Our 45th solar-electric boat has just left the yard. This one goes to a client we already know well — the Pench Tiger Reserve authorities, who welcomed the first Marsel into their waters a few months ago. This is the second boat of the same type for them, and it tells us something we’re proud of: the first one is working exactly as it should.
Wildlife tourism has a low tolerance for noise, fumes, and disturbance, and Pench holds its boats to that standard strictly. Comfortable seating, silent running, zero emissions on the water — that was the brief the first time, and it’s the brief again. When a client orders a second unit of the same design, that’s the real endorsement. No changes needed, no compromises made — just more of what already works.
This Marsel is an open-type solar-electric boat with seating for 24, built for the comfort the Pench authorities insist on for every passenger. It runs on two independent 20 kWh battery packs, 40 kWh total, and carries our Mako Fury pods — the same heavy-duty S1 pods we introduced on the first boat, chosen for their ruggedness and reliability in the leisure segment, where downtime simply isn’t acceptable. Crew and passengers alike get a smoother, quieter ride than an outboard setup delivers. A 3 kW solar plant stretches the range by another hour, giving five hours of operation at 6 knots.Two boats in, one client, one growing relationship. That’s the story we like telling.
The boats are expected to be inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister, Sri. Devendra Fadnavis next month and we look forward to the event and its induction to the fleet.
Vessel Specifications:
- Length x Breadth: 12 x 3.5m
- Capacity: 24 passengers + 2 crew
- Solar Plant: 3 kW
- Propulsion Battery: 2 x 20 kWh Torpedo LFP batteries
- Motors: 2 x 8 kW Mako S1 Duty Pods
The Marsel platform is the most successful platform with six of the variants in operation. It offers flexibility in length—10, 12, or 14 meters—with operational speeds of 6–12 knots and a range of 60–120 km per day. Learn more about the platform here: https://navaltboats.com/cruise-boat/marsel
#SolarElectricBoats No. 45
Sandith Thandasherry 