OLDEMARKET—WaterWorld Drive Systems develops and builds integral marine electric drive systems for boats. Over the past ten years, the company has gradually expanded its sales area abroad. Many Frisian boatbuilders contributed simply by being the first to show confidence in the propulsion concepts of the now 34-year-old Sebastiaan Strampel.
Strampel is the founder and owner of WaterWorld and has appointed De Stille Boot in Heeg as distributor for the Netherlands. Large Dutch shipyards, such as the tender builders Antaris and Maril buy the electric motors and the associated battery packs and control units directly.
Export
In 2024, the inboard and outboard propulsion systems are advanced and boat-oriented in terms of hardware and software, including their waterproof battery packs (IP 67). Sales engineer Abele De Jong of Joure can serve customers throughout Western Europe, as well as in the United States, India, and possibly even South Africa. At the beginning of September, a battery pack of no less than 108 kWh was ready for shipment to Spain for use in a ferry. That battery is a giant compared to the portable 12V 1.7 kWh battery that Boeing 737 Max pilot Christian Smulders from Muiden received as a gift from Strampel that day.
portable 1.7 kWh battery. Photo: Albert Hendriks.
The commercial pilot works for TUI and is the founder and owner of Lillebror Marine, a designer and builder of exclusive but very practical electric and hybrid aluminum tenders. He is inspired by not only aircraft manufacturers but also car makers, as evidenced by the brand new LB 60 on display in the Zeekr Center on the Rokin in the heart of Amsterdam.
Everything is in your own hands
Smulders has developed Strampels WaterWorld into an all-in-one builder of inboard electric motors, pods, and batteries. He has also contributed to this with his pilot, pleasure boater, and designer knowledge. Strampel now has twenty thinkers and doers on his company’s payroll and another seven partners through participation in battery producer IONBASE in Muiden, near Amsterdam.
Despite limited availability as a salesman – he is a full-time operator of holiday flights – Smulders sold no fewer than 28 tenders of 6 to 8m (19.6 — 26.2 ft) in ten years. He has no employees but relies on self-employed specialists and companies, especially in Friesland. His contemporary creations sell for €60,000 up to €170,000. According to Smulders, the buyers are boat enthusiasts with an eye for something different such as a practical design, high-quality components, and smart features.
Yard wanted
Smulders, the pilot (45), is on the eve of more growth due to growing interest. He does not want to be a manager, so he wants to strike a deal with a shipyard. It is a plug-and-play story for the acquirer or participant, but an affinity with design, aluminum, and electric drive would be useful.
More info:
www.waterworldelectronics.com
www.lillebromarine.nl
www.ionbase.io/nl/
