52 January/February 2024 | E-Mobility Engineering Peter Donaldson explores a new generation rigid hull inflatable boat that obtains benchmark performance from electrical energy Smooth operator While sailing is emissions free, the IC-engined boats that regularly support sailing events and training operations tarnish that clean image somewhat. This led the principals at RS Sailing, now part of the RS Marine Group, to begin development of an electrical Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) in 2018, incorporating a new company, RS Electric Boats. The resulting Pulse 63 is now operational in its intended role as a sailing coach boat and is also offered as a work boat, a leisure boat and a superyacht tender. Cathedral hull Alex Newton-Southon, co-CEO at the RS Marine Group, explains that the Pulse 63 is a clean-sheet design, with the rigid part of the hull optimised for electric propulsion. This means prioritising the reduction of hydrodynamic drag at the boat’s intended operating speeds and accommodating a large battery pack without compromising stability or space on board. The basic hull form is of the ‘cathedral’ type. A cathedral hull has three distinct elements that include a central V-shaped main portion with a slimmer, shorter sponson on either side, forming a tunnel between each sponson and the central portion. As with all RHIBs, the entire hull structure is rigid, while extra buoyancy is provided by air tubes inflated to high pressure that effectively form the gunwale. This is a ‘planing hull’ meaning it is more efficient and easier to get up on the plane compared to a comparable flat-bottomed hull. This design also significantly reduces the slamming action to which flat hulls are prone while also tracking better, characteristics that respectively improve ride quality in rough Pulse 63 shows off the low profile of the integrated RAD 40 integrated electric drive system, which leaves a lot more clear space at the stern than a conventional ICE outboard motor (Image courtesy of RS Electric Boats)
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