A One-week Charter on an Electric Catamaran
At a time when most multihull shipyards are offering hybrid options, charter companies appear to have side-stepped the idea somewhat… But does that mean all of them? Actually, no, because Dream Yacht has been offering Fountaine Pajot catamarans equipped with electric motors for the past three years. But is this concept appealing and suitable for the average boater? That’s what we set out to find out when we embarked on a week-long trip aboard an Aura 51 Smart Electric - a former model name that has since become FP51 ODSea+.
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Publié le
02/07/2026
Par
Norbert Conchin
Numéro :
SP26
Parution :
Sep.
/
Oct.
2026
Test location: Bay of Naples, ItalyConditions: 0 to 15 knots of wind, calm to slight sea state A Real-world Test Greater self-sufficiency, cleaner and quieter sailing, easier maneuvering, and the ability to generate “clean” energy via solar panels and hydrogeneration: these are the promises of hybrid propulsion. Admittedly, though, there are various issues still to be addressed, such as still-limited speed in all-electric mode, excessive energy consumption when motoring into the wind or against the waves, low efficiency of the solar panels on overcast days, the need to closely monitor the batt…
