Långsjösnipa with electric motor first out in Lysekil

The private port of Lysekil Marina is located on Basteviksholmarna. During the summer of 2024, the port's first electric boat arrived. Boat owner Lars Waerland and Malin Lindell from the harbor are very positive about the transition to electric boats.

Lars Waerland, what type of electric boat do you have?

I have bought a Långsjösnipa, I have been looking at a snipa for ten years and thought that when I retire I will buy one. I have never been interested in going around in 20-25 knots, half the pleasure of being out on the lake I think is to glide forward. It's so quiet and comfortable, my wife and I who are both former sailors, we think that electric boat is very similar to sailing. You go forward at half to five knots with a snipe, which suits us very well. We are out on the islands and swim and sometimes we have made longer trips like all the way up to Hållö.

How does the charging work?

I only charge at the port, it's a 6 amp socket, where I charge overnight and then it's fully charged in the morning. People ask how far I get but it depends on how fast I drive. If I drive around three and a half knots, I can drive for 12-14 hours depending on weather conditions. It's economical too, I think I've paid around SEK 300 for electricity this season. In addition, there is almost no service on the electric motor.

Electric boat owner Lars Waerland.

How long have you had the electric boat and what lessons have you learned?

I got the boat in early June and have had it all summer. Everything has worked great and I don't see any other need for a bigger boat, it works super well. From an environmental point of view, it is positive that you do not emit exhaust gases. So a pretty carefree ownership, I must say, says Lars.

What do you think about future developments?

I think it will come more and more and I think it's like with electric cars that you have to cross a threshold. People must dare to test an electric boat. Lars testifies to great interest from the surroundings - When I enter the harbor completely silently, people come and ask, "is it an electric boat?" Sometimes I even get applause when I drive past," Lars concludes.

Malin, what is the electricity infrastructure in your port today?

"We have 430 permanent moorings and we have electricity on 11 of 16 piers," says Malin Lindell from Lysekil's marina. They are ordinary electricity poles and we run a Danish system where you pay for what you use. This is the first electric boat we have in the harbor and we understand that this is interesting.

Lysekil Marina, Basteviksholmarna

Do you think you will receive more requests in the future?

I absolutely think so. When you see what beautiful boating Lars has, I think it will attract. But I think that at present it is still a cost issue for many people. Because especially the slightly faster boats are more expensive. But if you can imagine boating where it goes a little slower and you can enjoy the trip instead, it does not have to be more money.  

How are you preparing to offer charging to electric boats?

We are deliberately a little passive and follow developments. Since we are private, we have to keep an eye on profitability, and then it is the customer's demand that governs. If several customers come up with requests, you really start to think about those requests.

We don't want too much maintenance and we want to be able to charge for the electricity, so there must be a sensible payment system for the pole. The investments we make are in response to customer requests and so the investments we make are paid for by everyone in the port.

So it's like with electric cars, it has also taken time for us because we have had very few electric cars. It is important to find the limit when there is enough demand to get everyone on board.

How do you see your company developing in five years?

"I'm convinced that more people will have electric boats. But I don't think it will happen as fast as the electric cars, but I think this is something that has to happen, Malin concludes.