Vessev’s move with the VS–9 Skye is less about changing direction than changing application. The same electric foiling foundations are now used to shape a boat intended for unhurried, recreational use.
The shape of a familiar day on the water
The idea of day boating is often spoken about as though it were a new trend. For most New Zealand boaties, it is anything but. Heading out for the day has long been the default. Fishing, diving, exploring a stretch of coast, or simply spending time on the water with friends. The intention may change, but the pattern does not. Launch in the morning, be home by evening, tired in a good way.
What is changing is how boats are being designed around that reality.
Vessev’s newly released VS–9 Skye signals a clear shift in emphasis for the company. Where the original VS–9 was unapologetically commercial in its intent, the Skye moves decisively into the recreational space. The focus is no longer on electric transport efficiency alone. It is on how people spend time onboard.
Having spent time on the VS–9, the family resemblance is clear. The ride is smooth. The noise level is remarkably low. It is not silent, but it is calm in a way that conventional planing boats struggle to match. That underlying behaviour has not changed. What has changed is what the boat asks you to do once you are aboard.
The Skye is not about moving people efficiently from A to B. It is about staying put, slowing down, and using the boat as a place rather than a vehicle.
What’s new?
The most obvious change is intent. The Skye is a day boat in the traditional sense. It is designed around comfort, relaxation, and shared use. The layout reflects that. Seating zones are social rather than functional. Space is given to lounging, eating, and conversation, not equipment or payload.
The catamaran platform is used to create usable deck space rather than to support commercial stability. Movement around the boat feels natural. You are encouraged to settle in rather than brace yourself.
Retractable foils play a role here too. The Skye does not force foiling behaviour at all times. It allows owners to anchor, beach, drift, and use shallow water in the way most recreational boaties expect. That flexibility matters far more in leisure use than peak performance ever could.
Most importantly, the Skye reframes hydrofoiling as a comfort tool. It removes impact and fatigue. It lowers noise. It makes the journey easier on the body. That has a direct effect on who enjoys the day, and how long the day lasts.
What’s the same?
Underneath, the fundamentals remain unmistakably Vessev. The hydrofoil system, propulsion architecture, and control software all follow the same philosophy that has defined the VS–9. Lift the hull clear of the water. Reduce drag. Let the systems do the hard work quietly in the background.
The ride quality is familiar. The stability is familiar. The confidence at speed is familiar. This is not a diluted platform. It is a reinterpreted one.
Vessev’s in-house approach has not changed either. Hull, foils, electric propulsion, and software remain tightly integrated. That consistency is important. It suggests the Skye is not a cosmetic exercise but a genuine evolution of the platform.
Rather than chasing novelty, the VS–9 Skye leans into a long held assumption. A day on the water works best when it feels uncomplicated. How well the Skye delivers on that is something best judged from time onboard.
Learn more: Vessev VS–9 Skye
Vessev is scaling production to meet global demand, with the first deliveries of the VS–9 Skye expected in 2027. Reservations are open at vessev.com.
Flying on water: our first ride – Vessev’s VS–9 foiling electric craft
Vessev VS–9 Skye technical specs
VS–9 Skye Performance
- Cruise speed: 25 knots
- Top speed: 30 knots
- Range (at cruise): up to 50 nautical miles light load / 40 NM full lod
- Seakeeping: up to 2’ 6” / 0.75m waves
- Propulsion: 100% battery electric from Vessev’s custom motor, the VS–Drive
VS–9 Skye Vessel
- Capacity: up to 10 passengers
- Length: 29’ 5” / 8.95m
- Beam: 10’ 2” / 3.1m
- Draft: 1’ 8” / 0.5m – 4’ 11” / 1.5m
- Hull: carbon fibre composite
VS–9 Skye Battery and foils
- Capacity: 105 kWh
- Charge rate: up to 1.25 NM/min
- Charging (DC): up to 150 kW
- Charging (AC): up to 22 kW
- Foils: fully retractable, carbon fibre
Vessev sits at the intersection of boatbuilding and applied technology, working out of Auckland with a focus on electric hydrofoiling rather than conventional propulsion. The company develops its vessels end to end, from hull and foils through to propulsion and control systems, keeping the work tightly integrated rather than outsourced. Much of that approach reflects the backgrounds within the team, which draws experience from high performance sailing, aerospace, and consumer technology. The result is not a single breakthrough moment, but a steady refinement of how boats move through, and above, the water.
