Brunton’s Autopro unique design comes of age
When it was launched over thirty years ago the designers of the Autoprop could not possibly have realised how important their unique design was to become. Thousands of cruising yachtsmen around the world sail faster and motor further and more economically using Autoprops.
With this history and its unique abilities it is not surprising that a new version of the Autoprop called the Autoprop Eco*Star has been developed to propel the rapidly growing number of hybrid and purely electrically driven craft, both motor and sail, which are being launched around the world. Its development has been the work of a formidable team of expert naval architects, engineers and scientists from Bruntons, sister company Stone Marine Propulsion, and the world renowned Insean Research institute in Italy who provided invaluable assistance in evaluating and testing the propellers characteristics, mathematical modelling and optimisation.
Case study - The Energy Observer
Probably the worlds most advanced energy research vessel, the “Energy Observer” has completed her first trans-Atlantic passage with high praise given to her newly fitted Bruntons Autoprop Eco*Star propellers. The propellers replaced the vessels original fixed bladed propellers and have been partly responsible for a significant improvement in her performance since a refit was carried out last winter.
Energy Observer has been fitted with two Oceanwing sail wings to further enhance her energy saving abilities; a change which turned her overnight from a purely power-driven vessel to a motor sailor. It was also obvious to the team running the project that fitting propellers more suited to a motor sailing vessel would offer considerable further improvements, increasing the vessels speed by reducing propeller drag when sailing and optimising hydro-generation.
After exploring the available options the Energy Observer team took the decision to fit Eco*Stars, assessing them as being the best option to work with the crafts new “wings”. They are delighted with the results; “The wings and new propellers, in particular, enabled the boat to reach 14 knots in heavy seas.”
Autoprop Eco*Stars work by using their unique auto pitching abilities to match the constant torque that the electric motors provide throughout their rev range. This ensures that the craft is always obtaining the most efficient propulsion in terms of propulsive energy and economy and both at the same time. When purely sailing, and if maximum speed is not essential, the Eco*Stars can be left to turn in the vessels wake to provide additional charging for the batteries.
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