on 31 Mar 2023
Silent-Yachts’ new Silent 120 Explorer showcases the potential of these sustainable power cats.
Featuring elegant styling and interior design by Marco Casali, the 36.74-metre Silent 120 Explorer also offers owners looking to make the most of their cruising itineraries an exciting pair of accompaniments: a revolutionary eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft and an all-electric two-person submarine in addition to the usual tenders and toys demanded on a superyacht.
Silent-Yachts’ collaboration with VRCO, designers and manufacturers of the Xcraft XP4 eVTOL aircraft, which is due for certification in 2024, marks the first time a yacht builder and aircraft manufacturer have collaborated, with the XP4 customised to match the interiors of the supercat.
With a beam of 13.85 metres, the Silent 120 Explorer’s 40kWp solar panels will recharge the all-electric four-passenger aircraft from its position on a touch-and-go pad on the yacht’s hardtop roof. The XP4 is designed with an array of safety features including detection and avoidance technology, a ballistic parachute, and low-altitude crash prevention systems.
Even better, the XP4 can also deliver power from its own battery to the yacht as a backup power source, marking a real advancement in carbon-responsible travel.
The Silent 120 Explorer’s 800kW lithium-ion batteries will also charge the U-Boat Worx NEMO sub, for which there will be plenty of space in the port hull’s tender garage or on the main deck next to the pool.
The NEMO offers diving to 100-metre depths for up to eight hours for two people in an all-electric package whose footprint is smaller than two jet skis. A trademark acrylic pressure globe gives pilot and passenger a breathtaking view of the depths, while the Manta control interface is easy to learn and operate, and a positive buoyancy feature automatically resurfaces the sub in the unlikely event of an issue.
The first Silent 120 Explorer yacht is set to launch in 2023 and features an ample volume of 499 gross tonnes. Highly efficient 340kW e-motors offer a cruising speed of 6-8 knots in economical mode, and 16 knots at full power, plus unlimited-range potential.
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