Tenders: Considerations in Electronics and Autonomy

Electric propulsion systems have been around for years, but the weight associated with energy storage systems (batteries) sized to provide adequate range has kept the range of suitable applications to a minimum.   The weight and volume of batteries required to provide ample range at planing speeds simply was too much to bear until recent times.  Now, with advances in technology in recent years, the energy storage systems and electric motors are lighter and more efficient, which allows planing speeds to be obtained on small craft, albeit for short durations.  Since a yacht tender is a vessel which typically does not require a lot of endurance, these platforms are perfect for integrating these new technologies.  You could even take it a step further, and provide the tender with navigation autonomy.  In this instance, the tender could navigate to shore to meet the chandler for provisioning and then return to the yacht, without the need to have a crew member on board.  Don’t hesitate to reach out to DLBA to help electrify or introduce autonomy to your tender platforms!