Though it has some of the same challenges as electric cars/trucks do (supply chains, resources, trained people to repair, etc.) the nascent industry for electric boats has already left the starting gate. For several years now, recreational boat rental operations in many parts of the U.S. have offered battery-powered boats; most of these of the smaller/slower variety which are powered by little more than a glorified trolling motor for the most part. It’s been a start: and the demand for this way of enjoying the water in a more climate- conscious fashion.

But more recently, larger, performance-oriented boats and motors have started making some headway. Fairly quickly, the key players of the future are jockeying for position: and an early leader is Quebec, Canada-domiciled Vision Marine.

Having heard of the company a while prior, I was invited to The National Investor – FALL-WINTER, 2022 https://nationalinvestor.com/ 2 meet with them early this year and “kick the propeller” and such at the HUGE Miami International Boat Show (where, just above, you see the company’s Bruce Nurse explaining the workings of Vision’s E- MotionTM 180E big electric outboard motor.) Later, I was able to get a taste of this unit’s performance and watch the sophisticated software, etc., in action also on a pontoon boat outfitted with VMAR’s motor and drive system. I was floored. And I was further heartened after I had arrived home and picked up my own conventional bass boat from my mechanic who had serviced it. It turns out he had some intimate familiarity with VMAR and was himself already a shareholder.