Solar Sailor Coming to New York City

Soon when you go to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, you will be able to travel on a six hundred passenger Solar Sailor. First seen in Sydney harbour by Warren, and again escaping to Alcatraz, the New York version is a trimaran design with "parallel" hybrid technology. The center hull is a conventional drive with bow thrusters, the outriggers contain the electric drive, giving exceptional maneuverability and zero emissions at low speed. The trimaran's speed is 0 - 6 knots using solar/wind/batteries and 7 - 14 knots burning low-sulfur diesel fuel. ::Marinelog

According to the New York Post:

t was while watching a sailboat race along Australia's Gold Coast that the idea for a massive "solar wing" - the vessel's key element - came to Solar Sailor co-founder Robert Dane.

The wing can be manipulated into different positions - including folding flat in high winds. "It works almost like a joint," said Dane.

Covered with ray-absorbing, reflective-glass panels, the wing measures 50 by 23 feet. Like a large sail, is rotated into position to capture maximum sun- and wind-generated energy. The vessels can reach speeds of 10 to 13 knots, the same maximum speed as conventional ferries.

Even on a cloudy day, enough energy is generated to charge the vessel's main batteries and keep the boat running - including its plasma TVs. While the vessel will cost about $2 million more than traditional ferries, Meyer said, it burns one-third less fuel, saving hundreds of thousands annually. Its "low-wake" design is also environmentally friendly, creating smaller waves and lessening erosion of bulkheads and wetlands.

Miss Statue of Liberty would carry up to 600 people, and produce 50 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than regular gas-guzzling ferries.

The boat's two diesel engines would burn only low-sulfur fuel, producing almost zero emissions. ::New York Post

Tags: Boats


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