The M 800-R Is an Electric Sports Boat You'll Need $480,000 For

"Electrification is coming," Jon Snow would have probably muttered if he were an automotive analyst. We have been hearing and seeing this for years now, and it's not just about cars but motorcycles and boats, too. I wouldn't be surprised if we decide to forego this solution 20 or 30 years into the future. But for now, this seems to be the way forward. A few years ago, I reported on the Belassi Burrasca Hypercraft, a 300+ horsepower PWC.

Interestingly enough, the man riding it at the time was Daniel ABT. Previously, ABT had worked on a water-fairing machine with SACS: the Strider 11 ABT. Reportedly, that machine had 800 horsepower and a potential top speed of 58 mph (93 kph). Fast-forward to 2024, and ABT Sportsline is at it again, going down the alternative route.

The German company partnered with Marian Boats (based in Austria but originating from Romania). The latter is all about electric yachting. While I enjoy loud cars and bikes, this approach is perfect for boats. I fully support the idea that it means less noise to disturb you on your day off and less/no harm to the marine fauna and flora.

Marian Boats offers an interesting selection of watercraft, and I'm most interested in the Laguna 760 and the M 800 Spyder. The latter served as the starting point for the ABT | Marian M 800-R, which you can see in the photos and the video below. The standard boat featured a 200 kW motor with a theoretical top speed of 43 mph (70 kph). The 120 kWh battery is at the heart of both machines and should be able to provide you with a range of 50 miles (80 km) in Cruise Mode.

That will limit power to 250 kW, but you could switch to ABT Mode if you're keen on hitting 450 kW and a top speed of 53 mph (85 kph). Either way, this sounds like an interesting solution for navigating a lake or doing some island hopping in the archipelago. There's also a Port Mode for slower manoeuvers, which will be useful when navigating a tight situation. As we see with other electric vehicles, the M 800-R features over-the-air updates and remote diagnostic capability.

It looks and feels like an ABT machine, and it's also priced accordingly: €450,000 ($480,000) before taxes. At least you'll be one of 20 owners worldwide, but it doesn't end there. You can spend an extra €32,720 on add-ons, including a Premium Trailer for your new water toy might as well get an ABT-tuned vehicle to tow it there, so save some money for that.