Electric car-powered Pure Pontoon unveiled in production form

Pure Watercraft overnight unveiled the Pure Pontoon, with the reveal coinciding with the order books opening for anyone interested in zero-emission pontoon boating.

According to its maker, the Pure Pontoon is equipped with a high-capacity battery system that allows for up to 65km of range “in an outing with a normal mix of speeds, [and] on a single charge”. 

On board is enough seating space for up to 10 people, a built-in audio system, and “other amenities that make it perfect for entertaining friends and family on the water”.

Pure Watercraft depends heavily on GM’s investment in its electric drivetrain technology, helping it to bring the cost of introducing battery-fuelled boats down to an affordable level.

The pontoon boat uses an electric outboard motor developed by Pure Watercraft that turns at a relatively low speed but swings a large propeller. Feeding the electric outboard motor the electricity it needs will be a GM-built battery pack.

Rather than using traditional aluminium tubes, the Pure Pontoon uses a uniquely designed hull that reduces the amount of power needed to rise up on the plane by about 20 per cent. The design has the added benefit of creating much less wake than a conventionally hulled pontoon boat.

The new electric drivetrain also gives Pure Watercraft the flexibility it needs to develop new products around the electric drive platform, with speed to market a key – the Pure Pontoon working prototype shown after the boat maker’s 2021 announcement it would be teaming up with the global car-making giant was developed and built in 44 days.

Pure Watercraft went with the pontoon boat as its first model as this style of boat is the biggest market in North America.

However, the company has also built a prototype runabout featuring an electric outboard motor that is fully immersed underwater. The more advanced version of this outboard developed for the Pure Pontoon has the electric motor sitting above the waterline.

Pure Watercraft does sell a 50hp version of its electric motor as a complete battery and motor system ready to bolt on and in a boat, priced from around $US21,600 ($A32,600) including the cabling and a charger.

The package includes a Bluetooth-enabled throttle, potentially meaning you could one day control the motor using a smartphone app – handy for solo launching.