The SilentJet Picnic Boat 40 S will offer a silent cruise at low speeds
Main-based boat company Hinckley Yachts have announced their SilentJet Picnic Boat 40 S, an electric propulsion boat that will utilize their new “SilentJet” technology. The hybrid system will also retain its twin diesel propulsion for up to 40 mph in performance.
One of the most prosperous histories of any modern American watercraft belongs to the Hinckley Yachts Picnic Boat. It made its debut in 1995 with its elegant profile and engines that were coupled with jet motors, providing superior maneuverability and swift acceleration.
The Picnic Boat has undergone numerous modifications and improvements over the past 25 years. Don’t worry about the styling, much of it remains the same. With the exception of the lithium batteries, the new SilentJet Picnic Boat 40 S will have the same hull and topsides as Hinckley’s 40-footer.
Together with Wisconsin-based propulsion experts Twin Disc, Hinckley Yachts have developed the SilentJet hybrid system over the past two years. Between the Hinckley’s twin Cummins diesel engines and its Hamilton jet drives are two 90kW electric motors powered by an 80kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
According to advance reports, the SilentJet Picnic Boat 40 S can cruise for up to 90 minutes at 5.5 knots and at least an hour at 7 knots when using only electric power. Depending on load, it can travel at 35 knots under diesel power.
“You’ll be able to glide away from the dock and cruise around in total silence,” says Hinckley VP of Sales and Marketing, Scott Bryan. Then you can drop the hook and run everything on battery power—air conditioning, an electric grill, all the systems—again in total silence, without the need for a noisy generator.”
The twin 550-horsepower Cummins QSB inline-six turbo diesels will start up and propel the boat to its top speed of 40 mph when the throttles are pushed. Simultaneously, the electric motors in the system will switch over to high-output generators that allow the battery to recharge in 30 to 45 minutes.
The first SilentJet Picnic Boat 40 S is expected to be delivered in 2025. According to Bryant, the lengthy delay can be attributed to a full order book for the standard Picnic 40 and a manufacturer unwilling to risk compromising quality by boosting production. In terms of cost, he estimates that the hybrid SilentJet will cost around 20% more than the standard boat.
Yes, that means the SilentJet Picnic Boat 40 S will cost $2.64 million. It’s time to break that piggy bank.
