Tornado enters electric RIB market

This is a project between Tornado and German company Torqeedo, the leading manufacturer of marine electric motors. Called the Coach 6 metre, this new RIB is a development of one of Tornado’s standard outboard designs and it is powered by a Torqeedo Deep Blue 50R 80hp electric outboard. The electric power comes from one of Torqeedo’s BMW based 40kW hour lithium ion battery packs that is installed below the deck of the RIB in the aft part of the boat.

Lars Hjorth, the owner of Tornado RIBs international describes this new development for Tornado Boats, “I am excited that we are now taking a big step into more sustainable propulsion. This is only the first step and we can, at short notice supply a wide range of electric boats in sizes from 4 to 12 metres”

The prototype electric RIB is based on the standard 6 metre RIB from Tornado with a beam of 2.25 metres and fitted with inflatable polyurethane tubes that are divided into 5 compartments. A steering console is fitted in the forward section of the boat and in addition to the controls, the control panel and charging point for the battery system are fitted here. Two jockey seats come as standard creating a basic RIB design suitable for a number of workboat applications as well as a tender that can be carried on board a mother vessel.

Tornado gives the maximum speed of this electric RIB as 34 knots with just the driver on board and in sea state 2 whilst with a full payload on board of 8 persons the maximum speed drops to 28 knots again in sea state 2. These performance figures will meet the needs of many work and small patrol boat requirements and it is expected that this electric RIB will be suitable for many harbour patrol operations where convenient recharging points are available.

Visit Torqeedo at Seawork on stand PO143