The Candela dealer Sealectric is organising an exclusive two-day test event in cooperation with Skyline Boating and the Frankfurt Water Sports Centre, where you can experience the revolutionary Candela C-8 on the water. No showroom - but real driving, real flying.
No engine roaring, no waves clapping, no spray in the cockpit. Just an elegant, almost silent hover above the surface of the water. What sounds like science fiction is reality - and on 13 and 14 June you can experience it for yourself. the Candela C-8 on the River Main in Frankfurt.
What is the Candela C-8?
The Candela C-8 is no ordinary electric boat. It is the first series-produced electric boat with hydrofoil technology that combines a practical range with a completely new driving experience. While other e-boats struggle against water resistance, the C-8 simply takes off - literally.
From around 16 knots, the T-shaped wings generate enough lift to lift the entire hull out of the water. Waves? Hardly noticeable. Noise? Almost zero. The boat glides along in a stable and whisper-quiet manner - no pitching, no rolling, even in heavy seas. The ride feels less like boating and more like flying in a light aircraft. What's more, the steering is extremely intuitive.
High-tech meets Scandinavian design
The C-8 is made entirely of prepreg carbon fibre - it is currently hard to build a lighter and higher-quality boat. The cockpit is more reminiscent of a modern electric sports car than a classic motorboat: tidy, digital, minimalist. The battery and management system comes from Polestar, the Volvo subsidiary from Sweden. Carbon sports seats for the driver and co-driver, a rear bench for three people and a sunbathing area (1.40 x 1.65 m) make the C-8 suitable for longer trips.
The minimalist concept continues below deck: white GRP surfaces, light-coloured upholstery, a compact toilet and a berth measuring 1.58 x 2.70 metres for two people - more than enough for an overnight stay on board.
The Candela C-8 flies thanks to the Foil Control System
The centrepiece of the C-8 is the foil control system - an in-house development by Candela. Sensors continuously record movements, waves, wind and control commands. An on-board computer uses this data to calculate the optimum position of the wings in real time - up to one hundred times per second. The driver hardly notices a thing. The boat simply remains stable, calm and floating.
The C-8 is powered by the specially developed Candela C-POD: an electric motor integrated directly into the foil section with 45 kW continuous power (approx. 60 hp) and two counter-rotating propellers. No gearbox, no drive shaft, no impeller - low-maintenance and designed for over 3,000 operating hours.
Thanks to the foil technology, energy consumption in hovering flight is reduced by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional planing boats. The 69 kWh battery enables a range of up to 50 nautical miles at 22 knots. Charging takes around five hours using three-phase current - or less than two hours using DC fast charging. But it also goes much further: in a competition held in 2023, the foil boat covered a distance of 420 nautical miles in 24 hours, setting a new world record.
Costs and the environment: it all adds up
Energy consumption is around 0.9 kWh per nautical mile - less than 30 cents per mile, depending on the electricity tariff. By way of comparison, a classic motorboat of a similar size consumes around 1.7 litres of diesel per nautical mile at 29 knots - that corresponds to around 3.06 euros per mile.
Register now
The driving experience with the Candela C-8 is exceptional - we experienced this ourselves during our test drive and can only confirm it.
⚠️ Places are limited! Register now at: info@sealectric.de
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
