Julia Zaltzman
·4 min read
Foiling boats are having a moment, perhaps none more so than the Candela C-8 Polestar. Candela’s limited-edition design, in collaboration with electric performance car brand Polestar, marries the two Swedish companies’ expertise in design and tech. Flashy gold hydrofoils, a 27-knot top speed, and a record-breaking range of 420 nautical miles (with DC charging) are all part of the $450,000 package.
The use of foils was first popularized by the America’s Cup where it showcased unprecedented speeds. Since then, SailGP raceboats, foiling boards and kitesurfing have reaped the lion’s share of benefits. Canova, the world’s first foil-assisted sailing superyacht, was built by Baltic Yachts in 2021. For Candela, the design goal was to make an electric boat with long range, high speed, and the amenities of a top-tier superyacht tender. Having ticked all those boxes, along with low noise and zero emissions, the C-8 is also 95 percent cheaper to operate than a comparable diesel-powered vessel.
“Marine DC charging coupled with our hydrofoil technology’s long electric range will introduce new ways to explore on coastlines and archipelagos,” Niklas Nordin, chief product officer at Candela, told Robb Report. “Whereas cruising many nautical miles in a day in a petrol-powered boat is challenging due to noise and slamming, it’s not only doable but very enjoyable in a C-8.”
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More than 150 C-8s have sold since the boat launched in 2022, making it the best-selling electric premium vessel on the market. Robb Report stepped aboard the Candela C-8 Polestar for a sea trial in July. Here are eight of our favorite features.
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Going for Gold
The gold-colored retractable hydrofoils that lift the hull above the water are certainly eye-catching, but it’s the software controlling performance that creates the magic. Candela’s Flight Controller computer combines with sensors that adjust the angle of the hydrofoils in microseconds to keep the boat steady, even when the wind, current and waves shift. The hydrofoils also retract back into the hull in shallow water or at slower speeds.
Keeping It Cool
Candela’s engineering team developed its 50kW electric direct drive pod motor, named the C-POD. It’s described by the boatbuilder as being four times more efficient than the best electric outboards on the market. Two ultra-compact electric motors (for a total of 100kW) are mounted under the water in a torpedo-like socket, directly driving the contra-rotating propellers. The lack of mechanical transmission means no slamming from gearboxes, no energy losses, and minimal noise. Splitting the thrust between two propellers allows for both smaller diameters and higher RPM, and the motors are compact enough to minimize drag. The cooling flow of seawater eliminates the risk of overheating.
Minimalism On the Water
The Candela C-8 Polestar edition is available as an open daycruiser, a T-top version, or with a weather-protected hardtop (with a retractable roof for sunny days.) In any configuration, it’s going to convey a minimalist Swedish aesthetic, which makes sense since the builder also needed to minimize weight to maximize its range and foiling abilities. The austere look might not be for everyone, but on the Candela it seems to work.
Sculpted Furniture
The C-8’s bespoke carbon-fiber seats—the lightest marine seats in the industry weighing just three kilogram—have upholstery and supporting underlying foam pads that give a sculpted, race car–like experience. They’re designed by Maria Uggla and Polestar’s design department, the same team that designs Polestar’s car seats, including the new electric Polestar Concept BST that launched in July.
Center Stage
The symmetrical layout seats passengers in the boat’s center of gravity, on top of the Polestar battery. That makes it easier for the boat to get up on plane and the balanced weight distribution allows it to lift on its foils.
Automotive Crossover
The boat’s blingy gold foils and sculpted seats are just part of the Polestar connection. The C-8 special edition shares the same batteries as the luxury automotive brand, while Polestar technology is also integrated into the C-8’s charging system.
Hard Charger
The C-8’s 69 kWh battery can charge in 35 minutes from 10 to 80 percent via DC charging on dockside stations in the U.S. and Europe. The boat, in fact, uses the same fast-charging hardware as the Polestar 2 automobile to deliver a range of up to 57 nautical miles, at a cruising speed of 22 knots. That’s around three times the range of other electric speedboats. Last fall, a Polestar-powered Candela C-8 prototype set a new record by covering 420 nautical miles in 24 hours, using Northvolt’s mobile battery storage system to charge the boat along the way.
Marine Certified Textile
The hull’s solid gray exterior is complemented by a lighter gray interior upholstery that matches the look of Polestar cars. The same material is used on the boat’s seats, cushions, and sunbeds as well as being applied to the walls and roof panels of the cabin.
