Silent Yachts History & Heritage
Silent Yachts emerged from the vision of Heike and Michael Köhler, a sailing enthusiast couple with more than 40 years of maritime experience.
Driven by the quest for more sustainable yacht energy solutions, they embarked on extensive testing of alternative power sources on their Mediterranean yacht, meticulously measuring energy production and consumption.
Their dedication culminated in the creation of the Solarwave 46, the pioneering fully self-sufficient, solar-powered bluewater catamaran. Launched in 2009, this vessel utilized solar energy not only for propulsion but also to power all onboard appliances. A successful five-year sea trial ensued, leading to the introduction of the Silent 64 in 2016, the world's first serial production solar-powered yacht. Subsequent models included the Silent 80 and Silent 55 in 2018.
The yard's trajectory reached new heights in 2020 with a collaboration announcement with the Volkswagen Group for a groundbreaking 15m (50ft) yacht. In the following year, the Silent 100 Explorer, the yard's largest build to date, was revealed, featuring design expertise from Marco Casali.
Presently, Silent Yachts operates from a substantial 40,000 square meter production facility with a workforce exceeding 400 employees.
