Polaris Marine is currently working on two electrically powered concept pontoon boats, the Bennington L-Series Bowrider and the Godfrey Monaco 235. The prototypes are powered by a single 150hp Forza X1 outboard, and were unveiled at the company’s dealer meeting in Syracuse, Ind., last month.
“As a leader in the pontoon market, Polaris Marine is staying at the forefront of new and emerging technologies like electrification, Ben Duke, president of Polaris Marine. “Working closely with high-horsepower electric propulsion for OEMs, Bennington and Godfrey are using concept vessels, such as the ones we shared with dealers, as testbeds for future development. As electrification technology rapidly advances, we will continue to test, learn and best understand how we use it to deliver incredible performance and create the best experiences for our customers.”
The new concept boats were selected for the demonstrations because of their layouts, which provide room for centrally locating the battery banks. With the 150hp Forza X1 outboard, the L-Series Bowrider reportedly hit a top speed of 25 mph, while the Monaco 235 reached 28 mph.
Polaris estimates the cruising range of the Bennington at 25 miles at 15 mph or 15 miles at 20 mph and the Godfrey at 29 miles at 15 mph or 17 miles at 20 mph.
