YANMAR Marine International (YMI) is thrilled to announce that its revolutionary E-Saildrive SDe 48V series has been honored with the prestigious Innovation Award in the Alternative Propulsion category at the 2025 Discover Boating® Miami International Boat Show®.
Managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and judged by Boating Writers International, the Innovation Awards recognize manufacturers and suppliers who introduce groundbreaking and forward-thinking products to the boating industry.
The E-Saildrive series, designed to facilitate a seamless transition to emission-free sailing, impressed the Innovation Awards jury with its advanced design, ease of integration, and commitment to sustainability. Featuring a ‘plug and play’ platform that eliminates the need for hull modifications, YANMAR’s E-Saildrive models serve as a direct drop-in replacement for traditional combustion engines.
This approach ensures that sailing enthusiasts can effortlessly adopt electric propulsion while maintaining YANMAR’s renowned reliability and performance.
This latest recognition follows YANMAR’s earlier success at the 2024 METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam, where the E-Saildrive SDe 48V series won two esteemed DAME Design Awards in the ‘Propulsion & Dynamics’ and ‘Environmental’ categories. The back-to-back accolades reaffirm YANMAR’s position as a leader in marine innovation.
“We are incredibly proud that the E-Saildrive series has now been recognized with an Innovation Award at the Miami Boat Show,” said Wouter-Jan van der Wurff, President and CEO of the Marine Recreational Business Unit.
“Winning both the DAME Design Awards and the Innovation Award in such a short time is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of our team. These awards highlight our commitment to delivering cutting-edge, sustainable propulsion solutions that will shape the future of boating.”
Innovation Award judge, Kelsey Bonham, said: “Yanmar’s first all-electric saildrive is a specialist rather than a generalist, tailor-made for luxury daysailers and small coastal cruisers. The E-Saildrive is refined by its closed loop oil cooling system, which negates all raw water contact, and by the high-quality, well-thought-through engineering throughout.”
Unveiled at the Cannes Yachting Festival and Newport International Boat Show, the E-Saildrive range includes three models—the SDe7 kW, SDe10 kW, and SDe15 kW—delivering power outputs of up to 15kW for sailboats up to 40 feet (depending on application and displacement).
The system operates on a 48V electrical platform, ensuring seamless integration and a reliable power source. Additionally, E-Saildrive owners benefit from YANMAR’s extensive support network, which includes over 2,000 distributors and dealers across 130 countries.
With this latest recognition at the Miami Boat Show, YANMAR continues to drive innovation and sustainability in the marine industry, empowering boaters to embrace the future of emission-free propulsion.
Attendees can view the E-Saildrive SDe 48V series at this year’s show at its Museum Park Marina location along the sail dock (booth MPM14). YANMAR will also showcase a full display of its renowned engines for power and sailboats at its Herald Plaza location (booth HP5PA), with expert representatives available to provide insights and information.
