Rudow’s next trend is boats riding as smoothly as cars in the same space as the trend above. He writes: “In recent years, however, gyroscopic stabilization combined with computer control, CAD design, and accelerometers has made it possible for some boats to effectively mitigate sea conditions. One early prototype, the Velodyne Martini, was introduced to the world in 2013. The Velodyne utilized a pair of pontoon hulls in combination with all of the aforementioned tech, then gave the boat a big computer brain to control it all.” The brands driving these innovations forward are constantly experimenting. New technology is improving every day and making way for wider applications across vessel sizes.
Electric yachts
Yachts that run on things other than fuel have long been in development. However, we have barely scratched the surface of what's possible. As Rudow points out, Greenline Yachts, an early adopter of electrifying boats, has a wide range of hybrid boats and yachts currently on the market, ranging from 33 to 68 feet. Alva Yachts, an electric luxury yacht brand, is another example of a yacht builder leading the way in sustainability. As their website states, the “dream of a fully electric future will not happen overnight, but together we will move in the right direction and without compromise.” The adoption of electric yachts will grow into the new year and beyond as emphasis on the environment increases.
New building materials
The materials used to make boats have come a long way. Wooden boats are a thing of the past, as are “thick fiberglass hulls that weighed down performance.” The future of boat building belongs to lightweight materials like kevlar, carbon fiber, Corecell, and 3D printed technology. Builders will always try to find the faster, lighter and stronger way to build their yachts.
Overall smarter yachts
In the same vein as electric yachts, the future looks bright for yacht operating systems. Creators and designers of power management, communication, monitoring and control, security, and navigation systems are constantly innovating. When it comes to energy management, Rudow points out that “solar panels and integrated photovoltaic arrays are getting installed on more and more production boats from the factory, as solar power becomes an increasingly viable option for hybrid-electric vessels.” Intelligent monitoring and navigation systems are also becoming more prevalent as consumer demand drives streamlined functionality.
Many possibilities
This list only scratches the surface of what is possible next year and beyond. We only have to look at this year’s CES show. Samsung's Digital Cockpit wants to change the future of entertainment in autonomous cars. LG’s 40% transparent TV transforms the viewing experience. Imagine having a humanoid robot you can control from anywhere in the world. That is a reality, thanks to Pollen Robotics. The application of any of these innovations in a yacht setting will further elevate the yachting industry.
As the future of yachting unfolds, our team works to stay ahead of the developments to continue to provide our customers with the support they need. No matter how complex a problem, we are your one-stop shop for all of your yacht repair and yacht maintenance needs in Fort Lauderdale and beyond.
