A Solar-Powered Boat
THE MAGAGINE DEVOTED TO NICKEL AND ITS APPLICATIONS
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THIS NINE-METRE catamaran, was constructed of stainless steel S31600.
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VISITORS TOUR the maze of rivers, dykes and shallow lakes that make up the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads in
northeastern England.
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PDF of this article (268 kB) |
Stainless steel used for 12-passenger catamaran
Nickel magazine, October, 2003 -- Visitors to the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads,
Europe's leading lake restoration project, northeast of London, can now tour this fragile wetland aboard a
9-metre, solar-powered catamaran made of nickel-containing stainless steel
S31600.
Home to some of the rarest plant and animal species in the United Kingdom, the Broads is a maze of rivers, dykes and shallow lakes, called broads, bordering on the North Sea. This delicately balanced aquatic habitat attracts some 1.5 million visitors every year.
The Broads Authority, which manages this protected wetland, recently took delivery of the passenger-carrying catamaran, built in Germany by Kopf Solardesign. A bank of rechargeable lead-acid batteries is capable of driving the boat at 12 knots, while at a modest 4 knots, on a reasonably sunny day, the solar panels on the roof deliver enough power to keep the batteries fully charged. Stainless steel was used for the construction because of its corrosion resistance in the brackish, tidal waters.
The 12-seater, was named "Ra" after the Egyptian sun god and is used to run guided tours around Barton,
the second largest of the Broads.
PHOTOS: courtesy of the Broads Authority
 Hilary Franzen Kopf Solardesign |
