While technically this might look green, it is mostly a big waste of everything. The only way this can work is as a charter boat with 70% capacity, which is very unlikely with all the other charter boats. I used to maintain these for a living.
And most sat there and corroded, rarely chartered, at great cost. And there are so many more now, especially large ones like this renting for $10k/$30k/week that rarely get rented.
The idea is good though the ‘they use diesel’, is rather overblown for a sailboat with solar. First they could use 100% biodiesel, the little they use it. Most only use it to leave and come back to the dock. Things I find most fun to do under sail. As fun is towing in dead powerboats back in under sail! ;^)
I made a nice profit in the 80s replacing diesel generators with wind or tidal generators saving the owners 75% of /kwh cost even then plus losing the smell, heat and noise of a diesel generator.
There are NO small FF generators that solar, wind or tidal can’t badly beat on cost with under 1 yr paybacks, FF generators cost so much to run, most over $1/kwh.
This goes for the 3rd world land too as many depend on generators are fast being replaced by solar, small wind, hydro systems, as can’t afford not to.
Solar generally is used for house power, not propulsion on a liveaboard boat, that is by far a larger savings of GHGs, $. My personal sailboats preform so well, an engine is not needed. I even sail to and from the dock.
Sailing rigs and solar are not great together as the shadows the rig makes can cut solar output a lot. So to drive with solar one has to completely lower the mast under the panels or not have sails.
I’m thinking of a last boat for me and something like a 26′ , a tax length, solar cat or tri, with tidal generation/sail generation and 2, maybe 3 windsurfer sail rigs that can be easily lowered, rolled up and stored by hand to not shadow the panels.
ByronBradley Mark Roest4 days ago
I am impressed with this innovative yatch! Quiet, clean, strong. Lots of comfortable room.
Yes, solar cells on the sails, if possible. Perhaps even an inflatable solar-topped “wing” could be tethered.