JetSetterJoe.com

With the “Green” Emmys now behind us and the success of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”, there seems to be an increased awareness of the environmental challenges we are likely to face in the coming century (at least among Hollywood’s elite). It has become “cool” to drive a Prius Hybrid. In reality driving a hybrid Prius is more of a public statement since—for all its technological wizardry—the Prius is not much more efficient than other more conventional models such as the Jetta TDI (and a lot more emasculating if you ask me).

I’ve written before about how boat builders also need to get on the “green” bandwagon and give boaters more efficient options. Otherwise the future of one of my favorite pastimes is in jeopardy. It’s only a matter of time before strict emission and efficiency regulations make 99% of all boats out there obsolete. In fact, it is politically less risky for lawmakers to strictly regulate boats than cars. After all, everyone drive but only a “privileged few” own boats (yea right!).

The industry is catching on somewhat as evidenced by the new crop of “clean” and fuel efficient outboards out there. These motors, however, are mostly found in smaller fishing craft while small and mid-size cruising craft are mostly powered by large inefficient gasoline engines hooked up to stern drives. Even the move to more efficient small diesels has been slow.

Now Island Pilot is offering an alternative, the DSe Hybrid catamaran. The boat features electric motors that drive the propellers and can be powered by either two Ossa Powerlite 25KW, variable-speed, high voltage DC, sound shielded generators or a bank of rechargeable batteries. The generators feature a Mercedes-engineered 1-litre engine developed for the Smart Car in Europe (soon to be sold in the US). This “next-generation” diesel should prove extremely efficient, clean and reliable.

But what sets the Hybrid yacht apart from its quasi-efficient land-based counterpart is the ability to run multiple photovoltaic solar cells on its generous on-deck surface area. The cells help charge the batteries and can also provide power to run the motors. In fact, Island Pilot boasts that the DSe Hybrid can run at 6 Knots on solar power alone! The yacht can also be plugged into the grid when in port to charge the batteries, something that automakers have been reluctant to do for some reason.

Even if the effect of the solar panels is somewhat less than aesthetically pleasing, this system seems like a huge step forward in practicality from a purely solar propulsion system. I can envision the day when flexible photovoltaic solar cells can be used to cover the entire surface area of a sleek wave-piercing design like Earthrace and combine with more efficient energy storage and control systems to provide an efficient, fast and beautiful craft. Until that day, we will have to keep a close watch for developments such as the DSe Hybrid.