What WATT AND SEA does

Watt and Sea SAS, founded in August 2009 by offshore racer Yannick Bestaven and marine-electrical engineer Matthieu Michou, designs, manufactures and commercializes hydrogenerators (and aerogenerators) that convert the water flow past a sailing vessel into electrical energy, enabling battery charging while underway. The company is headquartered in La Rochelle, France, and operates as a privately held SAS with a declared share capital of €274,000 and a headcount reported in the 1-10 range. Its product portfolio is organized into two families: the Cruising line (Cruising 300 for boats under 35 feet, Cruising 600 for boats over 35 feet, and the POD 600 under-hull model) targeting blue-water and circumnavigation sailors, and the Racing line (Racing Aluminum, Racing Carbon and Class 40 variants) targeting IMOCA 60, Class 40, Mini 6.50 and multihull offshore racers, plus a Custom line for non-standard and industrial applications. Core technology includes MPPT and Boost charging electronics, brushless direct-drive alternators with oversized oil-bath bearings, and an electronically controlled variable-pitch propeller driven by a hydraulic micro-pump that adjusts blade angle for minimal drag between 5 and 30 knots. Suggested retail prices range from roughly €2,919 HT (Mini 6.50 entry) to €11,217 HT (Racing Carbon).

Watt and Sea sells exclusively through a vetted global network of nautical equipment resellers and installers, not direct-to-consumer, and supplements that channel with boat-show presence (International Multihull Show La Grande Motte, Grand Pavois), race-paddock activations (Golden Globe Race), and earned media from offshore racing results. The Racing line has equipped 95% of the Vendée Globe fleet and won every edition since 2012; co-founder Bestaven won the 2020 Vendée Globe using two Racing units, and the entire 2024 Vendée Globe fleet was equipped with Watt and Sea products. The company monetizes hardware sales (hydrogenerators, propellers, converters, lifting systems, spare parts), recurring factory revision services (Diagnostic, C1-C4 packages recommended every 2 years or 10,000 miles with 6-month warranty), and bespoke engineering for industrial and cargo-sailing applications, including a March 2025 order for two 2KW units on the cargo sailboat Grain de Sail II. In 2021 it joined the Performance Spirit Consortium with Adrena, Karver, nke, ROM-arrangé, TEEM and Plastimo to share marketing channels.

Name

WATT AND SEA

Legal name

SAS WATT & SEA

Website

https://wattandsea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Watt and Sea is a La Rochelle-based French manufacturer of marine hydrogenerators (and aerogenerators) that provide underway battery charging for sailing yachts, serving blue-water cruisers, offshore racing fleets (including full Vendée Globe adoption) and bespoke industrial clients through a global installer/dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Hydrogeneration Equipment

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (33661), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Generators, Alternators & Power Electronics (Gen-sets, VFDs, converters) (IMAJAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ocean Current Power Generation (EUACAJAD)

Keywords

• Marine hydrogenerators
• Sailing vessel power
• Renewable marine energy
• Offshore racing equipment
• Blue water cruising

Headquarters

HQ city

La Rue De Pré

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hydrogenerator Hardware Sales: Sale of hydrogenerators across multiple product lines (Cruising 300, Cruising 600, POD 600, Racing Aluminum, Racing Carbon, Class 40, Mini 6.50, Custom). Products are sold with various power ratings (300W-600W) and configurations (transom-mounted or under-hull POD).
2. Accessories and Propellers: Sale of accessories including propellers (200mm, 240mm, 280mm), weedless propellers, lifting hoists (4:1 and 6:1), universal/removable supports, waterproof connection kits, ON/OFF relays, storage bags, and cables.
3. Spare Parts: Replacement parts including generators (300W and 600W), converters, lifting brackets, legs/matereaux in various lengths, gudgeons, friction rings, blade supports, hydraulic components.
4. Maintenance and Revision Services: Factory revision services with 5 levels of packages (Diagnostic, C1, C2, C3, C4) recommended every 2 years or 10,000 miles. Includes inspection, part replacement, oil changes, generator painting, and leg replacement. Provides 6-month warranty on work and parts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Watt and Sea designs, manufactures and sells marine hydrogenerators that convert water flow into electrical energy for sailing vessels, alongside aerogenerators. The product portfolio spans 300W and 600W cruising models (Cruising 300, Cruising 600, POD 600), high-performance racing models (Aluminum, Carbon, Class 40, Mini 6.50), custom-engineered variants, accessories, spare parts, and factory revision services.

