Hull Design and Dimensions
At 18.3 metres overall with a beam of 10.2 metres, the Sunreef 60 Eco occupies the upper tier of production sailing catamarans, offering the generous deck area that makes integrated solar across the hull and superstructure thermodynamically sensible in a way that a monohull never could be. The wide beam supports the stability needed for the substantial battery banks and electric drivetrain without sacrificing interior volume, and the full-beam aft cockpit with its large swim platform reflects a layout philosophy built around comfortable living at anchor as much as passage making.
The Solar Skin System
The defining technology of the 60 Eco is Sunreef Yachts' in-house developed composite-integrated photovoltaic system, which the shipyard calls its solar skin. Less than one millimetre thick, the panels are laminated into structural surfaces rather than mounted above them, keeping windage low and the visual profile clean. Up to 17 kilowatts of solar capacity can be accommodated across the hull sides, superstructure, and hardtop in the fully specified configuration, with a base option starting at 4.5 kWp. The shipyard claims very high resistance to shock and abrasion for the laminated cells — a meaningful specification given that the hull sides are exposed to dock rub, wave spray, and the general abuse of active cruising. Surreal earned the distinction of being the first 60-foot sailing catamaran equipped with hull-integrated solar panels, making it a proof-of-concept as much as a production yacht.
Electric Propulsion and Energy Architecture
The drivetrain pairs twin 70 kW electric motors with lithium battery banks of 140–200 kWh capacity depending on specification, and the system is engineered to run house loads continuously overnight without engaging the generators. Twin 80 kW diesel generators serve as range extenders rather than primary power sources — a meaningful inversion of the conventional hybrid hierarchy. The battery bank capacity, combined with peak solar harvest, is intended to support long, vibration and fume-free navigation, which fundamentally changes the character of the passage-making experience: no generator cycling, no diesel exhaust drifting aft into the cockpit, and reduced acoustic intrusion below decks. For passages crossing ocean basins where solar generation is predictable, the architecture is coherent; for extended cloudy or high-latitude sailing the generator range-extender role becomes correspondingly more important.
Accommodations and Layout
The interior follows a four-cabin layout accommodating up to eight guests, with a fully equipped galley placed down in the starboard hull — a layout choice that dedicates the main saloon to lounging and dining rather than food preparation. The saloon itself offers what the shipyard describes as generous proportions, and the interior design language is positioned as contemporary and timeless. Alfresco spaces receive serious attention: the flybridge carries a wet bar and a large C-shaped settee, the foredeck offers a sunken lounging area, and the full-beam aft cockpit connects to a large swim platform, making the 60 Eco well suited to the charter and family-cruising market where outdoor entertaining defines daily life at anchor.
Rig and Sail Plan
The sail plan is measured conservatively relative to the hull size: 110 square metres of mainsail and 90 square metres of genoa in one specification sheet, with a gennaker of 185 square metres that substantially expands the light-air downwind sail area. The rig appears optimised for comfortable short-handed cruising rather than performance sailing, which aligns with the overall character of the boat. The electric propulsion makes motoring through calms genuinely attractive, reducing the pressure on the sail plan to cover every wind angle efficiently.
The Verdict
The Sunreef 60 Eco makes a coherent and technically serious argument for solar-electric propulsion on a bluewater catamaran. The in-hull solar skin is not a marketing gesture — it is a purpose-engineered system that maximises generating area without compromising structure or profile, and the battery-to-generator hierarchy reflects a genuine commitment to running on renewable energy for the majority of a typical cruising week in sunny latitudes. The four-cabin layout and expansive deck spaces confirm that the eco credentials are delivered without sacrificing the comfort that the class demands.
Pros
- Hull-integrated solar skin maximises generating area across the full exterior envelope
- Twin 70 kW electric motors backed by up to 200 kWh of lithium storage enable prolonged fume-free motoring
- Diesel generators retained as range extenders, preserving bluewater capability
- Full-beam aft cockpit, flybridge with wet bar, and sunken foredeck lounge suit liveaboard and charter use
- Sub-millimetre panel thickness maintains structural integrity and low windage
Cons
- High-latitude or persistently overcast passages shift the load substantially onto the diesel range extenders
- Complexity of integrated solar laminate raises questions about long-term repair and replacement access
- Conservative genoa area means the boat depends on the gennaker for light-air performance
- At this size and specification level, the full solar-skin option commands a significant premium over a conventionally powered 60-foot catamaran
