A 100% solar-powered boat
The plans for the M.9 were drawn up by the naval architecture firm Vincent Lebailly Yacht Design, renowned for creating the Iguana, as well as for its autonomous motorized floating home projects. Based in Normandy, the firm is known for its innovative approach, and was quick to join the M.9 project because of its keen interest in it.
The boat is being built by Chantier naval de la Passagère, a historic shipyard located in Saint-Malo and managed by Julien Reemers. The yard is renowned for its expertise in shipbuilding, particularly at sea.
The M.9 is powered by Blue Nav, a French company based in Arcachon, specializing in the manufacture of electric motors. These motors are characterized by low energy consumption, high torque, absence of noise and vibration, and zero maintenance.
A step-by-step industrialization process
Philippe Raynaud, the site's manager, explains the various stages that have been completed
"After the design and construction of our demonstrator, the M.9 2024, and more than 500 miles at sea, as well as successful presentations at the Cannes and Grand Pavois boat shows, we are embarking on a new milestone. These full-scale trials have enabled us to test and validate all the boat's functionalities. The concept works very well, and we've been working on many details to improve, optimize and perfect every aspect of the model."
"It's now time to move on to production. Thanks to the work of the team led by Vincent Lebailly, the design of our 2025 version is complete and the molds can now be made."
First deliveries scheduled for early 2026
To guarantee optimum manufacturing quality, the yard chose to collaborate with one of Estonia's specialists, with a large installed base of numerical controls, which enabled the Milikan team to achieve high standards in terms of quality and deadlines.
Mould construction marks the final stage before series production, scheduled to start in 2025, with deliveries to the first customers scheduled for early 2026.
