UNDER POWER

Under the saloon floor is the business end: the 220hp Volvo diesel, linked to a 10kw Mahle generator. The bank of lithium-ion batteries is concealed under one of the forward berths. In electric drive mode, the batteries supply power to the electric motor, and when in engine mode the power generated drives the boat but also recharges the batteries. To top it off, the roof-mounted solar panels generate 1.3kw during daylight.

“Basically, the whole boat is a power plant,” says Wardenburg. “With the batteries fullycharged, and with 1.3kw from the solar panels, you could motor all the way to the Bottom End [of Waiheke] using only electric power. When the low-battery alarm goes off, it only takes about 20 or 30 minutes to get back to 40–50 per cent charge again.”

Around 20 nautical miles at 6 knots (under battery power) provides a reasonable range for pottering around the Hauraki Gulf or Marlborough Sounds. When you want to go a bit faster, or need to charge up, the hybrid cruises at 10–12 knots, with a top speed of around 18 knots. By contrast, Wardenburg’s full diesel model, powered by a 370hp Yanmar V8, has a top speed of 25 knots.

While it’s impossible to tell during our glass-calm day, Wardenberg says extensive tank testing and research has gone into creating a hull which is not only superefficient but also stable and comfortable in a seaway. “It’s all about what’s under the water – seakeeping ability, efficiency, low centre of gravity and weight distribution. Stability is a big factor – they really wanted a boat that doesn’t roll.”

We head out from the marina in e-mode. It’s a strange sensation to be moving without any noise or sense of vibration: Neal has simply pressed the ‘on’ button and we’re underway. It’s astonishingly quiet; the only noise is the faint buzzing of the electric engine, like a tiny sewing machine under the floor.

“It’s really good at very slow speeds, for manoeuvring within the marina and into the berth,” he says. “It’s quite nice just stooging around. For passage-making you could ignore your diesel if you weren’t in a hurry.”

The switch from hybrid to diesel is a touch of a button. Neal puts the gearbox into neutral, turns the dashboard switch to diesel and presses the start button – and away we go. The modern diesel is nice and quiet too.

The Neals own Dragonfly in partnership with another couple – an arrangement he says has gone from a business relationship to good friendship in short order. Over summer they plan to give her plenty of use, cruising the Gulf and using the mix of electric and diesel power to explore at leisure.

Neal is a convert to electric-powered transportation, and plans to order a Tesla Model 3 electric sports car.

“I’m so keen to get rid of fossil fuels – I’m just glad I’m seeing it happen in my lifetime,” he says. “The idea of a hybrid power really attracted us to the boats in the first place. People talk a lot about hybrid cars, but not boats. But when the Le Mans 24-Hour Race is using hybrids, you know things are changing pretty fast.” BNZ