Premier partnerships and industry awards confirm Mitek’s boutique approach in the field of electric drives

The launches of Mitek’s Rotating Saildrive and Revolve drive the company’s innovative power in the field of electric boat drives, which stems from a combination of proven expertise and a relentless drive for innovation. 

ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEUR

Alfonso is a leading entrepreneur in the marine sector as both founder and owner of a range of marine accessories. He founded Mitek in 2019 to focus on electric motors.

His approach can be summed up in three words: experience, high standards and reliability. Coming from a humble background he gained experience working on boats as an electronics technician from a young age. Today, his greatest passion lies in mechanics and product development. Alfonso is himself a passionate sailor and an extremely hands-on, technical person – with a clear entrepreneurial vision.

This vision is focused on developing intelligent, robust solutions that are easy to install and operate. Alfonso sees Mitek not merely as a supplier, but as a technology partner that listens to the needs of shipyards and manufacturers and develops new solutions – which is exactly how Revolve came about.

Having started out as a technician himself, Alfonso knows exactly what is needed to make the products as easy as possible to install, maintain and operate. He is always committed to producing high-quality products with proven reliability and is the sort of entrepreneur who would rather hold back than sell a product he is not convinced about. That may sound obvious, but in a world where sales are prioritized at any cost, Alfonso Peduto has remained an innovative idealist. 

NEW MARKETS

Meanwhile, when it comes to day-to-day business operations, Alfonso’s technical expertise is combined with the commercial strategy of Silvia, his eldest daughter.

“I grew up with my father’s work, and while I have no technical qualifications myself, but over the years my father has imparted a level of expertise that goes beyond any academic qualifications,” she says. “Today, I liaise with our key partners and customers. They sometimes ask if I’m an engineer, and I reply quite naturally: ‘No, I attended Peduto University’.” 

HYBRID SOLUTIONS

Even though Mitek’s innovative powertrains are 100% electric, they also represent an excellent option as part of a hybrid overall solution. “It would be wrong to claim that the electric motor is always the better option,” explains Silvia. “In addition to the economic aspect, there are other factors to consider, particularly range. A journey from our hometown of Ravenna to Croatia, for example, would require a huge number of batteries. Hybrid solutions, therefore, based on our electric motors offer an effective way forward. Even in their high-performance versions, our motors are compact and lightweight, so that they can be easily fitted alongside a combustion engine to form a hybrid drive system. We handle the entire integration ourselves by making all of the necessary mechanical adjustments.” 

Rotating Saildrive 

The Rotating Saildrive, launched last year, has been developed primarily for sailing boats to help them manoeuvre more easily in confined spaces or strong winds and currents. It is available in five model variants – 10hp, 15hp, 20hp and 30 hp (with 48V power supply) – as well as a 40hp (with 96V power supply). All are easy to install and compatible with all common saildrive configurations for straightforward retrofitting. The foot of the Rotating Saildrive can be rotated up to 360°. On request, it can be limited to ±90° (180° in total)..

The system can be controlled using the mechanical steering wheel on board – no dual steering system is required. All sensors and functions are connected via CAN and controlled through a 4.3in display with an intuitive user interface. This smart integration not only simplifies handling for the crew but also provides visual guidance that reduces the risk of errors, improves safety, and enables quick diagnostics when needed.

The Rotating Saildrive offers four operating modes: In sailing mode, the saildrive foot is aligned with the centre line of the boat and remains fixed during sailing. The user can view key operating data in real time: power, RPM, battery voltage, speed and temperatures. In regeneration mode, the foot is rotated 360°, i.e. directly opposite to its position to sailing mode; some propellers can regenerate energy only in this orientation.

In manoeuvring mode, the saildrive foot can be rotated as desired to facilitate manoeuvring in confined spaces. The user receives immediate visual feedback via the display and can see the angle of the foot position in real time and even the dynamic tracks when moving forwards or backwards, making manoeuvres easy, intuitive and natural. In thruster mode, the saildrive foot is fixed at 90° to generate lateral thrust, like a bow or stern thruster.

The foot itself is made of hard anodised aluminium and is compatible with all saildrive propellers currently on the market and can also be supplied in an extended version. Even when the system is switched off, manual intervention is possible from inside the boat: using a standard hex key and by simply loosening four screws, the foot can be repositioned, e.g., to free the propeller from ropes, without the need for diving or jacking up the boat.

The Rotating Saildrive has already found its way onto the perfect boat –the new SE28 yacht built by Dutch boatbuilder Saffier – which was also presented at this year’s Düsseldorf Boot show. 

Revolve DRIVE

Mitek introduced the Revolve drive, the first drive of its kind that can literally be rotated around its own axis in no time at all – saving boat captains the time-consuming task of dismantling it for transport or storage. Revolve motors can instead remain on the boat without being damaged and do not take up any storage space. The concept was awarded a ‘Special Mentions’ at the 2024 DAME Design Awards.

Available in a range of power options from 6hp to 30 hp, it can be customized to meet various needs. Whether powering a tender or assisting in hybrid boat conversions, Revolve delivers superior performance across a range of marine environments.

This success proves Mitek right here too: The high-end AMY tenders of Italian manufacturer Amare are equipped with Revolve technology. 

MOTOR VALLEY

Mitek’s location also fosters innovation. Headquartered in Ravenna, Mitek enjoys direct access to the sea while lying within the renowned ‘Motor Valley’ – a global hotspot for engineering advancements in future propulsion and mobility that provides companies with a unique opportunity to exchange ideas at the highest level.

Moreover, MITEK actively promotes collaboration across the wider marine industry. New drives are frequently developed in close partnership with both large and small nautical companies, guided by the core principles of sustainability, technology, and performance. A notable example is Mitek’s collaboration with Amare. These new high-end boats are equipped with Mitek’s Revolve engines.