Solar-powered Pontoon

[gewf631]

"The Loon is 20 feet long and is topped by a custom 738 watt solar panel. Since most recreational boating is done when the weather is nice, solar power is particularly well adapted to the task."<br /><br /> Here's the full article.<br /><br />

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

Interesting hobby/conversation piece. If you can afford to put some project like that together you cant be to concerned about the price of fuel. Quote at the end of the artical say most people would choose this over stinkin motors, maby in OZ or CALIF. but not around here. Tweeking in the warp drive on my flats boat, already have the impulse power under control. Will post pictures once I retrieve it from the worm hole. regards fred

 

[mercury_40hp]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

A 738 Watt solar panel would not even produce 1horsepower worth of electricity, so good luck if your batteries run low out on the lake.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

I like it! It won't replace power boats but its an exelent execution of a proven idea

 

[jlinder]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

738 watts will charge a 12 volt battery with about 60 amps. Sure not even 1 horsepower, but if the batteries go low 30 minutes of charge should get you back to shore.<br /><br />True, an expensive way to go, but nice idea. If they become popular research should bring the cost of solar cells down. <br /><br />Look at the computer industry and what has happened there. Not unreasonable to believe the cost of solar cells could drop by a factor of 5 or 10, and their efficiency to double. In this example you would have a solution that would drive the boat at 12 knots all day and be cost effective.<br /><br />Wouldn't that be nice.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

Seems to be a lot of nay Sayers to new technology today. bah humbug

 

[roscoe]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

Claims 5kts off the batteries, how fast with just the solar? Bet its not much. He says he can do 10 miles a day, so that is only 1 mph ??<br /><br />Would take me 10+ hours to reach the fishin hole, which I now reach in 12 minutes.<br /><br />Sure hope there isn't a strong wind or current.<br /><br />Wouldn't a true environmentalist enjoy the lake from shore, or from a photograph?

 

[Jeff Quigley]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

hey, it doen't say how many skiers you can pull behid that bad-boy!

 

[phantoms]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

So when is someone going to make a alternator that runs off the wind, maybe mounted to the bow of a boat with efficent ducting. Especially useful if you boat where it's windy.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Solar-powered Pontoon

Could also double as a radar sweep.