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If you want to drive an electric boat, you usually have to dig deep into your pockets. Their combustion engine siblings are generally much cheaper and therefore more affordable. X Shore wants to change this with its smallest boat to date. The X Shore 1 costs 117,810 euros - admittedly an entry-level price. But who is behind the brand? Founder Konrad Bergström is a Swedish entrepreneur who is best known for founding X Shore and Zound Industries. The technology giant Zound Industries manufactures consumer electronics for Marshall Amplification and Adidas. With X Shore, he is returning to one of his greatest passions: electrically powered boats.
If you enter the electric boat from the side, you will find yourself in the cockpit of the X Shore 1, where there are two individual seats and a long bench that can comfortably accommodate up to three people. The bench can be converted into a sunbathing area measuring approx. 1.70 x 1.72 metres. The back cushion of the bench can be moved back and forth. This means you can either face in the direction of travel or towards the bathing platform, which brings you to the stern of the boat.
X Shore should have a tidy appearance
Like the entire boat, the small bathing platform is covered with cork. As with the large X Shore, the Eelex 800, the deck material was laid very carefully and professionally. It looks good, is more sustainable than teak and does not heat up so quickly in direct sunlight. As with its big sister, the shipyard has opted for a tidy appearance at the helm station without many buttons and switches. Only the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel are present. The rest is controlled via the large Garmin plotter. The angle of the plotter is a little too flat in direct sunlight; the shipyard intends to improve this and is already working on a completely new steering position design. As the boat is a prototype, the modifications are not a problem. We have already seen the renderings for this. In addition, different seats with more lateral support will also be installed. To anticipate this: These were almost the only points of criticism of the X Shore.
- The X Shore 1 received an award: European Powerboat Award 2024: These are the powerboats of the year
Layout on board
The small slip cabin is located below deck. The width of the double berth installed in it is 1.70 metres, which is large enough for two adults. The length of 1.97 metres is also absolutely satisfactory. It is therefore ideal for one or two nights on board, provided you can do without a galley. The cushions in the berth can also be used as cushions for the foredeck. A clever idea to save additional cushions and have more space for other things. There is plenty of storage space on the X Shore 1. There is space for everything the owner needs under the seats, the berths and, to a limited extent, under the sunbathing area. However, there is no refrigerator for storing food and drinks.
The test drive with the X Shore 1
But now to the most exciting part of the boat, the driving. Like its big sister, this boat also has an electric motor. It produces 125 KW, the equivalent of 170 hp, which accelerated the boat to a maximum of 27 knots during our test drive. A bow thruster from Side-Power is fitted as standard to make mooring and casting off easier. Outside the harbour, we accelerated the boat to around 6 knots. The ride is balanced. The boat does not rock and the weight shift is not noticeable in the directional stability. If you turn the throttle handle forwards as far as it will go, the little X Shore literally leaps out of the water. Speeds of over 20 knots are reached in just a few seconds. She corners comfortably and without any twitching.
One point of criticism, however, is the emergency stop. There are two ways to stop the boat's engine. You can either press a red button on the side or wear a Garmin watch, which automatically switches off the engine if you are under water or more than 10 metres away from the steering position. However, a normal emergency stop would be desirable, especially under such acceleration. The X Shore's build quality and choice of materials are of a high standard.
Technical details
The boat
- Shipyard:X Shore (S)
- Type:1
- CE category: C/5
- Hull and deck: GRP
- Length over everything:6,50 m
- Width: 2,23 m
- Depth: 0,65 m
- Clearance height: 2,19 m
- Unladen weight (m. m.):1700 kg
- Turning circle: 3 boat lengths
- Sun lounger: Stern 1.69 x 172 m; bow 1.96 x 170 m
- Freeboard:0,86 m
- Cockpit side height: 0,74 m
- Max. motorisation: 125 KW (170 HP)
- Price (starting price):117.810 €
- Distribution:Mittelmann's Werft, Am Südhafen 6, 24376 Kappeln, www.mittelmannswerft.de
The motor
- Manufacturer:Bosch
- Performance: 125 kW (170 hp)
- Working voltage:364 V
- Full load speed:0-1750 rpm
- Drive type:Shaft
- Fuel:Electric
- Number of batteries: 1
- Battery capacity: 63 kWh
- Charging cycles: ~ 3000
- Interchangeable:Yes
Our test judgement
Driving & manoeuvring
- + sporty acceleration
- + good manoeuvrability
Processing & technology
- + Good material and processing quality
- + Clean assembly of the components
Security
- + a high freeboard
- - No emergency stop cable
Comfort on board
- + cosy cushions
- + large sun lounger in the bow and stern
Conclusion
Anyone looking for a well-designed, trailerable dayboat has found a good alternative in the X Shore 1. Thanks to the electric drive, the driving experience is completely different to that of a conventional combustion engine. However, you have to think about what you want to use the boat for.
