SUN SHINING ON SOLAR SUPERYACHTS
A GOLD Coast businessman and lifelong boatie has unveiled Australia’s first solar electric superyacht.
Grant Hudson designed and oversaw the build of a solar powered, three-storey 44-foot superyacht after a “life-changing” day on the water with his young son.
“I was out on the boat with my two year-old boy and saw the sheer volume of petrol fumes coming into the cabin and being released into the air and water,” he said.
“I thought, ‘why don’t we have solar electric yachts in Australia?’. It was a really pivotal moment where I realised I didn’t want to live a life where I wasn’t looking after the environment for future generations.
“I’d seen a solar electric yacht in Thailand years ago and thought Australia was really behind in revolutionary marine technology – so I decided to design one myself.”
Mr Hudson took three years to design and build the yacht, which has an unlimited range at 4-6 knots.
The boat was unveiled through Sunpower Yachts, where Mr Hudson is an executive director.
He said: “If Tesla can do it with cars, I can do it with yachts” and there was “more than enough solar to go around for the boat industry in Australia to get on board” with the clean and green initiative.
“We have the most beautiful waters in the world and the resources so let’s make it happen.”
Mr Hudson said he already had a global fleet of the solar yachts underway, with eight 60-foot and two 90 foot vessels on order.
For more, go to: sunpoweryachts.com.au