Diesel-Electric Hybrid Charter Superyacht Development Project

[FAST FRED]

"Basically all diesel engines burn the same amount of fuel per given hp, there is very little difference in real output figures."

With an operating low of 15-16hp per gal (Old Detroit)and a high of about 24 hp per gal of diesel burned (modern electric injected ) there IS some difference.

The biggest hassle seems to be when operating outside the optimum the fuel burn can double or triple. Much Ungood for the Efficiency .

Most of these BS electric setups seem to claim MOST of the "efficiency" simply from properly loading the diesel.

After 70+ years , that's not NEWS!

FF
__________________

[Sundiver2000]

I said:
"I wouldn't say that. Convoluted maybe. I'm curious if there is some possibility of infringement of David Tether's patent #5,863,228, the basis of Solomon Technologies' STI drives?"

What I meant:
I wouldn't say that. Convoluted maybe. I'm curious if the complexity is based in avoiding the possibility of infringement of David Tether's patent #5,863,228, the basis of Solomon Technologies' STI drives?"

[brian eiland]

Originally Posted by Sundiver2000

It also seems to me that the first order of business would be to start with the most efficient sailing platform, a modern sailing cat.

I agree there. Or maybe the slender tri-hull configuration I mentioned above in posting #12

"Alternative Proposal: If I were working on this project to develop this really energy efficient charter vessel (and I would like to be), I’d be looking at a vessel akin to the one I made reference to in a Boatdesign forum posting titled “New Age Trawler, Kite-Assisted Powerboat”
Rather than moving toward a heavier, displacement vessel with restrictive hull speed, this vessel proposal incorporates a slender central hull, a ‘stabilized monohull’ concept, that would take less energy to propel..."

[Sundiver2000]

Originally Posted by brian eiland

I agree there. Or maybe the slender tri-hull configuration I mentioned above in posting #12

"Alternative Proposal: If I were working on this project to develop this really energy efficient charter vessel (and I would like to be), I’d be looking at a vessel akin to the one I made reference to in a Boatdesign forum posting titled “New Age Trawler, Kite-Assisted Powerboat”
Rather than moving toward a heavier, displacement vessel with restrictive hull speed, this vessel proposal incorporates a slender central hull, a ‘stabilized monohull’ concept, that would take less energy to propel..."

I'm not a fan of convolutions to avoid a catamaran hull form. From my experience, that question (efficiency) has been answered. So assuming a catamaran with sails and daggerboards, three unstayed rotating wing masts, like Sponberg's Project Amazon (see attachment).

If you want a lot of power generation capability, lots of sail propulsion would be good. on a big cat, say a 50m loa, adding a kite that takes advantage of higher altitude winds would substantially add to the water power generation capability.

One of the kite companies shows 50 degrees off the wind. That's pretty windward.

If the tow point was on the bows, downwind would not be a problem. Upwind though, there'd be considerable lee helm. So what if the tow point is moved aft to just forward of the foremast. Then split the daggerboards, one fore and aft in each hull, or a large one a bit aft of normal and a small one pretty far forward, forward of the tow point. Maybe the tow point could slide P&S on a track so it's always a bit to lee of the mast.

Four props, CP, on motor/generators. Or maybe hollow shaft separate motors and generators each with clutches with a biodiesel engine at the end. Sort of like a diesel/electric submarine with the addition of the generator.
Controlling the pitch controls drag, according to desired boat speed vs energy needs.

What's wrong with this picture??

[daiquiri]

Two years have passed since this vessel/system was cheered as revolutionary. The pics were showing a built vessel going through sea trials. Any news about how did it perform? Is it in service now, how big were building costs and how big the running costs of the vessel (both very big, I guess...)?
Cheers

[DCockey]

From a web search:
http://www.boatinternational.com/201...knight-carver/
http://www.superyachts.com/news/arc-...pyard-1512.htm

[daiquiri]

Thank you David. Unfortunately no requested new technical and economical info about the boat in those sites. Even the pictures are the old ones. But I've found this page, which might explain how did it end up and perhaps could be indicative of the cost of the project: http://www.yachtcouncil.com/boats-fo...-country/city/ ?
The yacht from the OP is being sold apparently in the same shape as it appeared during the first sea-trials, with no mast. And at a price which is roughly double the price of equal-LOA boats built in the same year.

[MechaNik]

I was never very kind to this project and thought the analysis to be flawed. However it is still a shame if all that R&D has gone to waste. I wonder if they got to the stage were they can actually publish any successful findings?