Will Electric Boats Be The New Thing On Michigan Waters In 2023?

Automobiles are not the only machines that are moving from gasoline engines to electric, so will electric watercraft be the new thing on Michigan waters in 2023?

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Gasoline to Electric Engines

For well over 100 years when it came to an engine powering something, especially a vehicle, it has been powered using gasoline. As a kid, I didn't think I would see an electric car in my lifetime and now I see them all the time.

Most all automakers will have lines of electric vehicles by 2030 while some companies like General Motors play to move away from all gasoline and diesel-powered engines by 2035. It would only make sense for other companies who make gasoline engines to also make the switch.

Why Should Boats and Watercrafts Have Electric Engines?

Long before gas prices were high for automobiles, those who bought gas at a marina gas station on a body of water were getting hit hard because of what some call "convenience."

A few years ago I owned a pontoon boat and stopped at a marina on Hardy Pond for gas and couldn't believe it was $1.50 more per gallon than at the gas station. I only put enough in to get me back to shore then hauled the boat to the gas station and to me it was worth the effort.

Aside from high gas prices, moving boats and wave runners to electric would cut down on the smell, and pollution of the bodies of water, maintenance, and sound if you live near a body of water that has motorized boats on it.  The only downside for quiet boats is you won't hear one coming if you are in the water.

Electric Boats Could Be The New Thing On Michigan Waters

Just like electric automobiles, there are already companies building electric boats and waverunners. Most of the major boat and waverunner companies are already working with electric-powered engines.

From everything I've read, these new electric boats and waverunners are fast, have no throttle lag, and will stay charged for around 100 hours and that is a lot of lake time. Not having to gas up these watercraft could pay the payment on them.

With Michigan being in the top 3 boating states in the United States, don't be surprised if you are near a marina, lake, or river and some watercraft pass by that don't make any noise because the industry is slowly moving to electric engines.