Energy observer boat

[scottorious]

Anybody seen the news for this boat named Energy Observer? A 100 foot sailing cat stripped of its sails and going to sail around the world. Looks cool but I would think it would be a horrible ride, no steadying sail. Or would that not be the case on a boat that large?

[newhaul]

My big question . Why did they remove the oldest form of eco friendly propulsion ? (The sails)

[scottorious]

Well, that was my first question also. Making comments like "first boat powered by renewable energy to go around the world", makes me laugh a bit.

[a64pilot]

Cause people are idiots, that's why.
Take Al Gores new boat, a 100' houseboat, but that is OK, cause his boat is specially made to burn Bio-Diesel and has Solar panels, in fact its named Bio Solar 1 or BS1 for short
Al is so smart, I guess he was the first to put Solar panels on a boat, or did he invent Solar panels?

[fallingeggs]

And hasn't this already been done?

Planet Solar

[newhaul]

Pure bio diesel qualifies as eco friendly green fuel so the earthrace one was the big winner. These eco types should do their homework before making these claims.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Pure bio diesel qualifies as eco friendly green fuel so the earthrace one was the big winner. These eco types should do their homework before making these claims.

It's all Hype, it is just a normal, regular Diesel engine, there is no such thing as a special Bio Diesel engine, there are a few things that should be done to make the fuel system bio compatible to ensure longevity, just like to a gas engine to run Ethanol gasoline, but it is no big deal. It's certainly no break though.

[a64pilot]

World's First Boat Powered by 100% Renewables to Circle Globe

What I read is she is not Bio Diesel, but electric propulsion, but makes her special is rather than storing electricity in batteries, they chose to store it in Hydrogen and burn the hydrogen in fuel cells to make electricity.
If the conversion losses are not too high, that is pretty slick, cause I have to assume hydrogen weighs a lot less than batteries

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

It's all Hype, it is just a normal, regular Diesel engine, there is no such thing as a special Bio Diesel engine, there are a few things that should be done to make the fuel system bio compatible to ensure longevity, just like to a gas engine to run Ethanol gasoline, but it is no big deal. It's certainly no break though.

yep and here are a couple interesting bits . The diesel engine was designed to run on peanut oil. The other is the gasoline engine was designed to run on ethanol. But due to the lower cost of the petrolium based fuels. Well you get the rest.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

It's all Hype, it is just a normal, regular Diesel engine, there is no such thing as a special Bio Diesel engine, there are a few things that should be done to make the fuel system bio compatible to ensure longevity, just like to a gas engine to run Ethanol gasoline, but it is no big deal. It's certainly no break though.

Yep, diesel engines have been using bio fuel since the 1890s.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by newhaul

yep and here are a couple interesting bits . The diesel engine was designed to run on peanut oil. The other is the gasoline engine was designed to run on ethanol. But due to the lower cost of the petrolium based fuels. Well you get the rest.

A common misconception. It was actually designed to run on coal dust, but peanut oil was used in several early engines.

[StuM]

6 years to go round the world at an estimated €4,000,000 per year.

Not quite the "frugal sailor"'s solution yet

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by StuM

A common misconception. It was actually designed to run on coal dust, but peanut oil was used in several early engines.

forgot how old you are so just one question how did the ark ride

[StuM]

Originally Posted by newhaul

forgot how old you are so just one question how did the ark ride

Didn't use much fossil fuel, but I don't think it met MARPOL standards when they cleaned out the animal enclosures each day.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by StuM

Didn't use much fossil fuel, but I don't think it met MARPOL standards when they cleaned out the animal enclosures each day.

Not sure but I think when you were mucking the stalls it.would have come under the.heading of direct discharge.