Next-gen stabilisers
Let’s face it, it’s hard to have fun on the water when the boat’s pitching up and down in rough seas. But a new stabiliser technology aims to tame the waves by suspending the yacht above them.
The Martini concept – a collaboration between Servo Yachts and Shuttleworth Design – uses parallel pontoons to form a catamaran style hull, with the passenger compartment suspended between them on
shock-absorbing legs. Imagine a spider straddling a pair of matchsticks and you get the basic idea.
As the pontoons heave up and down in the waves, their motion is absorbed by the articulated legs, leaving the yacht itself level and still at all times. The unique suspension system is said to deliver the smoothest possible ride in rough seas.
Servo Yachts has tested a series of prototypes and is now partnering with Shuttleworth Design to develop a pair of luxury yachts – dubbed the Martini 6 and the Martini 7 – around the concept.
Soybean seat cushions
Foam seat cushions are made from oil, and with prices skyrocketing these days, boat builders are open to alternatives, like plant- based resins made from soybeans.
The idea of using plant-based resins isn’t new. Ford first tried them a dozen years ago, when it put soy-based foam in the seats of its 2008 model year cars, including the flagship Mustang. More recently, Toyota and BMW have also adopted the use of plant-based resins in their own vehicles.
North American boatbuilder Campion Marine started using soy-based seat cushions in 2016 and won a Boat Builder Award for Excellence at METSTrade the following year as a result. As oil prices continue to rise, it’s very likely other companies will adopt foam cushions made from soybeans to curb costs and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
Charge your electric boat in 5 minutes
The main knocks against electric boats (and electric cars) are limited range and that they take a long time to recharge. Researchers at Purdue University in the USA are aiming to change that with a new type of power cable that could cut recharge times to just five minutes.
Charging time is limited by the capacity of the cable linking the boat to the power source. Pushing more power through the cable speeds the process, but also generates more heat. Too much, and the cable melts.
The Purdue team has developed a water-cooled cable that can take much higher voltage without overheating – allowing charge times 20 times faster than possible with a standard power cable. Patents are pending, and investors are standing by – including major electrical equipment companies.
96 | The Report • June 2023 • Issue 104
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