Vision Electric Boats, the boatbuilding division set up by Canadian electric outboard manufacturer Vision Marine Technologies, unveiled its new “unsinkable” polyethylene boat, the Phantom, at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show.
The bright blue boat was produced using rotational moulding (aka rotomoulding): a technique used to create large, one-piece, complex shapes, typically with uniform wall thickness and stress-free sections to help prevent cracking and warping. Other stated advantages of rotomoulded boats include end-of-life recyclability and a low maintenance requirement.
The Phantom measures 5.05m x 2.1m; has a 0.2m draught and a dry weight of 363kg; and can carry up to 10 persons. Although the Phantom was designed for electric propulsion, owners can specify a petrol/diesel engine up to 50hp (37kW). The boat will be made available in various colours and in three formats: a hull-only build (without a motor), costing US$14,995; the ePropulsion version, which will offer a range of five hours, for US$24,995; and the ePropulsion Extra Range variant, which offers 10 hours of range and retails at US$29,995.
Vision Electric Boats comments: “The Phantom [is] recyclable up to nine times…its thick, rotomoulded plastic hull offers a very high impact strength and a lifetime warranty. [The boat should] remain in service on the water for decades to come before ever needing to be recycled.”
The company will initially produce 300 Phantoms each year, and reportedly at a 70% lower cost than an equivalent production run of fibreglass boats. Florida-based boat dealer Nautical Ventures reports that it has already ordered 50 Phantoms, which it intends to market as recreational and sports-fishing craft.
