Sunpower Yachts has introduced what it describes as a world first: an inflatable jet tender that requires no fuel, no shore power connection, and no charging cable. The Solar-eJET 3.3m draws its charge directly from a mothership's solar array, making it the first tender of its kind to rely entirely on the same renewable energy source as the yacht carrying it. While fully electric tenders have been growing in popularity, none before this have integrated so completely with the vessel's own power generation.
For anyone who has lugged petrol cans onto a yacht, started a generator to keep a tender charged, or queued at a marina power point, the appeal is straightforward. When the Solar-eJET is stowed aboard, it charges automatically from the yacht's solar panels, so it is ready to go at full capacity whenever it is needed.
The Solar-eJET 3.3m measures 3.3 metres, placing it squarely in tender territory. A 10 kWh lithium battery feeds a 22 kW jet drive, delivering thrust equivalent to a 30-horsepower outboard. Waterjet propulsion brings two practical advantages: near-silent, zero-emission running, and the ability to operate safely in shallow anchorages where a spinning propeller would pose a risk.
Construction centres on a marine-grade aluminium deep-V hull paired with reinforced Hypalon tubes. Seating is built into the welded aluminium deck, finished with grey-and-black foam teak. Without its battery, the Solar-eJET weighs just 105 kilograms, keeping it manageable for crane or davit handling. It carries a Design Category C rating, intended for inshore and coastal use, with capacity for five people and a maximum load of 425 kilograms.
The fittings reflect the realities of daily use afloat. LED navigation lights, a bow locker, an anchor box, grab rails, and multiple lifting points come as standard. Reinforced towing rings and water-toy tow cleats add further versatility, while anti-corrosive fittings and mechanical steering address the demands of a salt-water environment. Colour options are grey or white, keeping the aesthetic clean and functional rather than showy.
What sets the Solar-eJET apart is not its hull form or its jet drive, but the built-in charging interface that allows the tender to connect directly into the yacht's solar system during storage. No additional chargers or cables are needed. The tender tops up continuously while stowed, closing the loop between the yacht's energy generation and its day-to-day operation in a way that no previous tender has managed.
Initially, the Solar-eJET 3.3m will be offered to buyers of new Sunpower yachts, with deliveries beginning in August 2025. A limited number of units will also be made available to owners of other compatible solar-electric yachts. All production takes place at the Antalya Shipyard in Turkey, a facility with an established reputation in both yacht construction and specialist tender building.
For now, the Solar-eJET occupies a niche within a niche, tied to the Sunpower ecosystem and the relatively small world of solar-electric yachting. Even so, it marks a meaningful point of reference for where luxury yachting is heading. By linking a yacht's solar energy system directly to its tender, Sunpower has created a genuinely closed loop of clean power at sea. The diesel-powered inflatable was long accepted as an unavoidable compromise. The Solar-eJET makes the case that going ashore, like cruising and anchoring, can now be part of a vessel's fully renewable way of life.