Product overview

WATT AND SEA designs, manufactures, and commercializes a portfolio of hydrogenerators for sailing boats, offering energy independence through hydrokinetic power generation. The product lineup consists of two main families: CRUISING hydrogenerators (300, 600, and POD 600 models) for blue water cruising and coastal sailing, and RACING hydrogenerators (Aluminum, Carbon, and Class 40 variants) for offshore competition. The Cruising 300 and 600 provide 300W and 600W power respectively for boats under and over 35 feet, featuring MPPT converter technology with Bluetooth mobile app connectivity and optional solar panel input. The POD 600 offers invisible under-hull mounting. Racing models incorporate electronically-controlled variable pitch propellers via hydraulic micro-pumps, achieving optimal energy output from 5-30 knots. Specialized versions exist for Mini 6.50 and Class 40 racing classes. Accessories include propellers, converters, lifting brackets, hydraulic components, and spare parts. The company also offers custom engineering solutions and factory revision services. Founded in 2009 by Yannick Bestaven and Matthieu Michou, the company has equipped 95% of Vendée Globe fleets and won every edition since 2012.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cruising 300 300W hydrogenerator for sailing boats under 35 feet delivering continuous battery charging while sailing; ships with MPPT converter, Bluetooth connectivity and a manual adjustable-pitch propeller. Targeted at coastal and blue water cruisers seeking energy autonomy without running the engine.
• Cruising 600 600W hydrogenerator for sailing boats over 35 feet delivering exponential power increase above 6 knots; available in short (610mm) and long (970mm) mast versions with Bluetooth converter and optional solar panel input. Designed for blue water cruisers and larger yachts with higher energy demand.
• POD 600 Invisible under-hull 600W hydrogenerator with 200mm aluminum mast, 240mm propeller and ON/OFF relay activation; produces 120W at 5 knots with production equivalent to standard Cruising models. Targeted at owners wanting a flush, hull-integrated installation with no launching needed.
• Racing Aluminum Aluminum racing hydrogenerator with electronically-controlled variable pitch propeller via micro-hydraulic pump; optimised for high-speed sailing from 5 to 30 knots with minimal drag. Equipped 95% of the 2020 Vendée Globe fleet.
• Racing Carbon Premium carbon racing hydrogenerator offering a 12% weight reduction versus the aluminum Racing model; variable pitch propeller controlled by an electronic hydraulic system. Equipped the entire 2024 Vendée Globe fleet.
• Class 40 Hydrogenerator Simplified racing hydrogenerator dedicated to Class 40 boats and fast cruising multihulls; combines a high-speed 5000 rpm alternator with a fixed-pitch stainless steel propeller to deliver 600W at 12V / 700W at 24V across 5-30 knots without the complexity of variable pitch.
• Cruising 300 Mini 6.50 300W hydrogenerator dedicated to the Mini 6.50 class with manual bi-blade composite adjustable-pitch propeller; available in three configurations: PK-MINI-300-FA (removable support with safety lock), PK-MINI-300-K (500mm mast with lifting bracket) and PK-MINI-300-MA (330mm mast, no mounting). 10% discount available for Mini class members.
• Custom Hydrogenerators Bespoke hydrogenerator solutions for non-standard applications including forced-flow pipe systems for water networks or smart-grids, keel-integrated tubular stainless steel housings, custom flanges and propellers engineered for ultra-low or ultra-high speed ranges.
• Factory Revision Service Packages Factory revision service for installed hydrogenerators delivered in five levels (Diagnostic, C1, C2, C3, C4), covering inspection, wear-part replacement, oil change, generator painting, leg replacement and electrical testing; recommended every 2 years or 10,000 miles with a 6-month warranty on parts and work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% market penetration in Vendée Globe fleet (every winner since 2012)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Performance Spirit ConsortiumminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborative marketing initiative uniting Watt and Sea with nautical equipment companies Adrena, Karver, nke, ROM-arrangé, TEEM, and Plastimo around sailing performance themes. Created during COVID-19 to maintain customer communication when boat shows were not possible. Represents a sharing of communication channels and joint storytelling around sailing excellence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Torqeedo: German leader in electric marine propulsion and integrated battery/energy management systems. While focused on propulsion rather than generation, it increasingly competes for the 'energy independence' narrative on sailing vessels and overlaps at the system-integration level.
• ePropulsion: Chinese manufacturer of electric outboards and integrated marine energy systems. Increasingly addresses the small-to-mid sailing vessel segment with electric propulsion plus battery/solar packages, providing an alternative pathway to energy autonomy.
• Oceanvolt: Finnish manufacturer of electric and hybrid marine propulsion systems with integrated hydrogeneration functionality. Competes at the system level for sailing vessels seeking energy-autonomous electric propulsion, overlapping Watt and Sea's high-end cruising and racing customer base.

Direct peers

• Ampair: UK marine wind generator manufacturer with a long history in the sailing-vessel energy-autonomy category. Overlaps with Watt and Sea in serving cruising sailors seeking off-engine charging solutions.
• Superwind: German maker of high-output marine wind turbines used on sailing vessels for energy independence. Directly comparable technology category and customer base to Watt and Sea, with overlapping distribution through marine resellers.
• Marlec Engineering (Rutland): UK maker of the Rutland windcharger series, one of the longest-established marine wind generator brands. Targets the same energy-autonomy use case on sailing vessels via wind rather than hydro, and serves the same dealer/installer channel.
• Silentwind: German manufacturer of low-noise marine wind generators popular among blue-water cruisers. Competes directly with Watt and Sea for the offshore cruising customer's energy-autonomy budget.
• Eclectic Energy: British manufacturer of the D400 marine wind generator, the most direct wind-based alternative to Watt and Sea's hydrogenerators for sailing vessel energy autonomy. Competes for the same energy-independence-focused cruising and blue-water sailor segments.
• KISS Wind Generators: US-based manufacturer of high-output marine wind generators targeting serious cruisers and offshore sailors. Competes for the same wallet share on sailing vessels where wind and hydro are the primary alternatives.

Regional players

• Four Seasons Wind Generator: Regional/emerging marine wind generator maker serving niche cruising markets. Less globally distributed than Watt and Sea but addresses a similar energy-autonomy use case for sailing vessels in specific geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WATT AND SEA