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ZeroJet CEO Reveals What Propellor Outboard Makers Don't Want You to Know
December 4, 2025 · 4 min · 8K views
What this video covers
ZeroJet Limited, a New Zealand company founded in 2014, makes 48V electric jet propulsion systems for tenders and rigid inflatable boats.▶ 0:10 CEO James explains the 48V architecture choice as deliberate: lower voltage reduces cost, simplifies installation certification, and builds consumer confidence, accepting a few percent efficiency loss in exchange for a price point competitive with 20–30 hp petrol outboards.▶ 1:02 The jet drive eliminates an exposed propeller, enabling operation in shallow water, over reefs and rocks, and in confined areas where propeller strikes are a constant risk.▶ 2:48 ZeroJet's core engineering claim is that its water jet is optimized for 16 knots and outperforms most propellers at that speed — a reversal of the conventional efficiency curve, which normally favors propellers below 30 knots and jets only above 40.▶ 3:36 The unit uses a direct-drive motor with no gearbox to maximize efficiency and minimize size.▶ 4:01 James frames the commercial goal explicitly: high-volume sales at accessible prices, not niche premium positioning, are what will drive meaningful adoption of electric propulsion in small boats.▶ 1:44
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