Mercury Marine and BlueNav have demonstrated a hybrid propulsion installation on a Highfield Patrol 700, pairing a 250hp Mercury SeaPro outboard with two 8kW BlueNav electric motors. The collaboration was presented at the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival with on-water trials intended to show how conventional and electric propulsion can share different jobs on the same leisure boat.
The seven-metre RIB from Highfield Boats retains the petrol outboard for higher-speed running, range and general propulsion. BlueNav’s electric motors are then intended for low-speed work where quiet operation and precise control are more valuable, including harbour manoeuvring, fishing and position holding.
Hybrid system keeps the main outboard in place
A notable part of the installation is that the owner does not have to remove the primary combustion engine to add electric propulsion. BlueNav says its system can be integrated with boats already using Mercury propulsion, creating a possible retrofit route for owners who want electric capability without converting the vessel into a fully battery-electric boat.
Mercury’s outboard remains responsible for the performance envelope that a Patrol 700 owner would normally expect, while the two electric units handle selected low-speed tasks. The companies are presenting that division of labour as a practical way to reduce unnecessary main-engine running without claiming that the battery system replaces the range or speed of the SeaPro.
Smart Navigation adds low-speed control functions
BlueNav’s contribution extends beyond the motors themselves and includes its Smart Navigation features. The company lists Virtual Anchor, Smart Mooring, Docking 360° and app-based control among the functions available to help with station keeping and close-quarters manoeuvring.
Those functions are particularly relevant on a compact RIB because low-speed control can be more demanding than open-water running, especially around pontoons, swimmers or crowded anchorages. Real-world value will depend on installation quality, battery capacity, conditions and how naturally the controls integrate with the boat’s existing helm.
A test case for partial electrification
The Patrol 700 demonstration is useful because it treats hybridisation as an additional operating mode rather than an all-or-nothing change of propulsion. That approach could appeal to owners who spend substantial time trolling, manoeuvring or moving slowly but still need the range and refuelling convenience of a conventional outboard.
BlueNav and Mercury used Cannes sea trials to put the concept in front of boaters rather than presenting only a static display. Leisure Boat Guide will watch for independently verifiable performance data on battery endurance, charging, added weight and fuel savings as installations move beyond demonstrations into regular owner use.