Okay, I don’t really believe that everything in the boating industry will go electric, but a lot more of what we see will.
And can you guess the main reason highlighted by every company I spoke to? Maintenance.
The rule in boating is that you need to budget at least 10% of your boat’s value each year for maintenance. For most recreational boats in North America, that means $5,000–$8,000.
That would include oil changes, engine servicing, fuel system issues, and the constant upkeep gas engines demand.
A lot of those costs are drastically reduced or practically eliminated when switching to electric propulsion.
People buy recreational boats to relax. The last thing they want is to spend weekends dealing with engine problems or unexpected repair bills.
Then there are the added benefits: no harmful fumes around you and your loved ones, and almost no noise so you can cruise in peace.
(I’m sure people who live close to the water won’t mind that shift either.)
Who knew so many boats could fit into the Miami Beach Convention Centre?
I’ve never been to the Miami Boat Show, but given my interest in the blue economy I thought this was the year to walk around and see where this industry is heading.
Being based in Miami I know this shouldn’t surprise me — but boating is BIG.
The industry was valued at $30.8 billion globally in 2025 and is expected to keep growing as boats become more accessible and new technologies lower barriers to entry.
One of those technologies is electrification. At the show, these three companies working on this stood out to me:
E-Force is developing Miami’s first all-electric boat, the Aurora e30, a 30-foot electric catamaran designed for efficiency and performance.
Beyond propulsion systems, they’re incorporating advanced manufacturing techniques like large-scale 3D printing into their build process. That has the potential to reduce production costs and iterate designs faster, something the traditional boatbuilding world isn’t exactly known for.
If they execute well, E-Force could create electric boats that won’t just be cleaner but also built faster and smarter.
E-Force Marine’s Aurora.
Flux recently raised $15M and is focused primarily on electric propulsion systems rather than building complete boats.
They partner with established hull manufacturers and retrofit or integrate high-performance electric outboards. So instead of convincing customers to adopt an entirely new boat brand, they can upgrade what already exists.
It’s a good reminder that sometimes the biggest shifts in an industry don’t come from replacing everything but from upgrading the core component that matters most.
Flux Marine production launch.
Tewa is taking electrification into the high-performance adventure space with an electric jet ski.
Performance water sports have traditionally been loud, fuel-heavy, and maintenance-intensive. Tewa is betting that riders will value instant torque, reduced upkeep, and a cleaner experience without sacrificing thrill.
If electric power sports can deliver the same adrenaline with less hassle, that’s a compelling value proposition, especially in coastal cities where noise and emissions are increasingly scrutinized.
Tewa Moto’s jet boat.
For now, there’s still work to be done before we’ll see mass adoption of electric boats.
Consumers need more education. Charging infrastructure needs to expand. Range anxiety is real. And the upfront costs can still be higher.
But the technology is improving quickly. Batteries are getting better. Manufacturing is evolving. And the maintenance argument is hard to ignore.
I don’t think gas boats are disappearing anytime soon, but after walking the Miami Boat Show it’s clear that electrification is no longer experimental and demand is growing.
Thanks for reading Blue Tide. As always, I’d love to hear what you think about what was covered in this edition.
🟦 Zané
