Hull suggestions for easily driven electric boat/bus/liveaboard

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by pjsmith, Jun 23, 2014.

  1. pjsmith
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    Location: UK

    pjsmith New Member

    Hi,

    I've been trawling this forum for a while and whilst there are many topics on easily driven boat hulls, I wonder if people could make a few suggestions for me to look into for my specific requirements. I know little about boat design, but have been looking at tri, cat, swatch, delta, hydrofoil and proa type designs. It's beyond my expertise and I think I am limited due to desired hull length. Monohull is out I think due to the requirements.

    Requirements
    Ideal length around 20-25 feet
    Stable ride without slamming in choppy seas or at anchor
    Ability to dry out on good ground
    Very easily driven (will be electric powered)
    Quiet, low impact, low wake.
    Max speed of 10-12 knots, though happy with 7 for cruise
    Lots of internal space

    The idea is to create a kind of mini van for the sea which I can do a large amount of live aboard coastal and inland cruising for next to nothing in fuel. Maybe 100 mile+ hops, some across open sea which would get me from here a very long way really. Economy over performance. I'm not interested in doing 20 knots. Happy to set an autopilot, sit up front and take in the view.

    Don't laugh, but I'm taking inspiration from this

    [​IMG]

    Loads of internal space for the size
    Easy shape to build (excluding hulls)
    Big slab sides and flat roof mean lots of integrated solar panels
    Large easy access rear and side
    Large window (larger than the pic) gives massive viewing up front for piloting, which is what I want.

    If the hulls were not so close to the pod, I'd say it was almost a swath design ahead of it's time.

    A few years ago I actually saw a much larger French home built a bit like this in our harbour briefly. I was built on the amas of some cut up racing yacht. Very similar idea.

    Any suggestions? Anyone else seen anything similar?

    Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2014
  2. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    You face an uphill task to get anything other than dawdling performance from an electric boat, however, if you paint extra GT stripes on the side, it may give the impression that it can go faster !
     
  3. pjsmith
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    pjsmith New Member

    Great :) I'm only after dawdling performance really. As long as I can sustain it, I don't mind. I'm not intending to run soley of solar btw, so there will be far in excess of the panel juice.
     
  4. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    gonzo Senior Member

    Dawdling performance means 3 knots max speed in flat water. Hull speed will be 4.5-5.5 knots at that size. With a beamy hull as you want, the power requirement at even those speed will be high. If you install enough batteries for a 100 mile trip, there will be no load carrying capacity for anything else. An easily driven hull is narrow and has minimal interior space. Also, the photo you posted is of a movie prop; it has absolutely no relation to a real boat.
     
  5. pjsmith
    Joined: Jun 2014
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    Location: UK

    pjsmith New Member

    OK, thanks. I fully realise it's a movie prop, not a boat hull btw - Just thought it was the perfect shape for what I wanted. A caravan on floats, as it were.

    Never mind.

    Even the little Tiki 24 in the marina next to me probably does these speeds on a tiny little outboard. I already have more powerful motors. Perhaps I'll stick 'em in the colvic instead.
     
  6. Rurudyne
    Joined: Mar 2014
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    Location: North Texas

    Rurudyne Senior Member

    When has that ever stopped anyone?

    Besides, taking the basic boxy top and replacing the warp nacelles with a suitable pair of amas -- or one could make pontoons that look like warp nacelles, they would have to be much larger -- is not much of a stretch.

    Of course, the Vulcan shuttle ( http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/VULCAN WARP SHUTTLE PAGE.htm ) would make for a nice wave piercing design....
     
  7. dougfrolich
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    dougfrolich Senior Member

  8. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    Attached Files:


  9. philSweet
    Joined: May 2008
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    Location: Beaufort, SC and H'ville, NC

    philSweet Senior Member

    OP, you just have to get over your fear of gas outboards. Ether a boat that meets your specs with about 40hp outboard, or, an electric 24' canoe that could carry quite a bit- like over a ton - but it's just a canoe. You do need a monohull, by the way. The other configurations won't carry the weight on that length.

    You could build a 50' sharpie, though. About 14000 pounds, low power, elbow room.

    or try one of these - http://www.dvice.com/2013-10-23/go-aquatic-away-missions-star-trek-inspired-boat
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2014
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