Man who spent 200 days building a solar-powered explorer yacht that can run forever shares what he's learnt after its first 1,553 miles

The solar-powered explorer yacht Helios 11 has now spent enough time at sea to reveal what works and what still needs refining.

The man behind the project, who runs the YouTube channel True North Yachts, set out to prove that long-distance cruising does not have to rely on fossil fuels.

What he ended up with is a minimalist, blacked-out monohull that looks a bit like Bruce Wayne’s side project.

However, don’t let the ‘bat boat’ aesthetic fool you; this is a serious test platform for the future of self-sufficient travel.

DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

The Helios 11 has proved more reliable than he thought

We previously covered the Helios concept when the builder revealed his plan to create a yacht that could, in theory, ‘run forever’ using solar alone.

The idea was simple but ambitious: design an efficient hull with ultra-low windage, cover it in solar panels, add a modest electric motor, and remove as much complexity as possible.

There will be no towering mast or sprawling sail plan.

Instead, he aimed to achieve quiet propulsion at the push of a button.

The Helios 11 prototype is powered by a 6kW electric motor and generates up to 3,000 watts from its rooftop solar array during peak sun.

According to its creator, the setup has proven more reliable than expected, even in cloudy conditions.

That has changed his thinking about future upgrades.

For example, adjustable solar panels, once part of the plan, may no longer be necessary.

Instead, he would rather increase battery capacity, stretch the waterline, and focus on real-world efficiency in rough weather.

Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology

He’s planning to build an even bigger solar-powered explorer yacht

Of course, running a boat purely on electrons raises questions about safety.

What happens if the batteries run flat?

During one tense night in the Nordic archipelago, he pushed the system too far and arrived at an anchorage just as the battery hit zero.

The lesson was clear: always have backups.

On Helios 11, that means a small emergency sail and the ability to anchor.

On his next project, the larger Helios 22, he plans to add proper sails, a backup petrol engine, and even deployable wind turbines for 24/7 generation in storms.

He has also fielded questions about everything from EMF exposure to whether the all-black paint job will overheat.

According to the content creator, the solar panels will act as a sun shield, and airflow will keep temperatures manageable.

The dark finish also hides imperfections while matching the panels.

At the end of the day, even after more than 1,500 miles, Helios 11 is still a prototype.

However, the solar-powered explorer yacht has already proven one thing: a quiet, self-sustaining life at sea isn’t just possible, but actually practical.

If you are curious to find out more about his experience thus far, you can watch the full video below:

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie