THINKING SMALL

To create below-waterline electric motors, Candela had to reduce bulk.

Candela says that because its C-Pod is underwater, boaters no longer have to endure squeaking and whirring sounds.

Candela’s c-pod isavery lubrication,” says Mikael Mahlberg, efficient electric motor Candela’s communications and public inside a torpedo-style pod relations manager. “The really hard that hangs below a vessel’s part was to make the electric motors waterline (or in the case of Candela’s really small. Other electric pod drives boats, the hydrofoil line). C-Pods are really bulky, so we had to rethink deliver 50 kilowatts of output power, electric-motor design.” ¶ While or 67 hp, which Candela achieves with C-Pods will initially be reserved for contrarotating propellers driven by use aboard Candela’s hydrofoiling dedicated inline motors. Candela vessels—including the P-12—the physically situates its C-Pods on company eventually plans to sell struts that are lowered for use and C-Pods to other boatbuilders for use then retracted when the vessel is as OEM-level equipment aboard their berthed to reduce marine growth. new builds. ¶ One C-Pod “is enough ¶ “Our goal was to move the electric to make our 28-foot hydrofoil boats motor from above the waterline to fly at a speed of 30 knots,” Mahlberg under the water, which would en- says, adding that Candela plans to spec able [an] electric direct-drive and do two C-Pods aboard its larger yachts. away with the cooling system, noisy transmission, and need to use oil for