The design of the Loopia 290 comes from the Marc Lombard Yacht Design studio in La Rochelle. The shipyard also favours short production routes: suppliers and partners should come from the immediate vicinity wherever possible. The hull and decks will initially be made to order by Alubat, the well-known aluminium specialist for sailing boats with the Ovni and Cigale brands. Later, the Sea Loop Marine shipyard plans to manufacture the boats completely in-house in a new production facility. The hull will be built from recyclable aluminium and should therefore be robust, durable and easier to recycle at the end of its life cycle.
Only for protected waters
The Loopia 290 is designed as an open, flat platform. Pontoon boats are particularly popular in North America due to their spaciousness, stability and ease of handling. Sea Loop Marine has transferred this principle to a modern electric boat for European waters. The boat is designed for inland waters, sheltered coastal areas, charter companies, clubs and private owners who are looking for plenty of room to manoeuvre and easy access to the water.
A key feature is the disabled and wheelchair-friendly concept. The deck plan has no steps. The walkways are kept wide and access from the jetty should be as easy as possible. This means that the Loopia 290 is also aimed at crews with limited mobility. Even the toilet is integrated to save space: it is located under the helmsman's seat and can be partitioned off with a curtain.
Several versions, depending on benefits and requirements
The Loopia 290 Family version is planned for the launch. It is designed for day trips with family, friends or guests and offers plenty of seating and living space for up to 20 people. Other versions are to follow later: a fishing version for anglers, a diving version for divers and a touring version for cruising and overnight stays. A larger model, the Loopia 350, is also already planned. However, no details have yet been released.
The Loopia 290 is powered by electricity. According to the technical data, two electric motors with 40 kW each from the manufacturer ePropulsion will be used. The engines will be installed as outboards, but the shipyard is also looking into the possibility of built-in engines. Sea Loop Marine is also working on hybrid solutions. The battery capacity is specified as 92 kWh. A range of around 57 nautical miles at 6 knots is stated at slow speed, and around 15 nautical miles at maximum speed. At full power, the Loopia 290 should be able to reach up to 16 knots, according to the designers' calculations.
The first boat is due to be unveiled in 2027. The shipyard has not yet published a concrete price list or standard specifications. However, it has already named an initial base price for the Loopia 290 Family of 270,000 euros net, including the drives.
Technical data Loopia 29 Family
- Hull length: 8.50 m
- Total length with bathing platform: 9.00 m
- Width: 3.90 m
- Hull width: 1.15 m
- Draught: 0.53 m
- Clearance height: 2.87 m
- Weight: 4.2 tonnes
- CE design category: B (12) / C (16) / D(20)
Further links on the topic
Michael Good
Editor Test & Technology
