SOLAR NARROW BOAT COMPANY ELECTRIC BARGES READING BERKSHIRE UNITED KINGDOM | SOLAR NAVIGATOR WORLD NAVIGATION PROJECT

Electric boating is regaining in popularity, and will continue to do so while diesel prices increase as resources diminish. Diesel has many costs which are not included in the price at the pump – such as environmental damage and global conflict.

Today solar powered electric propulsion is a practical, economic alternative to diesel engines on narrowboats. High performance solar panels, batteries, chargers, motors and motor controllers are more affordable than ever. We have selected a range at good value components running at a safe 48 volts.

Electric boating gets you get closer to the wildlife. There's no need to shout over the engine noise and you can here someone falling in. Its a great way to enjoy the inland waterways and for many in a solar boat is an affordable low-impact home.

Narrowboats are well suited to electric propulsion due to the efficient hull design and low canal speed limits. Our proven system powers narrowboats up to 72 foot at 4mph.

The slower you go, the further you can get on the stored power. Electric motors and controllers have excellent efficiency over the entire speed range, about 90%, but going fast does just require a lot more power (see Table). Diesel boats are also 4 times more efficient at 2mph compare to 4mph.

Most solar barges use their ton or two of batteries for the cabin electric supply as well as for cruising. Heavy usage of the domestic supply will reduce the range. ie. running the washing machine might cost a couple of miles cruising, lights, pumps & radio only reduces the range by a few hundred yards per day.

Wet lead-acid traction batteries are efficient and robust and currently the best value. They need to be topped up with water occasionally or an automatic filling system can be installed. In an electric installation that compares in price to a diesel engine the battery is 5%- 10% of the boats weight.

The electricity generating solar panels known as photo-voltaic (PV), give an average of 4 hours at their peak rated power per day in Southern England (March-September average). So 1000 Watts of solar panels will give you an average of 4kWh of electricity per day eg. 8 miles per day at 2 mph or fully charge your 345Ah battery from flat in 3-6 days.

The solar panels are one of the more expensive parts of the system, our price list brings you the latest prices on high-performance panels. They are getting better value all the time as cities such as Tokyo turn to solar for much of their power.

We can also install solar hot water using the latest solar-thermal collectors warming a twin coil water tank so that boiler or solid fuel stove can be used in addition in the winter.

12 Volt Solar Panels for battery charging		Dimensions lxwxd (mm)	☼ Charge per day (Ah/d)	Charge per sq. meter	Peak power	Price inc. VAT
The big plastic 64 Watt “low-light” panel.	Uni-Solar rigid framed panels are excellent value and made from durable plastic rather than glass. Their “triple junction” technology gives good performance in low light and partial shade. Although their peak power is 64 Watts, their total output is similar to the 80 Watt Sharp panel in typical British conditions. 20 year warranty.
	PV-US-32	1366 x 383 x 32	12	23	32W	£180.00
	PV-US-64	1366 x 741 x 32	24 Ah/d	23	64W	£280.00
8 x 80W panels on an electric boat produced 400 kWhours last year.	Sharp or LC Solar polycrystalline. Glass fronted, aluminium framed. They offer high power for their size. Large hail stones wont break them. Glass panels are the easiest to clean. The 80 Watt Sharps were last years best seller. All with 25 year warranty.
	LC-40	640 x 536 x 35	12 Ah/d	36	40W	£170.00
	LC-105	1434 x 642 x 42	31Ah/d	34	105W	£380.00
	SH-PC-80	1200 x 530 x 35	24 Ah/d	38	80W	£300.00
	SH-PC-123	1500 x 662 x 46	41 Ah/d	41	123W	£455.00
A USF-32 on a dinghy with electric outboard.	Uni-Solar flexible panels are light-weight and durable. They are flat and flexible so can be easily mounted anywhere. Tie it to the rigging or take it camping. Made in Mexico. The 64 Watt version is for sticking down to the roof- A neat solar solution for a boat.
	USF-11	554 x 424 x 5	4Ah/d	18	11W	£140.00
	USF-32	1429 x 424 x 5	12 Ah/d	20	32W	£260.00
	PVL-64 peel and stick	2845 x 395 x 4	24Ah/d	21	64W	£400.00
Flat walk-on panels, excellent performance.	Solara M-series stainless steel backed, teflon covered, walk-on panels. Very flat and they bend to the curve of a boat's top. Glue down or use screws or bolts. The cables come out of the upper side. Excellent performance for their size. German made.
	SM 160	740 x 450 x 2	12 Ah/d	36	40W	£320.00
	SM 225	750 x 610 x 8	19 Ah/d	41	56W	£420.00

May 2005 - “Unity” launched. A 68 foot (20 meters), 35 Ton replica of a horse drawn Kennet and Avon barge completes its first voyage from the builders, R.L.L Boats in Bristol to Devizes. One of the biggest boats on Britain's southern waterway network, powered silently by our high power solar system. Read review in Waterways World magazine (July 2005). See gallery for more pictures.

June 2005 – “Apsara” a new 60 foot, 17 Ton electric narrowboat is cruising by Solar Power. Three months ago this boat was a pile of steal at Liverpool Boats. The high-spec solar syatem and large battery give a 200 mile cruising range per two sunny weeks. Top speed is 4.5mph, efficient cruising speed is 2.5mph.. The one horse solar system will also supply power for completing of the internal fit-out. See gallery