Favorite Type of Power for a Powerboat

Discussion in 'Propulsion' started by mackid068, Jun 27, 2005.

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What's your favorite form of propulsion for a powerboat?

  1. Gasoline Outboard (2 or 4 stroke)

    6 vote(s)
    8.8%
  2. Gasoline Inboard

    9 vote(s)
    13.2%
  3. Gasoline Sterndrive (also called I/O or an Inboard/Outboard)

    5 vote(s)
    7.4%
  4. Gas Water Jet (also called Gas Jet or Jet drive)

    1 vote(s)
    1.5%
  5. Diesel Inboard

    20 vote(s)
    29.4%
  6. Diesel Sterndrive

    8 vote(s)
    11.8%
  7. Diesel Jet Drive (see option 4 but replace gas with diesel)

    3 vote(s)
    4.4%
  8. Hydrogen Fuel Cell

    2 vote(s)
    2.9%
  9. Diesel-Electric

    5 vote(s)
    7.4%
  10. Solar Powered

    1 vote(s)
    1.5%
  11. Steam Power

    6 vote(s)
    8.8%
  12. Solar with hydrocarbon auxiliary

    2 vote(s)
    2.9%
  1. JonathanCole
    Joined: May 2005
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    Location: Hawaii

    JonathanCole imagineer

    I like solar with bio diesel backup. Solar electric drives are quiet, low maintenance, and once the investment in equipment is made they are extremely cheap to operate. By the way, wind is actually solar as well since all atmospheric currents are driven by thermal differentials generated when sunlight hits the earth. So I add a wind generator to mitigate the largest problem with renewable energy which is an unpredictable variation in output over time. This is partly solved with efficient storage. Flooded lead acid batteries are 90% efficient when operated between 50% and 90% of charge.

    It is best to have different energy conversion strategies (solar-electric, wind-electric, generating regeneratively with the prop/motor when the currents are favorable). A motor sailor recently crossed the Atlantic with a Solomon Technologies Electric Wheel drive and generated nearly all of the 51 footers electrical needs by using it in generator mode. They didn't have to use their backup generator for most of the journey.
    http://www.solomontechnologies.com/Solomon%20new/Article_Waypoint_arrival.html

    In the end, everything will be hybrid to take advantage of the best features of each technology. Because energy is just about to get very expensive. So if you haven't been keeping up with inflation.........
     
  2. mackid068
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: CT, USA

    mackid068 Semi-Newbie Posts Often

    It certainly is. But still, you have to have some sort of backup for a hyper-efficient system in the case that it fails. A small diesel motor (running on biodiesel) or just on regular diesel would serve well.
     
  3. cyclops
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: usa

    cyclops Senior Member

    Small gas inboards always come with a table in the middle. Very handy for a break, stopped or running. Servicing is the easiest of any other type. Thats why the engines last the longest. And the engines and bilge are the cleanest.
     
  4. AggieBoater
    Joined: Nov 2004
    Posts: 18
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    Location: Kemah, TX

    AggieBoater Junior Member

    I have a Volvo diesel inboard in my Morgan sailboat, and am still figuring out how to afford to get diesels into my Trojan 30 that I'm re-powering. Com'on lotto!!!! Can't beat the safty, dependability, and range.
     
  5. mackid068
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: CT, USA

    mackid068 Semi-Newbie Posts Often

    That's for sure! A non-flammable power source? Can't be beaten!
     
  6. marshmat
    Joined: Apr 2005
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    Location: Ontario

    marshmat Senior Member

  7. mackid068
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    mackid068 Semi-Newbie Posts Often

    MHD? What's that?
     
  8. marshmat
    Joined: Apr 2005
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    Location: Ontario

    marshmat Senior Member

    MHD = magnetohydrodynamic propulsion. A magnetic field is applied laterally across a tube (tube is much like that of a jet pump), and an electric potential applied vertically across the same section of the tube. Any ion encountering the crossed magnetic and electric fields is accelerated orthogonally to both.

    Or, in layman's terms: Big (superconducting) electromagnet crossing a big electric field pushes saltwater out the back.

    The Japanese ship Yamato I is the best known example of the system. Big advantage is that there are no moving parts in the drive, but it's for saltwater only and very expensive at present. Ideally suited to fuel cells or other pure electric power sources.
     
  9. mackid068
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    mackid068 Semi-Newbie Posts Often

    Sounds highly expensve, but is probably great! Sounds like a railgun almost...but not really.
     
  10. PowerTech
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: FL,Keys

    PowerTech Senior Member

    like in the hunt for Red October.
     
  11. yipster
    Joined: Oct 2002
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    Location: netherlands

    yipster designer

    yeah, we were promised atomic sigarette lighters, windshield whipers etc right?
    something else is a prop without a shaft i saw somewhere recently.
    magnetic through hull, no loss, no holes, fantastic someone said! really!?
     
  12. mackid068
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: CT, USA

    mackid068 Semi-Newbie Posts Often

    That was a GREAT movie and a cool design. Makes sense, sort of, even to the "scientifically challenged," I would think.
     
  13. marshmat
    Joined: Apr 2005
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    Location: Ontario

    marshmat Senior Member

    the drive in that movie was not an MHD as we know them... the 'caterpillar', i think they called it. fictional technology although built on somewhat sound principals. still a cool gadget though, slick and quiet.... wouldn't mind one for the damn jet-ski that was buzzing the docks today....
     
  14. mackid068
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: CT, USA

    mackid068 Semi-Newbie Posts Often

    Yup, that's exactly what they called it, but the US Navy ship designer character called it an MHD and gave a good description.
     

  15. SolomonGrundy
    Joined: Feb 2005
    Posts: 183
    Likes: 9, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 51
    Location: lost

    SolomonGrundy I'm not crazy...

    None of the above

    HUMAN power baby!
     
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