Kohimarama Yacht Club - Creating NZ Sailings first all-Electric Start Boat - Renewing Marama

$1,385 of $10,000 goal

Given by 13 generous donors in over a year

Kohimarama Yacht Club is possibly creating NZ's first all-electric start boat to help Kiwi kids fulfill their sailing dreams - can you help?

Kohimarama, Auckland

Marama – the 45-year-old Start Boat belonging to Auckland’s Kohimarama Yacht Club (KYC) – is enjoying a much-needed upgrade by club volunteers. The project includes swapping her 39hp diesel for electric propulsion – and the use of some very cool smartphone-based software.

KYC has been a fixture on the Waitemata Harbour’s waterfront for around 85 years. Renowned as a family-oriented club catering mainly to young sailors (Optis and P Class), it has launched the international careers of hundreds of Kiwi sailors.

Launched in 1978, Marama has witnessed the progress of many of those journeys.

After nearly 50 years of start duties the old lady was looking a little jaded and despite COVID delays. It’s now finally happening.

The upgrades underway include:

- Hull and superstructure strip down and refresh

- Repowering from Diesel to a 10Kw I-Series Inboard Electric motor, Lithium-Ion batteries and solar panels for re-charging.

- Integrating the latest in smartphone technology to deliver the best sailing experience

- Creating on-water self-contained toilet facilities to improve the experience of female sailors and volunteers alike

Marama’s reinvention began just after King’s Birthday weekend this year, and the KYC team hopes to have her finished for the back half of the 2023/24 season.

The undertaking is massive, leaving KYC and the NZ sailing community with a future-proofed asset to support youth sailing. We welcome any support to assist with this project.

#KYC – powered by nature.

Use of funds

To date, the NZ boating industry and generous family donors have supported the project, but KYC has underwritten the major expenses. Funds raised will be applied to assist with the purchase of the new electric motor, batteries, and solar system.