configuration of the Silent 60 series.

02. How do electric yachts get fresh water?

All Silent Yachts are equipped with a water maker, which processes sea water into fresh water.

03. Can you power a yacht with an electric motor?

All Silent Yachts are powered by electric motors. The instantly available torque ensures a smooth drive at any time. More information on our electric propulsion system can be found on our technology page .

04. How long does an electric yacht motor last?

As electric motors only have one moving part, they are very reliable in comparison to regular internal combustion engines, which have a larger number of moving parts. Therefore, at Silent Yachts we offer a lifetime warranty on all electric motors installed in our yachts.

05. What motors do Silent yachts use?

Silent yachts engineers design and configurate our proprietary in-house drivetrains. We only integrate components from leading producers in their respective industries. For more information about the solar-electric drivetrain , please visit “Why Silent Technology” .

06. Do electric yachts have generators?

All Silent yachts are equipped with back-up range extenders, which can recharge the battery banks whenever needed. More information can be found on our “Why Solar Power?” page.

07. How efficient are electric yachts?

As Silent yachts were created to be fully electric from the ground-up, they are highly efficient. Every aspect of our yachts, from the design of the hull to the interior and its appliances is designed to minimize energy consumption and maximize efficiency. This enables sustainable self-propulsion with virtually unlimited range. More information can be found here “Why Silent Technology?” .

08. Where do our yachts get electricity from?

The main source of energy of our yachts is the sun. In a typical holiday region during the typical holiday season on an average sunny day the solar panels produce enough energy to power the propulsion system as well as all household and navigational appliances on board for regular holiday use. To learn more about the solar technology powering our yachts, please visit our dedicated chapter here  “Why Solar Power?” .

09. How fast can a Silent yacht go?

The cruising speed is usually around 6 – 8 kn.

10. Why are there no wind generators?

During the testing phase of the Solarwave 46 Prototype, Michael & Heike gathered extensive experiences with the usage of wind generators as well. The energy they generate does not compensate for the energy loss they produce by throwing shade on the panels. When turning at high speeds, wind generators are also very noisy and do not create a Silent cruising experience. Depending on their placement, they are also quite dangerous, potentially creating serious safety hazards.

It is not surprising that not even sailors on sailing boats choose the windiest regions of this planet for their holiday. They prefer to stay in a calm a protected bay for swimming and even more to stay over-night. Calm and protected means no wind and therefore no energy coming from the wind generator. However, the shade created by the wind generators would affect the solar panels on every sunny day and as a result reduce the daily production.

11. Can the generator charge depleted batteries and power the ship including all the appliances on board while the boat is underway?

Yes. The generator can recharge the battery whenever necessary. However, it is generally not required to start the generator for the operation of any of the household appliances on board. It is also not required to start the generator for higher cruising speeds. It merely functions as a back-up in case you travel longer distances at high cruising speeds.

12. What about adding a regular sail or kite sail?

As regular sails would throw a lot of shade on the panels, which would lead to a significant decrease in energy, all our models are available with an optional kite sail system instead.

In comparison to a regular sail, the fully automatic towing kite has several advantages:

• No shade created on the panels • Up to 10x more towing power created per m2 • Less maintenance required • Lower maintenance costs

For all sailors who would love to make use of the wind as well, the kite sail system perfectly complements the trademark Silent Yachts solar electric drivetrain as an effective addition.

13. Is there a video showcasing the energy generation & consumption of your electric yachts in realistic scenarios?

Yes, you can check out our Silent 80 energy generation & consumption video here .

The storyline takes you along on a trip of two days in order to showcase a variety of realistic scenarios, based on the Silent 80 E-Power + version. It will show you exactly how different situations affect the production and overall energy management with the help of the solar panels, electric motors and lithium battery banks on board.

14. Which propulsion system do Silent yachts offer?

All our models are powered by our unique solar electric drivetrain. It consists of market leading solar panels, powerful electric motors, state-of-the-art lithium batteries and an efficient back-up generator. This system produces enough power in order to supply energy for propulsion as well as all onboard appliances. For more details, please visit “Why Solar Power?” .

15. How many kW do the solar panels generate?

The amount of power generated by the solar panels in total depends on the specific model. Here are the individual peak power figures and the daily production of each Silent yacht:

Silent 60 & Silent 62 3-Deck

• 16 kWp – about 100 kWh per day

Silent 80 & Silent 80 3-Deck

• 26 kWp – about 150 kWh per day
• 40 kWp – about 240 kWh per day

Important to note – the kWp does not tell you anything about the daily production. When the panels are mounted in an unfavourable angle to the sun – for instance on the sides of the hulls – they are shaded for most of the time of the day. Same applies if they are mounted on a roof with a mast and a boom placed on top of it. Or if they are configured in smaller areas of different size and different angle to the sun. In all these cases their production will be close to zero. It is not surprising that yachts of same size having panels on the hull sides harvest only a third of the energy which you get on a Silent.

The design of our solar roof and our arrangement of the panels are the secrets of the “Silent Autonomy”, which makes our Silent yachts so unique.

16. Which company builds the electric propulsion system?

The electric propulsion system is built in-house by using highest quality industrial grade products. Our specific configuration of every individual component makes the resulting system unique.

01. Can Silent Yachts be used for commercial use such as passenger ferries?

While commercial uses are not part of our regular model range, we have already customized our solar powered yachts for such situations in the past. The Silent 55 has been built as a passenger ferry. Therefore, we would kindly ask you to get in touch with us in order to evaluate potential commercial usage regarding your specific needs.