Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 17-09-2006, 19:07   #1
Captain
 
Andy R's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Florianopolis, Brasil
Posts: 1,580
Send a message via MSN to Andy R Send a message via Skype™ to Andy R
Lightbulb First Atlantic crossing with a solar boat

From their website:
Quote:
Discovering renewable energies with "SUN21" "SUN21" is a 14-meter-long catamaran powered exclusively by solar energy. In the fall of 2006, the ship will undertake the first motorized crossing of the Atlantic without using a drop of gasoline. This new world record will demonstrate the great potential of the solar technique for ocean navigation.
Link: http://www.transatlantic21.ch/index.php?id=106&L=1
Andy R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-09-2006, 19:16   #2
Now on the Dark Side: Stink Potter.
 
CSY Man's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Palm Coast, Florida
Boat: Sea Hunt 234 Ultra
Posts: 3,962
Images: 124
Good idea, as long as the sun shines they will do great.

With heavy battery banks for cloudy days, she may go a bit slow.

Did not read the details: Wet cells, or some ultra modern ionic batteries in there..?

My hat off to the inventors, this may be the future.

Quote:
In the fall of 2006, the ship will undertake the first motorized crossing of the Atlantic without using a drop of gasoline.
Well, my boat has been across the Atlantic twice wihtout using a drop of gasoline...
__________________
Life is sexually transmitted
CSY Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-09-2006, 20:24   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Nevada City. CA
Boat: Sceptre 41
Posts: 3,857
Images: 9
Did you sail or do you have a diesel?
__________________
Fair Winds,

Charlie

Between us there was, as I have already said somewhere, the bond of the sea. Besides holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making us tolerant of each other's yarns -- and even convictions. Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
Charlie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 08:17   #4
cruiser

Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,525
CSYman makes a great (and comical point).

The technology to cross the Atlantic without using any diesel has existed for thousands of years. ha ha ha

It's an interesting experiment, but it seems this would be pretty impractical when used for shipping and quite unsafe when used for recreational ocean crossings.


Shipping: After you load up your ship with a bunch of Toyotas bound for another coutnry, it's not very likely the solar that can just barely move that efficient catamaran with no cargo would be able to get you across in a reasonable amount of time and with reasonable steerage.

Recreational: What's going to happen to them if they catch wave after wave of clouds and/or a tropical storm? They'll be stuck out there getting the tar kicked out of them going 2 knots if the batteries still have juice left. I think the older technology (sails) is a much more efficient way to cross an ocean without using any diesel.
ssullivan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 08:21   #5
Now on the Dark Side: Stink Potter.
 
CSY Man's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Palm Coast, Florida
Boat: Sea Hunt 234 Ultra
Posts: 3,962
Images: 124
Quote:
Did you sail or do you have a diesel?
Not me, previous owners sailed her across and back.
Yes, it has a diesel.

Quote:
The technology to cross the Atlantic without using any diesel has existed for thousands of years. ha ha ha
Well, the point is the blurb said they were going to cross without using a drop of GASOLINE.

I can do that too, no big deal. (But with a full tank of diesel)
__________________
Life is sexually transmitted
CSY Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 09:33   #6
One of Those
 
Canibul's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Colorado
Boat: Catalac 12M (sold)
Posts: 3,218
Heck, I could probably cross most of the atlantic leaving the gasoline at the dock, but the explosion would be tremendous and I woudnt enjoy the trip....
__________________
Expat life in the Devil's Triangle:
https://2gringos.blogspot.com/
Canibul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 13:25   #7
Captain
 
Andy R's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Florianopolis, Brasil
Posts: 1,580
Send a message via MSN to Andy R Send a message via Skype™ to Andy R
It sounds like a terrific alternative will be the day when sails also act as solar panels and can charge the batteries. A wind generator would also be quite smart to add some extra charging power.
Andy R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 13:45   #8
One of Those
 
Canibul's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Colorado
Boat: Catalac 12M (sold)
Posts: 3,218
what an outstanding concept. I was recently looking at a little video on the t-shirt material that displays moving light displays, names, slogans, etc. Do you know if anyone is working on solar cells that are that thin and flexible?

for starters, I have a home being built here that could sure use a roof full of solar....

