How beautiful are rental boats! Every summer, it’s relaxing to see families enjoying boat trips, dives into the lake, water polo games and colourful brollies.
The owner, however, neither enjoys nor relaxes. At the end of the season, it’s their turn to pick up the pieces, with hulls that scratched against the moorings, engines completely out of action due to heavy use, spark plugs to be changed, carburettors to be replaced… Instead of a well-deserved holiday, the tourism entrepreneur spends the autumn repairing, repairing and repairing.
Do you recognise yourselves in this picture? Luckily, GardaSolar is here to help.
We always say it: sustainability pays off. For the environment, but also for your wallet. We designed our electric boats specifically for tourism professionals, who are looking for boats that are reliable and inexpensive to maintain. We have worked so hard on them that we have achieved the impossible. We have (almost) eliminated maintenance costs at the end of the season.
How did we do it? We are just about to tell you.
Polyethylene – a revolution in hulls.
When it comes to boats, whether electric or not, GRP is often the most commonly used material for the hull. It is a composite material consisting of fibres and resins. Fibres provide strength, while resins maintain alignment and distribute the load. The only drawback is that fibreglass can easily become scratched and damaged, forcing the owner to make constant repairs to keep the hull in good condition.
Here at GardaSolar, we made a different choice. We knew that if we wanted to change we had to start here, with the material. And for our electric boats, we chose polyethylene.
Polyethylene is a very solid, light and versatile plastic material obtained from petroleum. We chose it for the double advantage it offers: firstly, it is stable and incredibly impact resistant, making it ideal for intensive use. Secondly, at the end of its life, it can be recycled into anything from a flower pot to street furniture.
Polyethylene is very strong by nature, but it is also easy to repair: simply heat the material, pour it over the damaged part and wait for it to dry. A simple, inexpensive and user-friendly process.
The electric motor – simplicity rewards
The engine also plays its part in saving you money. The electric motor is much simpler than a petrol engine and this translates into reduced maintenance time/costs.
There are many elements that are not present in an electric engine: oil, spark plugs, pumps and the carburettor. The absence of so many elements means that the number of components requiring replacement over time is kept to a minimum.
Greater efficiency also means less waste heat and therefore less risk of this damaging the outboard. Significantly reduced vibration, compared to its petrol counterpart, also helps to keep the engine healthy. We guarantee you more rental hours without interruption.
We have also made another choice here at GardaSolar: we have chosen a brushless motor for our electric boats, so even the brushes won’t be a problem for you. In addition, there is the possibility to shield the propeller with a stainless steel cage, in order to protect any bathers in the water but also the propeller itself from stones. This way, you will always have a perfectly functioning boat, even in shallow water.
Sealed, maintenance-free batteries
The electric batteries are low voltage, 24V or 48V, sealed, and require no maintenance.
Always charge the batteries of your Gadasolar electric boat when not in use and during winter storage to extend their life.
The only rule to follow: do not leave the boat uncharged for too long and always charge it with the charger supplied that’s fitted on GARDASOLAR boats.
GardaSolar boats – Colours easy to revive
As if this were not enough, GardaSolar polyethylene boats are mass-coloured and can be brightened up in colour with a suitable flaming operation.
On the sides, our GOGO Boats are embellished with personalised stickers. In case of wear of the designed surface, it will be very easy to reprint the desired motifs and apply them. Your GOGO Boat will then be given a new lease of life and will look as if it had just left the boatyard!
It’s these small details that make our fleets the perfect solution for tour operators, hotels, resorts and beach resorts.
At the end of the day
We have estimated, at the end of the season, a saving of up to €1,000 per boat on repairs and maintenance. But the first saving is the time you are not devoting to the maintenance of old fibreglass hulls or small internal combustion engines. And every second saved is a second gained, in work and in life.
The advantages of an electric boat are many, involving every aspect of our boats, from the hull to the engine. It is clear that electric mobility is an increasingly logical and convenient choice for the tourist entrepreneur. If you choose a GardaSolar electric boat, the investment you make will be returned to you in a short time, with the great ethical advantage of respecting nature even while doing business.
Are you planning on buying an electric boat? Ask us for advice and a no-obligation quote. Call us now on 0464 350 644
