Candela C-8
Candela · Electric · luxury
From €330,000
Carbon-fibre hydrofoiling day cruiser. 69 kWh Polestar battery, C-Pod direct-drive motor, DC fast charging 10-80% in under 45 minutes. Longest range-at-speed of any serially produced electric boat.
Specifications
- Length
- 8.5 m
- Beam
- 2.5 m
- Weight
- 1,700 kg
- Passenger capacity
- 8
- Battery
- 69 kWh
- Motor power
- 75 kW
- Top speed
- 30 knots
- Range
- 57 nm
Powertrain options
Candela C-Pod
- Power
- 75 kW
- Battery
- 69 kWh · Polestar
- Top speed
- 30 kn
- Range
- 57 nm
- Price
- €330,000
DC fast charge 10-80% in ~45 min; standard 3-phase dock charge ~5 hours.
What a buyer should know
The benchmark for range at speed
The C-8's claim to be the most efficient serially produced electric boat is supported by its own numbers rather than by rhetoric: 57 nm from a 69 kWh pack on a 1,700 kg carbon hull is a figure no conventional planing hull of this size comes near, because foiling removes most of the drag that drains the battery. For anyone whose use case is genuinely covering distance — archipelago commuting, island-hopping, Swiss and Italian lakes, the Côte d'Azur — this is currently the only electric day boat that answers the question honestly.
What you give up, and what you pay
€330,000 for 8.5 m is a great deal of money. A conventional day boat at that price would be half as long again, with proper accommodation; the C-8 carries eight, and comfort aboard is secondary to efficiency. Foils also bring complexity: they need water depth, they are a service item, and the expertise to maintain them sits largely with Candela itself. Factor that into a ten-year ownership view.
The advertised 10–80% charge in under 45 minutes is real but depends on DC fast charging, which remains scarce in European marinas — without it you are on a slow overnight fill. Cheaper conventional-hull electrics such as Frauscher or Marian exist, but their range collapses with speed in a way the C-8's does not.
Written from the builder’s published specifications and the wider market, not from testing the boat ourselves. Always confirm figures with the manufacturer before committing.
Awards & nominations
The C-8, up close.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does the Candela C-8 cost?
- The Candela C-8 has a published starting price of €330,000.
- What is the range of the Candela C-8?
- The published range is 57 nautical miles at 22 knots. Range depends heavily on speed, so only compare figures measured at a stated speed.
- How fast is the Candela C-8?
- The published top speed is 30 knots, with a cruising speed of 22 knots.
- What battery does the Candela C-8 have?
- The Candela C-8 carries a 69 kWh battery from Polestar.
- How long does the Candela C-8 take to charge?
- DC fast charging takes about 45 minutes; a full charge on a standard connection takes about 5 hours.
- How many people is the Candela C-8 approved for?
- The Candela C-8 is rated for 8 people.
- Who builds the Candela C-8?
- The Candela C-8 is built by Candela in Sweden.
- Has the Candela C-8 received any awards?
- Yes — the Candela C-8 has been recognised at: European Powerboat of the Year 2023 (winner); Gustave Trouvé Awards 2022 (winner).
