Pulse 63’s marina trial a success, says RS Electric Boats

After six months of being put through its paces in a marina, RS Electric Boats says its Pulse 63 electric RIB has proven its credentials as a workboat at MDL’s busy Ocean Village marina in Southampton.

MDL was keen to assess whether an electric RIB could carry out the daily tasks associated with running a busy marina, like transporting items around the site, responding to berth holder requests and towing yachts; and whether charging would be straightforward. 

“The tow capability is fantastic,” says James Bills, the marina’s assistant manager. “We’ve moved yachts and jet ski pods. It doesn’t eat the battery under load — we’re quite surprised with how it can compete with conventional workboats.” 

The commercially focused Pulse 63 is specifically designed for law enforcement, border protection, security, and marinas. It is available in leisure and superyacht configurations for private boat owners who want to reduce their carbon footprint.

MDL Marinas is a keen advocate of green technology and has initiated and hosted the Green Tech Boat Show for the last three years. It was during one of these that the two companies first met.

“We realised quite early on in the Pulse’s development,” says RS Marine Group CEO Jon Partridge, “that we were going to have to do the leg-work in converting people to electric, offering more than just a quick test drive. The primary task has been to create the fantastic electric drive and integral structure of the Pulse, and the secondary one is to create awareness of how useful, friendly, reliable and sustainable electric boats are. There is a mindset to be overcome; we find some boaters are slightly suspicious of new tech.” 

The Pulse is known for its rugged spacious designs, ease of manoeuvring, practical natures and innovative credentials, and the reports from those on the water with MDL underpin this. 

MDL’s Lauren McCann, Ocean Village marina manager, and assistant manager James Bills have been using the Pulse since early March 2023. “The site here is challenging for walking around,” says McCann, “because of its layout. Having the Pulse here means we have been able to access the pontoons easily.” 

Highlights of the lease have included cost-saving and length of battery, its quietness, and its manoeuvrability and drivability. 

The MDL team says the battery lasts for about two weeks’ worth of ‘pottering’ around the marina. “We’ve been really surprised how long a full charge lasts,” Bills says. “We thought we’d be plugging it into the Aqua superPower charger every day. But we’re not.” 

Like with the challenges that the RS Marine Group faces, McCann says the team took time to adjust. “Electric boats are seen as a niche thing,” she says. “Like people are apprehensive about swopping to electric cars.” 

She admits most of her team was quite sceptical before delivery and cites battery life, capability to tow, its torque and manoeuvrability capabilities as potential challenges for adopting electric. 

“But it’s proven that it can work as a workboat,” she says. 

Likewise, Bills believes once people drive a Pulse they will be converted. 

“It handles differently,” he says. “The hull design means it turns tighter and it feels more ‘planted’. The centre of gravity is down really low.  It feels stable on the water. It’s lovely to handle.” 

McCann says it has been an interesting learning curve and has changed the team’s minds about quite how far green tech in the marine setting has come along. 

“We’re really fortunate they gave us this opportunity to trial it,” she concludes. 

RS Electric Boats says it’s ‘delighted’ with the international response to the Pulse 63. It’s been utilised by SailGP, and the UK-based company recently announced that it has a dealer in Spain and four other demo locations across Europe.

“We understand some people’s reluctance to embrace new technology,” says Partridge. “But the fact is the planet is changing and we have to do everything we can to help protect our environment. The electric revolution is here and it is happening. There is no turning back. That’s why we are delighted to work with those ready to embrace the technology and see for themselves what the Pulse 63 is truly capable of. We will do our utmost to let people experience its capabilities. 

“Across the RS Marine Group we are striving to make our business, and others, as sustainable as possible. We’ve integrated all we’ve learnt with the Pulse and are pushing forward electric tech with Cheetah Marine. We will continue to create the best products we can to ensure that other marine businesses can be as sustainable as they can.”