I have not seen any mention of water-driver generators here, yet. Am I missing them, or are they not an option? Something to tow behind the boat on a cable while sailing? Do those exist?
__________________
Expat life in the Devil's Triangle:
https://2gringos.blogspot.com/
Canibul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 14:02   #9
֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎

Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
Sean, actually a couple of car carriers from Japan and other points HAVE sunk complete with their cargo. I know of one back in '85, another about a year ago, and a third up IIRC in the English Channel a year or two ago. Apparently there is some question about proper stowage, a high center of gravity, and rough wx. (Hmmm.<G>)

Considering that the cargo has a very high value, and that every day they are UNsold is a day that the loss of interest on their cost is continuing to grow...one would think that simple economics mean they've got to be shipped reasonably quickly. And fast enough to miss most of those storms. Which is probably the reason that it is still cheaper to burn fossil fuels than to SAIL them across.<G>
hellosailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 14:16   #10
One of Those
 
Canibul's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Colorado
Boat: Catalac 12M (sold)
Posts: 3,218
judging from recent news, maybe Ford and GM torpedo'd em...If not, I bet they wish they had...
__________________
Expat life in the Devil's Triangle:
https://2gringos.blogspot.com/
Canibul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 14:49   #11
Registered User
 
KaptainKen's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Boat: Endeavour 37 Ketch "Capella"
Posts: 70
Since, in the very largest sense, weather (with the associated high and low pressure systems) is created by the sun, can't it be said that any vessel that derives it power from air (wind) moving between these pressure gradients is, in fact, "solar" powered?

My sailboat has been solar powered for years.
__________________
KaptainKen
_________

"Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur." - Anything said in Latin sounds profound
KaptainKen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-09-2006, 15:58   #12
cruiser

Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,525
Exactly what I was saying, Hellosailor.

Ken... very creative response. Rings true to me.



Quote:
Originally Posted by hellosailor
Sean, actually a couple of car carriers from Japan and other points HAVE sunk complete with their cargo. I know of one back in '85, another about a year ago, and a third up IIRC in the English Channel a year or two ago. Apparently there is some question about proper stowage, a high center of gravity, and rough wx. (Hmmm.<G>)

Considering that the cargo has a very high value, and that every day they are UNsold is a day that the loss of interest on their cost is continuing to grow...one would think that simple economics mean they've got to be shipped reasonably quickly. And fast enough to miss most of those storms. Which is probably the reason that it is still cheaper to burn fossil fuels than to SAIL them across.<G>
ssullivan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2006, 04:50   #13
One of Those
 
Canibul's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Colorado
Boat: Catalac 12M (sold)
Posts: 3,218
Is a Site Helper kind of like Hamburger helper?
__________________
Expat life in the Devil's Triangle:
https://2gringos.blogspot.com/
Canibul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2006, 15:09   #14
Registered User
 
Talbot's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Brighton, UK
Boat: Privilege 37
Posts: 3,734
Images: 32
Canibul,

There are a few towed generators. Most are an impellor on the end of a long length of string and occasionally act as shark bait.

However there is another that is very much better and has featured with greater prominence over the last few ARCs - duogen. These are expensive, but people who have them rave over them.
__________________
"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors - and miss."
Robert A Heinlein
Talbot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-09-2006, 20:36   #15
Captain
 
Andy R's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Florianopolis, Brasil
Posts: 1,580
Send a message via MSN to Andy R Send a message via Skype™ to Andy R
Here is a link to Duogen
http://www.duogen.co.uk/diffnt.htm

What a great concept and they look very well designed!
Andy R is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
atlantic crossing

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Island Packet 31 for Liveaboard / Offshore? Gray Monohull Sailboats 35 08-05-2022 23:12
Selecting the Ideal Liveaboard Monohull Sailboat Stede Liveaboard's Forum 50 21-07-2011 11:43
Do Boats Have 'Souls' ? sail_the_stars General Sailing Forum 77 14-11-2010 14:25
Changing the Boat's Name sjs General Sailing Forum 4 24-05-2004 07:15

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 22:29.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.