Sloepen are one of the many Dutch export hits. The open boats with their bulbous hulls, all-round cockpit and console in the rear third sail across rivers, canals, lakes and skerries in many different versions. The Hwila 25 comes from Sweden, has no fender rigging and is not limited to leisurely speeds. The 7.45 metre long and 1.95 metre narrow novelty has nothing in common with the onomatopoeically named tucker boats, other than its use for sundowner trips or extended harbour and small coastal tours.
And although Hwila Yachts also calls its debut model the "Scandinavian Sloep", the design is more reminiscent of US watercraft from the 1920s. Christian Wallgren from IOTA Marin created the commuter look with beautifully straight lines that begin with a vertical stem and end in a classic yacht stern via a pronounced positive deck curve and the tumblehome curve of the side - topped by a coaming clad in glossy mahogany.
The Hwila 25 hides the electric outboard motor in the aft peak
The drive is not at all Tuckerboat-like. Instead of an inboard diesel with bubbling cooling water, an electric or combustion outboard engine is used under the tailgate. The latest electric version relies on Mercury's Avator 35e or 75e models and has been CE-certified. The 3.7 kW and 7.5 kW motors on the propeller shaft are powered by battery banks consisting of up to four batteries, each with a capacity of 5,400 Wh, which can be charged simultaneously via a single point. Initial tests with the Avator 75e and 16.2 kWh storage system resulted in a range of 85.5 nautical miles at a speed of 3.3 knots (0.5 kW). The range shrank to 16.5 nautical miles when the log indicated 7 knots (5.5 kW). With a larger propeller, these values should improve even further. The displacement of the Stromer varies depending on the battery pack and is specified as just over one tonne; the draught is less than 50 centimetres.
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The petrol version of the Hwila 25 glides along
The petrol version with a 20 hp Mercury outboard engine and 44 litre tank is somewhat lighter. This gives the GRP construction a speed of 13 knots and should then consume 6 litres per hour. At 5 knots, according to the shipyard, around 1.8 litres flow through the pipe every hour. The standard equipment list for the Hwila 25 includes a 9-inch Simrad MFD in the stainless steel console, hydraulic steering, wine glass holder, seat cushions and navigation lighting. The table folds up out of the bilge and, thanks to the classic transom, the bathing steps extend out of the port side.
Larger Hwila version in planning
The Hwila 25 is manufactured on the Swedish island of Gotland and starts at 99,000 euros for the electric version and 59,000 euros for the petrol version (both excluding VAT). The Swedes are exhibiting their first model at boot Düsseldorf (Hall 4 / 4D02). But the Scandinavian sloop is not the end of the story. The Hwila Yachts brand, which has been part of the Petrel Group since September 2024, is working on a 32-foot version - in a similarly classic guise, but then for coastal use and in collaboration with Christian Wallgren and Hybrid Design from Stockholm.
