Greenline has revolutionized the world of boating not only through hybrid, electric and solar-powered propulsion, of which it was the world’s first pioneer but also for having built a true lifestyle recognized by all its customers: one of slowness, relaxation, and environmental respect, which the founder of the shipyard, Vladimir Zinchenko, defines in one concept as “gentleman boating lifestyle.” At the last Düsseldorf Boat Show, we once again chatted with the visionary builder of these extraordinary hybrid and electric boats to learn more about his vision of a greener and slower boating, in line with contemporary world trends.
Let’s take a dive into the past: the first boat built by Greenline dates back to 2008 and was the pioneer of electric boats. What was the biggest challenge at that time?
“During that period, I wasn’t entirely within the boating industry; instead, I was more on the sidelines as a dealer. When the idea of building the first electric boat came to me, the market was already heading in that direction: other shipyards were working on hybrid boat prototypes but were waiting for someone to develop propulsion and power systems. The difference is that I built it on my own: it wasn’t easy, but once I succeeded, I received positive feedback”.
How was the market reception for the first Greenline boat?
“Selling the first boats wasn’t easy, but there was already a clear trend in place: more and more owners preferred speeds of 5 or 6 knots and liked electric propulsion. The geographical area most mature in this respect was the French-speaking, Dutch-speaking and German-speaking regions, where navigation on rivers and lakes is common, and thus my concept was well-received. Going slowly is a way to better enjoy navigation, relax, and admire the surrounding nature. It’s a boating lifestyle that is widespread, especially among young families who value leisure over speed. However, we have worked to increase the power of the engines, so today we can guarantee speeds up to 22 knots, whereas initially, they didn’t exceed 8 knots, thanks to incredible technological progress in recent years”.
In addition to speed, boat owners are increasingly concerned about ecology, aren’t they?
“If we think about Tesla cars, electric bikes, electric scooters, solar panels on houses, and all the other environmentally friendly technologies, it’s clear that the world is heading in this direction, and boating cannot escape it. Our entire production process is eco-friendly: we even recycle the sawdust used to build furniture and use raw materials from recovery, such as foam obtained from used plastic bottles.”
With more than a thousand boats sold in 45 countries, can we say that Greenline is no longer just a shipyard but a true lifestyle?”
“I completely agree. Greenline customers identify with a greener, and environmentally friendly lifestyle. We’ve worked hard to instill this awareness in boat owners, defining it as the ‘gentleman boating lifestyle.’ It represents a form of responsible boating, not just in terms of safety but in respect for the environment, nature, and others. A Greenline boat owner, instead of swiftly overtaking another vessel, passes by slowly, greeting people on board without disturbing them with the noise of a high-speed engine. We come from nature and must not only enjoy it but also respect it: that means silence, calmness, relaxation, peace, and beauty”.
The Greenline 40 achieves an impressive four hours of range. Are you satisfied with this achievement?
“I think it’s a perfect time, allowing for enjoyable sea journeys. For example, a family wanting to cruise from Venice to Ravenna may prefer a leisurely two-day trip, making stops and admiring the surrounding areas, rather than a single high-speed day bouncing on the water and enduring the constant noise of the engine. Most of our customers have a calm lifestyle: they wake up unhurriedly, have breakfast, start late in the morning, take breaks, cook, swim, etc. This means savoring the journey. And if you own a Greenline boat, this is your lifestyle. It also means consuming and polluting less.”
