Silent growth
Solar powercat builder Silent-Yachts is boosting construction at its Italian yard to meet growing demand.
Written by Rebecca Laughton
01 June 2023
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Innovative Austrian builder Silent-Yachts – the company founded by Michael and Heike Köhler to build solar-powered cruising power catamarans – has certainly been catching the imagination of the boat-buying public, with its range of powercats proving highly popular.
With a range that stretches from the 17.99-metre Silent 60 to the 36.74-metre Silent 120 Explorer, demand has been growing and in the northern hemisphere summer of 2022 Silent-Yachts became the sole owner of its shipyard in Fano, Italy.
Since then, the privately owned company has streamlined the production process and continues to increase the size of its team to handle the growth in sales.
The strategic acquisition has meant Silent-Yachts is able to guarantee the highest level of design, engineering, interior outfitting and Italian craftsmanship. The shipyard is ideally placed to take advantage of a well-established network of local subcontractors and key suppliers.
With 22,000 square metres of covered space and a similar exterior surface area, production is focused on the Silent 60 series of solar-powered, full-electric catamarans.
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The Silent 80 series, the Silent 120 and a few more Silent 60s are being built in Türkiye.
“The GRP hulls and superstructures are produced and assembled in one shed, then transferred to another for installation of the technical equipment and interior furniture,” explains Founder and CEO Michael Köhler.
“Next door to the outfitting shed we have a large warehouse for storing components and materials. Since fully acquiring the facility, the focus has been on establishing a thoroughly reliable and efficient series production process.”
The next delivery in June will be a two-deck version of the Silent 62, a special one-off project with two dedicated conference rooms, two guest cabins and accommodation for crew. Her US owner plans to make the yacht available for charter to corporate clients.
Several other launches are scheduled to leave the Italian yard this year, including the first Silent 62 tri-deck (hull #4) in late summer. Based on the bestselling Silent 60, this version of the Silent 62 offers an additional deck instead of the regular flybridge, while also increasing the overall length of the hull by two feet.
Over 15 Silent 60 yachts have been assigned for construction in Italy with the next available delivery in early 2025. However, the sales trend shows that the slightly larger tri-deck version is an increasingly popular choice among clients.
“Moving forward, in 2024 we are aiming to launch one new unit per month and production of the fully electric Silent Tender series will also be based in Fano,” says Köhler.
“The first prototype tender unveiled at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival was fitted with an electric outboard motor. The range now includes three models – the Silent Tender 400, 450 and 520 – available with electric jet propulsion. More information on the Silent Tender model range will be released soon!”
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