There are few dream scenarios for a yachting writer than a sea trial of a sporty Italian dayboat on Lago Maggiore. The large lake nuzzles its way deep down among the jagged and snowy alps, straddling the border of Italy and Switzerland. While Lake Como has become touristy thanks to a certain movie star who has been filmed at the helm of a Riva, Lago Maggiore retains an air of low-key cool.

It was a fitting place for the debut of the first boat built by Maserati, the 34-foot, five-inch Tridente. The all-electric Tridente is nothing if not dashing. It joins other electric boats affiliated with sports car marques, including the Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom Air and BMW-designed Tyde foiling electric boat. The Maserati has a much more conventional look than the other two.