SOLAR NAVIGATOR MODEL SWATH HULLS BOATS S.W.A.T.H. SHIPS

The World Electric Navigation Challenge

Advanced Solar powered Trimaran

1/10th scale SWATH (Cat twin hull) MODEL DEVELOPMENT

In 1995 it was proposed by our designer that a solar powered boat would be able to circumnavigate the globe using only energy from nature. He displayed the first of his development models at the Earls Court boat show in London into 1996.


BUDGET: It was decided not to use fancy materials to save cost. The budget for the model and a display stand was set at £3,000. This sounds a lot, but in fact the price of radio gear and other modeling equipment saw a chunk of the budget disappear immediately. Fortunately, our friendly local model shop always gave a discount (thanks Dave). The importers of our Hitec radio equipment also gave a substantial discount (thanks Amerang). As did Hunter Systems (thanks Graham). Amerang of Worthing, the distributors of HiTec radio controls in this country, heard o four plight and in consideration of our tight budget, supplied the sets at a special price.	TRIM PUMPS: Six flexible impeller pumps of the windscreen variety, were used to pump water into and out of the vessel, and to distribute the onboard water to four tanks in the hulls such as to achieve level running. A number of channels of the radio controls were needed operate the pumping system. In fact, so many it would mean a very expensive radio setup. To avoid this 6 channel and 3 channel Futaba sets were fused together to form a nine channel set.

FLOTATION: The same laws of physics apply to the scale model as to the full size boat. This is useful for a number of reasons. It is possible to develop a boat and try radical ideas that a boat yard could not afford in real life. In other words you can experiment for a fraction of the cost, by testing small. In fact a small wooden test tank was constructed to allow the model to be trimmed before moving to open water.	THE CONTROL ELECTRICS of any model must be able to give the control one would expect of the full size vessel (as near as). SWATH MODEL CONSTRUCTION SWATH MODEL CONSTRUCTION

With a boat the most important component on the agenda is the hull. Solar powered boats provide marine architects with new challenges. There are as yet no conventions. Nobody knows what will work best, because so little has been put to the test. We can attest to that because we've tried 5 hull designs to date, improving on each one. Two SWATH designs (one above), two catamarans and a trimaran. The 6th design is not strictly speaking a trimaran, it does though have three hulls; so we're billing it as a trimaran. A hull design like this has not been built to date, to overcome the ever present drag and wave drag dilemma.

The other major challenge is panel design. How do you increase panel area and get as much of it facing the sun when the sun moves relative to the route, and of course keep the boat stable in all seas. We wanted at least 2 kilowatts per ton of vessel mass and can comfortably achieve that.

Not to detract from the incredible achievements of the PlanetSolar team, but the SolarNavigator project aims to improve on the record 0f 585 days set in May 2012 with our brand new design. Our advantage is that we have more than twice the power to weight ratio of the current record holder with a lower drag hull. This needs to be verified before we can go to the construction stage.

This project represents a unique opportunity for any global company with eco friendly ambitions. If this is of interest to you please let Blueplanet Productions know using the contact details below. See the breathtaking video of PlanetSolar below to get a handle on the sort of publicity that Solarnavigator can generate.

Planet Solar Utube &

Planet Solar docking in Hong Kong

On the 4th of May 2012 the theory was proven to be correct by Raphael Domjan and his superb boat the Turanor Planetsolar, thanks to generous sponsorship by Candido Swiss watches and Immosolar, leaders in the field of solar energy management.

Now the benchmark has been set, it will undoubtedly inspire others. As with so many things once a pioneer has shown the way, inevitably, the record stands like mountain to be scaled.

WE WILL PUBLISH DETAILS OF THE LATEST MODEL BUILD SHORTLY

The latest Solarnavigator is a battery electric trimaran with an extremely efficient active hull that runs on solar power. The model shown here is just 150mm long. The radio controlled test model is

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This website is copyright © 1991- 2013 Electrick Publications. All rights reserved. The bird logo and names Solar Navigator and Blueplanet Ecostar are trademarks ™. The Blueplanet vehicle configuration is registered ®. All other trademarks hereby acknowledged and please note that this project should not be confused with the Australian: 'World Solar Challenge'™which is a superb road vehicle endurance race from Darwin to Adelaide.

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