

July - August 2018
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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.