• Efficient diesel yachts
• Hybrid and electric options
• Advanced power management for more comfort on board
• Up to 48 hours’ silent hotel operations
• Evolving design language with Marco Casali
• Ambitious growth plans 

Greenline Yachts is renowned for its hybrid propulsion, but it also builds exceptional diesel powered boats, right?

Yes. In fact, our sales are about half diesel-only models and half diesel-electric hybrids. One or two boats each year are also pure electric powered. It is a busy marketplace for diesel yachts in the 39-58ft category, but Greenline boats stand out. Our technology makes a diesel boat more comfortable, easier to use and less fuel hungry.

How is a diesel yacht from Greenline Yachts more comfortable than its competitors?

What makes a conventional Diesel Powertrain from Greenline different to any other diesel boat is first and foremost the way we manage the energy on board. Thanks to our solar roofing, you already have a free source of energy that is always there, always available, and that’s standard on all our boats. And second, we also offer the option of additional battery banks, where you can store energy coming from the rooftop or recovered from the diesel engine. You then get the benefit of this energy later at anchor, silently running the boat’s hotel facilities – from aircon to induction cooking. This means that you use the generator far less, reducing diesel consumption and lowering maintenance costs. But more than that, you will have better comfort, because there’s no noise, no smell and no vibration.

And is this technology mature, in your opinion?

Yes and no. Our power management system is in a class of its own, and already offers up to 48 hours of silent operation at anchor when you take our extended Power Pack. We include solar panels as standard on the coachroof of every model, which can generate several kilowatts of power in the heat of a sunny summer’s day. But of course, the technology is still improving – driven by advances in the automotive and renewable worlds.

When I joined this company, the photovoltaic panels on top of the roof were rated at 280W. Now we use 450W panels and they are already talking about 500-520W. In just two years, that’s an almost 70 per cent improvement in the performance for the same area. The same thing is happening with batteries. And this is what we really need, because we need to push 10 tonnes of boat through a liquid, which requires much more energy than just rolling wheels on a flat surface. Company owner Vladimir Zinchenko is obsessed with innovation, so he’s always trying to push the boundaries. We are always in evolution, and this is what makes this company really special.

What is the advantage of Hybrid Propulsion?

I think we all know that the electric revolution is under way now. Boating is now heading in the same direction. Our 6G H-Drive system already gives you silent maneuvering and medium-range passagemaking under pure electric power. When running faster under the diesel engine, it skims off spare power to refill the batteries that power another 48 hours of silent hotel systems when you drop anchor. The input and output of energy is managed with Greenline’s unique hybrid control unit, which is visually integrated with your Simrad display. The hybrid option will enlarge your possibilities of enjoyment on board your boat and give you more comfort.

So you offer your owners a path towards Hybrid Yachting?

Yes, it’s kind of a modular offer we have. You start with pure diesel propulsion, add our special power pack with more battery bank, bigger alternators and Greenline power management system. And then you step up to the hybrid to maximize your experience and your comfort or board, or to the electric. Transitioning from pure diesel to alternative propulsion is one of our missions.

Can you foresee a time when purely electrical propulsion is viable for mainstream yachts?

We already have some markets where this is reality: Scandinavia, America’s inland waterways. And closer to home, there is Lake Balaton in Hungary, where combustion engines are not allowed. A client came to me recently to discuss a fully electric version of the Greenline 45 Fly, which is a project we have already studied and is ready to go.

Does hybrid require a change in yachting philosophy?

I believe that smart people are able to listen to a story and extract what matters to them, to make their experience on their own boat better. And that’s the message behind our Responsible Yachting idea. Responsible Yachting is the key to unleash the potential of your Sphere of Experience.

How is the design language at Greenline Yachts evolving?

A few years ago, we started working with Marco Casali who helped us bring superyacht design philosophy into our smaller yachts. We’re not looking for the wow factor, but additions that are soundly tested and deeply practical. Things like increasing the glazing area, greater headroom in the saloon and wider doors.

Where will Greenline Yachts be in 10 years’ time?

My dream is to have a company with a leadership position in bringing technology and a new experience into the boating world. I don’t think we will need 10 years to get there – we’re ready to be a 100-plus boat builder now.

What does the perfect day on a Greenline look like for you?

My perfect day is one where I take my boat early in the morning and I start navigating the lagoon, possibly towards the northern part, where you will see wetlands, nice canals and enjoy a lot of wildlife. On a winter’s day, the boat will be cutting through the waves of a glistening sea and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you see dolphins. Not for nothing is the Greenline logo a circle formed by dolphins chasing each other!