Electric Cruising Gets a Smaller Sibling: Sialia 45 Sport Tries to Outshine the Big Sis

They say size doesn't matter. But when it comes to the Sialia 45 Sport, that might be a matter of debate. Sialia Yachts is touting this new electric launch as the ultimate day-cruiser. It's the perfect thing for popping over to the Bahamas from Ft. Lauderdale, apparently. As long as you've got oodles of cash desperately trying to escape your bank account.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good boat, especially when it swaps stinky diesel for clean, quiet electric power. I'm all about saving the planet if I can do it with a cocktail in hand and the sun on my face. But let's dig a little deeper into what this Sialia is really offering.

By the way - I did write about Sialia before, about the beautiful and fast 57 – but these guys don't sleep. When I was enjoying what seemed like a quick cup of tea, they came up with a whole another boat! Talk about keeping a guy busy.

Remember that fancy 57-footer I went on about? Carbon fiber, solar panels, enough power to zip around like a millionaire with a mid-life crisis…. well, turns out, they thought that wasn't enough. So, they decided to shrink it down, slap on an even bigger price tag, and call it their "entry-level" model. I guess if you're the type who considers a yacht the equivalent of a cheap hatchback, this Sialia 45 Sport might be your speed.

Of course, if you're actually curious about that luxurious 57-footer and all its extravagance, you can take a peek at my previous ramblings over here. Let's just say, it's got everything you might need for an electric joyride.

Sialia 57

Back to its smaller sister - the new kid trying to outshine its bigger sibling. This beautiful carbon fiber rig boasts speeds up to 43 knots (about 50 mph), which for a boat, is a pretty speedy clip. Sialia claims you can squeeze 70 nautical miles (81 regular miles) out of the batteries, or a whopping 164 nautical miles (188 regular miles) with an optional range extender. Of course, blasting along at full-tilt will likely reduce that range faster than you can say "shipwreck". Maybe that's why the optional range extender is a must-have.

Sialia's trying to sweeten the deal with solar panels for those onboard margarita blenders and a fancy fast-charging system. All that tech doesn't come cheap, though – these things are said to start somewhere north of $800,000. I was going to put a snarky comment in here, but you know what? There’s hardly anything else out there that offers a similar experience - and that’s what you pay for my dear friends. After all, we don’t buy a Ferrari for its performance, nowadays every other electric car is as quick. We buy it for the performance and the experience. Am I calling the Sialia 45s a Ferrari of the seas? You bet I am.

Alright, let's say money's no object (lucky you) and you decide to plunk down enough cash for a pretty decent house. You'll still need to figure out how to use your shiny new toy. Want it sporty with room for your buddies? Get the "Sandbar" layout. Hoping for a plush cruiser the family might actually enjoy? "Lounge" is the way to go. And hey, if you aren't sure how far you plan to travel (which, let's be honest, is limited by those batteries), then you sure as hell should consider the optional range-extender.

Let me be real for a moment – electric boats are still pretty niche. Sure, they’re quieter, the lack of noxious fumes is sweet, and the tech is cool. But, the cost, limited range, and general inconvenience of finding a place to plug in all remain major hurdles. Thankfully, the Sialia 45 Sport is here to tackle these problems.

So, Sialia 45s - it's an amazing step in the right direction. And, if the sheer cost makes you seasick before you ever leave the dock, then it’s not really for you, is it? For that reason the 45s will remain exclusive, it’ll provide miles of guilt-free entertainment for few lucky souls, and it will remain something to inspire the rest of us. Maybe some kid somewhere will even put a photo of it on the bedroom wall in the hope one day making this sweet boat a dream come true. 

Me? I’m waiting for those days when electric boats will be as common as those oversized trucks cloggin' up the interstate. Until then, I think I'll stick to good old-fashioned wind in my sails, and admire the sleek Sialia 45s as it silently and gracefully flies past. Some dreams are meant only for dreaming.