Arkup, a sustainable and liveable marine vessel developer, has unveiled its latest solar-electric houseboat before it will be on display at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this month. This modular solar yacht can be configured to house up to two bedrooms and baths and can sit stationary or traverse the waters, all without any emissions. Oh, and it has Starlink internet.
Arkup is a Miami-based company founded in 2016 to provide customers with state-of-the-art livable yachts that are luxurious and resilient but also sustainable. The company gained some clout with its initial solar-electric houseboat, described by Arkup as a “liveable yacht” – the ARKUP 75.
The company should not be confused with ArkHAUS, a fellow Miami-based company establishing an exclusive, zero-emissions social club on the water and an incoming water taxi service.
We covered the debut of that vessel back in 2017, and since then, the ARKUP 75 has been featured on Netflix, National Geographic, in the New York Times, and Architectural Digest for its “Avante-Garde life-on-water” design.
If you’ve visited Miami since then, you may have spotted the solar electric houseboat parked off the MacArthur Causeway between the city proper and Miami Beach. As an encore, Arkup has taken the sustainable technologies that made its first electric houseboat so unique and implemented them in a new vessel called the ARKUP 50, which is more versatile while remaining luxe and eco-friendly.
Arkup unveils ARKUP 50 solar electric houseboat
Before it is on display for the first time at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), Arkup has publicly unveiled the next entry in its Liveable Yacht Series of solar-electric houseboats. The ARKUP 50 features an upper and lower deck with configurable floor plans in which customers can choose a studio, one bedroom/one bath, or a two bedroom/two bath.
As you can see from the images above, the new design also features spacious wrap-around exterior decks that can fold up during transit, 12 kW solar panels throughout its roof supported by a 20 kW inverter, and a unique jack-up anchoring system for extensive periods off the water, Per Arkup:
Designed with state-of-the-art technology, our innovative self-stabilizing, self-lifting jack-up anchoring system, elevates the livability of our vessel, setting it apart from traditional yachts. This advanced system allows the yacht to rise above the waves, effectively eliminating any movement that can cause discomfort or sea sickness. Whether you’re enjoying a peaceful evening in the bay or hosting guests on the lake, the stability provided by this technology creates an experience akin to being on land, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy life on the water without the usual challenges of rocking or swaying. This system enhances comfort and broadens the possibilities for living aboard.
Customers who vie for the mobile version of the ARKUP 50 electric houseboat will be able to navigate waters via a 50 kW inboard electric thruster with 180° rotation and 23” propeller, as well as a 10 kW thruster on the bow. Those motors are powered by a 75 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery pack that can recharge in six hours using the solar panels.
That pack provides 13 nautical miles (NM) of range at 8.5 knots (9.8 mph) and up to 32 NM at 4 knots (4.6 mph). Customers can also opt for an air-cooled 15 kW diesel Genset add-on that boosts the range to 500 NM (4 knots).
Whether it’s up on the top deck, in the galley (which is a bonafide kitchen), or in one of the bedrooms, Arkup has designed its latest solar-electric houseboat with its “live in the view” philosophy in mind. Large windows are present throughout the interior, and the decks offer 360-degree views of the marine scenery, whether you’re jacked up for an extended stay or out cruising around.
Arkup also shared that its vessels are always connected to the internet through StarLink, allowing owners to monitor and adjust their yacht’s operations through a mobile app.
The ARKUP 50 starts at $900,000 and can go as high as $1.6 million for the two-bedroom configuration. As mentioned, the solar-electric houseboat will be displayed at FLIBS from October 30 to November 4. You can see more of ARKUP 50 in the video below: