Winnebago Industries has worked tirelessly to advance the possibilities of all-electric recreational vehicles for use on land. Owned by Winnebago, Chris-Craft’s all-new Launch 25 GTe is a fully operational 420 hp electric concept boat designed to reach speeds of 43 knots and stay afloat for hours. It will make its world premiere at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show.
Dating back to 1874 and still often associated with the classic mahogany hulls of the mid-20th century, Chris-Craft is the first boat manufacturer that comes to mind when the topic of cutting-edge electric concept ships comes up. There is no limit. But in 2018, her chances of appearing in that conversation took a huge leap when she was purchased by Winnebago. The Launch 25 GTe was incubated at the same Advanced Technology Group (ATG) behind his Winnebago eRV and 2023 eRV2 electric camper prototypes for 2022.
ATG needs that work. Electric vehicles and electric trucks have become much more practical, but RVs and boats remain two of the more challenging use cases for electric powertrains. As far as boats are concerned, the current range limitations of battery-powered systems severely limit their ability to travel any type of distance, creating more serious range anxiety. Stuck on the road.
Chris Craft/Winnebago Industries
That said, both boats and RVs are slowly moving towards electrification, and Winnebago is determined to become one of the pioneers in the American market. So now it’s time to introduce the world to the fruit of that labor: a water-bound achievement, Chris Craft his Launch 25 GTe for the first time. The concept boat is making headlines at the Miami Boat Show, as his eRV2 did at his RV Supershow on the other side of Florida last month.
Starting with Chris-Craft’s 25 GT, Chris-Craft and the Advanced Technology Group team removed the engine and fuel system and replaced it with an EVOA electric propulsion unit. Its powertrain combines a 420 hp electric sterndrive and a 133 kWh battery bank to eliminate all local exhaust and reduce noise while delivering an extremely fast 43 knots (50 mph/80 km/h). manages a respectable estimated top speed. When brought back to cruising speed, the Launch 25 GTe can stay on the water for about two hours before needing to recharge.
Chris Kraft/Winnebago Industries
“The Launch 25 GTe is our exploration into the burgeoning electric boat space and the next step in our ongoing journey to bring innovation to the marine industry,” said Stephen Heese, President of Chris-Craft. I mentioned it in my introduction in Miami.
Like the Winnebago eRV camper van, the Launch 25 GTe is just the first publicly visible step in a larger journey towards electrification, and there’s no launch date suggestion to go along with it. Back on land, Winnebago has hinted that his eRV2 could turn into some kind of extended-range hybrid, and it looks like a similar solution could make this 25-foot (7.6 m) electric boat more practical.
The Miami Boat Show opens Wednesday and runs through Sunday, February 19th.
Source: Chris Craft
