Location: Detroit, Michigan
Fleet type: Electric boat cruises (operating out of Stanton Yards Marina, a former WW II shipyard).
Narrative: In 2024, husband-and-wife duo, Captain Blair and First Mate Allison Guilliom, purchased their first electric boat: the X Shore Eelex 8000. With a length of 26 feet, the X Shore Eelex 8000 showcases state-of-the-art Swedish engineering, including a 170-kilowatt (kW) battery system and a maximum range of 100 nautical miles (NM) when cruising at slow speeds (5 knots). Additionally, the vessel can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots, approximately 35 miles per hour, providing passengers with instant torque and a quiet ride from the front and rear sunbed. However, the flagship day cruiser starts at €249,000, making high costs a key barrier to the U.S. boat market. When Captain Blair and Allison purchased the boat, they made a pact that the initial costs of the vessel should be offset by transforming the X Shore Eelex 8000 into a recreational cruise liner, Sycorax Electric Cruises. Today, captain Blair and Allison operate Sycorax Electric Cruises out of Stanton Yards Marina in Detroit’s Little Village neighborhood. The cruises provide marine novices and electrification enthusiasts alike with a glimpse of the electric capabilities that are taking the global marine scene by storm.
Blair and Allison’s push to purchase an electric boat stem far from the banks of the Detroit River, stretching instead to the Caribbean shoreline of Belize. In 2021, a lifelong dream was fulfilled when the couple purchased an island in the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS). The BBRRS was inscribed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1996. Moreover, the BBRRS is the longest barrier reef in the Northern and Western Hemisphere and the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. Today, the BBRRS provides critical habitat to threatened aquatic and aviary species.
After purchasing the island, Allison and Blair noticed how common 2-stroke engines polluted the Belizean shoreline. They began to explore alternatives to conventional 4-stroke marine engines, exploring vessels with a smaller environmental footprint. The X Shore Eelex 8000 was first introduced to the couple during the Annual Detroit Boat Show in February of 2024 and aligned with their sustainability goals. It was there that the charter cruise vision emerged. The vessel was purchased in March of 2024. By the end of July 2024, Sycorax Electric Cruises was operational, becoming the 1st exclusive fully electric boat cruise provider in Southeast Michigan. They currently provide one of only five opportunities in the US to charter an electric powerboat (2 in California, and 1 each in Florida and Virginia)
The most popular cruise is the 75-minute Belle Isle Breeze at $275. Carrying up to 6 guests, it provides stunning views of Belle Isle, one of the largest urban parks in the U.S., the Windsor waterfront, and historic mansions lining the Detroit riverfront. The cruise is particularly popular among couples seeking a unique date-night experience and has even served as the backdrop for marriage proposals. The second most popular cruise is a 2-hour excursion downriver past the Ambassador Bridge, which connects the United States and Canada, offering guests a glimpse of the newly constructed Gordie Howe International Bridge. Throughout the journey, the vessel cruises at a leisurely 8 to 10 miles per hour, conserving battery life while delivering a quiet and relaxing experience. Then comes the surprise: a brief 3- to 5-minute acceleration that showcases the Sycorax’s instant torque, adding a perfect crescendo to the voyage.
Outputs & Outcomes: Sycorax Electric Cruise’s vessel demonstrates the capabilities of electric marine technology to Detroit residents and visitors, including:
Fuel savings: Reduces operating costs by an estimated $15,000–$20,000 annually and may lower total lifecycle costs despite higher upfront purchase costs, especially as we approach an economy at scale.
Enhanced customer experience: Provides a quiet, exhaust-free ride with less noise, vibration, and discomfort than traditional combustion-powered boats.
Range varies by conditions: The vessel can travel up to 100 nautical miles in calm conditions, though strong currents and wind on the Detroit River may reduce range to 60–70 nautical miles.
Best Practices & Lessons Learned: The most important lesson Sycorax learned is that most charter operations can be completed within a single day without depleting the vessel’s battery. Charging at a rate of approximately 5–7% per hour on a 50-amp service has proven sufficient for daily operations. However, without access to a DC fast charger, Blair and Allison must carefully plan charging around cruise schedules. As a result, charge management and trip planning have become essential components of operating a recreational electric vessel 3 to 5 times a day.
About Sycorax Electric Cruises
The Sycorax proudly offers the only 100% electric boat cruises in Southeast Michigan. Our daily luxury cruises last 75 minutes to four hours, and voyage over the Detroit River and Lake St Clair from May through October. The Swedish boat manufacturer, X Shore, has won multiple awards for design and innovation, including the German Design Award Gold (2022), the European Power Boat of the Year (2022), and the CICERO Shades of Green AS Dark Green rating (the highest rating).
About Drive Electric Michigan
Drive Electric Michigan (DEMI) is dedicated to increasing electric vehicle adoption in Michigan by engaging with policymakers, utilities, dealerships, and most importantly consumers. Michigan Clean Cities (MICC), alongside our affiliate NextEnergy, leads DEMI by leveraging Michigan’s mobility ecosystem to reduce barriers to EV adoption for fleets and community members. DEMI is an affiliated state program of the DRIVE Electric USA initiative developing state-based DRIVE Electric programs across the U.S. that engage individuals, utilities, legislators, dealerships, and others toward removing adoption barriers and accelerating plug-in electric vehicle use.