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July - August 2018

39

boatingonthehudson.com

this planets biosphere. All fresh rainwater is distilled by solar power.

Wood in a wet environment is not particularly durable. The myriad

of wooden parts, shaped, fitted and assembled into boats start

with astounding strength that fights the forces of wind and wave

that impede marine transportation. Still today 90% of all cargo is

transported by boat.

The same fossil fuels, that have almost entirely replaced the solar

powered transportation of some 200 years ago, travel up and down

the Hudson River in boats and by railroads. However, an historic

transition is beginning to replace those fossil fuels. Seen occasionally

in electric cars and busses, electricity is also moving into marine

transportation. Besides being clean, quiet and less maintenance,

electricity is usually less expensive than fossil fuels because it is so

much more efficient.

Internal combustion engines are unable to produce power at

the low range of RPM of those engines. Additionally, it is difficult

to measure the power of these engines at any speed. Electricity

in contrast produces full torque at all speeds, is easily shifted in

direction and the power is easily measured and displayed at any

time.

I have an electric car and there are experimental solar cars, but

there are not practical solar cars. The reason is that the area of

the roof does not provide sufficient solar energy to power the car.

Likewise there are experimental solar airplanes, but not practical

ones for the same reason, the area on the wing not enough to

power the plane.

Boats can be designed by a patent pending technology, so the

power on the roof matches the power required for propulsion.

Clean, quiet, reliable, practical and proven solar

powered marine propulsion.