The DSe hybrid solar powered boat a Titanic disaster?

Posted: November 12, 2008 at 1:37 pm

The DSe hybrid solar powered boat a Titanic disaster?

The DSe hybrid is a brand new 42 foot boat promising "green cruising". What could go wrong building buying a $600,000 dollar boat from a startup company promising a miraculous new product? Here’s our top ten reasons you might want to wait for reviews before rushing out to buy one.

High Cost

The introductory price of a DSe Hybrid 12m is US$600,000. Comparably equipped conventional powerboats run about $250,000 less. During a recession very few will have the cash to spend on essentially experimental technologies like this.

Retard Factor:

Questionable Durability

The ocean is one of the harshest environments on earth, with constant exposure to sun and saltwater. On ships solid metal can rust in a year, let alone delicate panels that should not be walked on. These unproven panels will have a difficult time surviving more than a few years under these conditions.

Retard Factor:

Toxic Batteries
	All batteries are toxic to make, dispose of, have short life spans and can even been deadly when exposed to water. They contain toxic ingredients that show evidence of bio accumulating in the food chain (including in plants), which means that concentrations can rapidly become relatively high in organisms high in the food chain. Retard Factor:	3

Low Battery Capacity

The batteries provide only two hours of power and under electric power can generate speeds adequate for harbor cruising (about 6 miles per hour). Which is great if you want a $600,000 dollar boat capable of only a few laps in the harbor.

Retard Factor:

Unable to Position Solar Cells

Non-adjustable solar panels can only harvest about 50 percent of the available sunlight due to angles and shadows from the ship itself. The catch is that the mechanisms required to adjust the panels to face the sun would break down in the harsh nautical environment.

Retard Factor:

Minimal Deck Space

With virtually all of the upper deck devoted to solar panels the boat has very little space available. The delicate panels should not be stepped on and even though the power needs are probably several times the square footage used it leaves very little room for maneuvering on deck.

Retard Factor:

It’s a Catameran

Catamarans have some advantages like resistance to capsizing, spacious widths and speed advantages although the vast majority of boats are mono hull or single hulled. Here are some of the biggest disadvantages to a catameran:

Cost to park:
harbors are set up to accommodate narrower single hulled ships and a catamaran can cost double the typical $400 a month in slip fees.
Less maneuverable:

Mono hulls are the choice whenever close-quarters maneuvering is required. A fin keel mono hull can pivot on its keel allowing for a tight turning radius and excellent maneuverability. Cats, without the keel, must turn through the water and have a much wider turning radius.
Motion Sickness:
Contrary to mono hulls which have a ballasted keel, catamarans rely only on form stability, which may lead to motion discomfort and more seasickness in light wind conditions.

Retard Factor:

Bleeding Edge Technology

All of the estimates are projected, the technology is unproven and the startup company producing it doesn’t even list an actual mailing address. Pictured is the prototype built out of wood 2×4s.

Retard Factor:

Reduced Visibility

Visibility will be impaired between glare from the panels, the wind turbines and solar panels sticking out above the cockpit. Small boats rely on line of sight navigation so this reduced visibility could easily result in a boating accident.

Retard Factor:

Questionable Environmental Return

Face it people are buying this boat to save the planet and this boat may not do that. The life span of the solar panels and batteries, their real-world effectiveness, and construction of toxic batteries give this boat an incomplete grade at best. At worst the boats are unusable and are toxic dumps in just a few years.

Retard Factor:

Home page for the DSe Hybrid manufacturer.

Posted: November 12, 2008 at 1:37 pm

Posted By: Jerome Aronson

News Category: Environmental, Retarded, Science

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