3D-Printed Throttles Propel Pure Watercraft’s Electric Boat Innovation

When Andy sold his dot‑com company in the early 2000s, he moved to a lakeside home in Seattle. Surrounded by gasoline‑smelling boats, he wondered if electric power could replace fossil fuels. “The only electric boats I saw were five‑mile‑per‑hour toy models,” he recalled. That curiosity sparked the founding of Pure Watercraft.

Andy sought a partner who could handle the electrical, mechanical, systems, and software engineering, but found no single candidate with the right mix. Determined, he decided to build the team himself. “I may not be the perfect engineer, but I am committed to solving this problem,” he said.

Pure Watercraft secured more than $2 million in Series A funding and began assembling its core crew. Early prototypes of the Pure Outboard motor were sent to a third‑party 3D‑printing shop, but the turnaround was too slow. One engineer, formerly at a leading electric‑car company, shared how that company relied heavily on a Markforged printer, far exceeding the $250,000 price tag. That insight convinced Andy that Markforged could accelerate his design cycle.

Fast prototyping became a priority, and the Onyx Pro professional 3D printer proved to be the ideal addition. While the motor’s hydraulic fittings are printed from carbon‑fiber composite, the team has shifted from buying throttles to printing them in-house. Outsourcing previously required eight days; in‑house printing now delivers a new part in 24 hours. “A throttle is a human‑interface component; it must feel right,” Andy explained. “Rapid iteration lets us refine the feel and ergonomics until we hit the perfect design.”

Pure Watercraft’s progress attracted Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, who tested a composite, 3D‑printed throttle on one of the company’s beta boats. The senator’s feedback highlighted the benefits of a custom, watertight throttle that can be tweaked for each user, allowing the team to iterate in real time.

The company claims the Onyx Pro “paid for itself in a month.” With the purchase of an Onyx One, they are now printing additional components—including propellers and housings—at scale. The future looks promising for the advanced parts they will produce.

Interested in evaluating the strength of our carbon‑fiber material? Request a free sample part today!