Rayglass & Naut building the first ever electric Protector

Formed by a volcanic gas bubble millions of years ago, the Rikoriko Cave in Northland’s remote Poor Knights Islands is the world’s largest sea cave. It’s eerily quiet and shady inside. The blue water reflects on the cave’s 35 metre high ceiling, and shoals of kingfish and snapper swim in the hundreds below. 

Here, inside the cave, the benefits of electric propulsion are as clear as the water, according to Fiona Bycroft, CEO of Naut - a homegrown Kiwi company that’s produced what they believe is the world’s highest horsepower, commercially available electric outboard:

“I’ve visited the cave twice. The first time was after snorkelling all day and it was beautiful. But when the skipper started the boat, the cave filled with noise, fumes, and the connection with the ocean was destroyed,” Fiona explains.

“The second time I went I was in a vessel with an electric propulsion system. It was one of the most spectacular experiences I’ve ever had. It was just us and the sounds and smells of the ocean.”

Announcing the Naut/Protector partnership

Protector and Naut are partnering to show off the Kiwi company’s exciting marine propulsion technology by building the first ever ProtectorE. This 310 Chase will feature everything the Protector is known for - advanced hull, class-leading capability, and toughness. The only difference is the propulsion system (and some cool Naut branding). 

The vessel is powered by Naut’s Kaha, a 100% electric outboard. It’s ultra-reliable and boasts 300hp continuous power and 525hp at peak. 

Fiona says the partnership just makes sense for multiple reasons:

“We’ve been talking to Dean [Rayglass CEO] for a long time and Naut and Protector are just a perfect cultural/people match. We see Rayglass and Protector as an innovative Kiwi company - the type of business we love to work with.”

“Plus, sailors immediately get the benefits of electric because they’re used to moving with no sounds or fumes. The Protector Chase is the gold standard chase boat in the sailing world - it’s great to have that connection.”

The birth of an electric innovator

Naut have built one of the world’s most advanced electric outboards, perfectly suited to Rayglass and Protector vessels. But five years ago, they were only just starting out. 

The idea came about when Fiona was working for McKay, one of NZ’s biggest electrical contractors, with Managing Director Lindsay Faithfull. The company had been approached to build the propulsion and power systems for the first electric ferry in the Southern Hemisphere for Wellington. That vessel, Ika Rere, is a great success and transports up to 132 passengers at a time on a route from Wellington CBD to Days Bay and Matiu/Somes Island.

After this successful project a boat builder asked McKay if they could suggest an electric outboard powerful enough to plane a boat.  With nothing available in the market, McKay built it.  

“The customer was happy with what we built. We were happy. But we knew it could be better and there was clearly a gap in the market. So we thought, why don’t we solve it?” Fiona said. 

That question was the origin - then over five years with Fiona and Lindsay at the helm, Naut developed their product and iterated. They built an inboard solution and installed it in a custom vessel - then they decided they needed to build an outboard. 

“We built Kaha [the outboard] then we needed to show it off on a vessel. Protector was just perfect for it. Brunswick and Protector are huge players in the marine industry - we’re really excited about bringing this super powerful outboard and vessel to the market with them.”

Most importantly - how does the Naut outboard perform? 

An electric outboard is a smart innovation, there’s no doubt, but we know the priority for most boaters and commercial users is performance. And like Protector vessels, Naut’s outboard delivers that in spades. 

As well as having up to 525hp peak output, it delivers consistently responsive power that holds steady under pressure. The batteries are fully configurable, so you can add more for extra range or power.

There’s no need to tow the boat through the petrol station, you can just charge at home or using existing marina and onshore infrastructure.

One of the biggest benefits is maintenance - Naut’s engines have fewer moving parts and no fuel systems. Breakdowns are rare, and regular maintenance is easier, faster and more predictable. There are plenty of benefits, but the biggest one is the experience:

“The experience is so much nicer. It’s quiet so you start noticing different sounds. There is no smell of fuel. It’s very peaceful.”

“Refuelling is much easier too. Marinas already have charging infrastructure, but most people will do their charging at home or the bach.”

That said, despite its considerable benefits, Fiona admits electric propulsion won’t be for everyone:

“We are always up front. We want to understand how you’ll use your boat. What do you want to do. If it’s not a fit, we will suggest waiting for the technology to advance further. But there are so many applications where electric is better.”

“For us it’s about understanding your use case, then matching vessel, battery storage, and infrastructure to what you need.”

Ideal customers today are users with a known route - especially those who do it multiple times a day. For example, water taxis, eco tourism operators, and super yacht tenders. As technology develops, the suitable use cases will grow - just like they have with electric road vehicles. 

Ultimately Naut’s hope is that more boaties are aware of electric propulsion, and understand its benefits:

“Once people see what’s already possible, and have the same experiences that we have, we hope that more boaties will choose electric. Because ultimately it’s more enjoyable for them, and they’re doing less harm to the ocean - and the special places they go to enjoy.”

Want to experience the first ever ProtectorE? Contact Naut or Rayglass to enquire about a seatrial today.