Rayglass and Naut have joined forces to develop the first fully electric Protector, with the ProtectorE 310 Chase now in production at the New Zealand boatbuilder’s yard.
The boat keeps everything that makes a Protector a Protector, the same advanced, ultra-capable hull, the same smooth ride, the same tough but luxurious finish that’s made the RIB brand a fixture on America’s Cup support fleets and Coastguard stations around the country. The only change is what’s pushing it through the water.
That job now falls to Kaha, Naut’s fully electric outboard. The Whangārei company states that it may be the most powerful commercially available electric production outboard on the market, delivering 300hp of continuous power and 525hp at peak, with instant torque that holds steady under load. Batteries are fully configurable, so buyers can add extra packs for more range or more punch depending on how they use the boat.
Charging is built around flexibility rather than routine. Owners can plug in at home on a standard AC connection, top up at a marina, or draw power from a mothership. DC fast charging gets the ProtectorE back to full in under an hour, while overnight AC charging at home does away with the trip to the fuel dock altogether.
There’s a maintenance case for going electric too. With no fuel system and far fewer moving parts than a combustion outboard, Naut says breakdowns are rare and the regular servicing load is lighter. Rayglass reckons the boat suits the vast majority of everyday recreational trips, and is just as well suited to commercial operators running the same route several times a day.
Naut isn’t new to New Zealand’s electric boating story. The company grew out of McKay, one of the country’s largest electrical engineering firms, after McKay developed the propulsion system behind Wellington’s Ika Rere, the Southern Hemisphere’s first fully electric passenger ferry. Five years on, Kaha is the result, and the ProtectorE marks Naut’s biggest step yet from demonstrator boats to a production partnership with an established mainstream builder.
Dean Harris, Rayglass’s president, says the ProtectorE isn’t change for change’s sake. “This is a fantastic vessel, in keeping with our usual high standards,” he says. “And there’s nothing like the experience of hearing the waves when you accelerate. Naut has built a fantastic propulsion system and we want to share this technology with the world.”
Fiona Bycroft, Naut’s CEO, says Rayglass was the obvious partner. “We developed the Kaha outboard knowing it needed a world-class boat to demonstrate what it could do,” she says. “A Protector vessel is an obvious choice, and having the backing of Brunswick alongside Rayglass makes this an incredibly exciting partnership for Naut.”
First trials for the ProtectorE begin in September, with sea trials opening up to commercial and recreational users from late 2026 or early 2027. Anyone keen to get a look can contact Rayglass or Naut directly.
We’ve followed Naut’s journey since it launched its first electric drive system back in 2022, through the Beachcomber demonstrator and a feasibility study with Shotover Jet. Landing a partnership with a builder of Rayglass’s standing is the clearest sign yet that electric propulsion in New Zealand boating has moved from proof of concept to production line.
Learn more by contacting either Rayglass Boats or Naut.
