Candela’s C-8 Joining Agapi Boat-Sharing Fleet
Boaters will soon be able to subscribe to a Candela C-8 electrically powered foiling boat through a partnership with the European boat-sharing service Agapi. By incorporating the C-8 in Agapi’s fleet, Candela brings the electric hydrofoil experience to a larger crowd.
The partnership allows the Swedish builder to offer its electric boat to a broader market and the chance to operate the $332,000 (€290,000) Candela C-8. For Agapi, the Swedish-based boat-sharing service gets a premium boat to offer to its members, which pay roughly a $4,500 (€4,000) yearly subscription fee.
Mutually Beneficial Partnership
Top executives with Candela and Agapi see the partnership as mutually beneficial, offering an environmentally friendly boating experience for Agapi’s members.
“We see that demand for the Candela C-8 is extremely high,” says Gustav Hasselskog, CEO of Candela. “By offering the C-8 for sharing, more people can experience the thrill of electric hydrofoiling, which is in line with our mission of decarbonizing leisure boating.”
Agapi Boat Club offers a unique and world-leading subscription service that enables access to top performing premium boats across Scandinavia, the U.K, Mallorca, Menorca, Marbella and Crete.
“To be working with Candela and being able to include them in the Agapi Boat Club fleet going forward, is a major step in our mission to disrupt traditional boating for a more sustainable future,” says Agapi Boat Club CEO Peder Asplund. “More people can get access to the very best of premium boats and a hassle-free boat life.”
About the Candela C-8
Candela offers two recreational models, the 27’ (8.5 m) C-8 and the 25’ (7.7 meters) C-7. At nearly 28’ (8.5 m), the C-8 is the largest recreational model Candela builds. Instead of punching its way through the waves, the C-8 flies above the surface for improved efficiency by using a pod motor optimized for hydrofoils. Instead of creating huge swells the craft leaves virtually no wake behind.
The Candela C-8 has a range of 50-plus nautical miles per charge travelling at 24 knots (27.6 mph), the company says. Candela says the achieved range is about four times longer than the best electric boats currently on the market
Tech-Laden Boat
Candela C-8 comes fully equipped for the new sharing economy. Always connected to the cloud and continuously upgraded over the air (OTA), the boat’s software and app let different users access the boat’s features. Unlike traditional boats that require the captain to constantly trim the engine, the C-8’s flight controller will automatically adjust the hydrofoils to provide a smooth ride and easy user experience.
No Maintenance
The C-8 is also built for a no-maintenance boating experience, optimal for boat sharing. The Candela C-POD drive train is designed for 3 000 hours of service-free life. While most leisure boats are only used 30 to 50 hours per year, a shared-use craft might run hundreds of hours per week, which requires frequent and costly overhauls of conventional ICE outboards.
“The electric Candela C-POD drive train is designed for commercial use and will also power our upcoming hydrofoiling ferry Candela P-30 as well as the new taxi boat, Candela P-12. The goal is to provide a new level of product reliability, which obviously has many benefits for boat sharing,” says Candela’s Hasselskog.
First Candela in Stockholm
The first Candela C-8 will be part of Agapi’s fleet in Stockholm and will be followed by more boats based at Agapi’s Boat Clubs in Mallorca and other attractive harbors.
For more on the C-8 and all of Candela's boats, check out candela.com
For boat sharing opportunities with Agapi Boat Club, go to agapiboatclub.com