Biodiesel powered around the world boat.

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Ernesto - 22 Sep 2006 02:12 GMT

Don't know if anyone is interested but saw this biodiesel powered boat in
Oceanside as the crew was making a tour prior to an attempt to set a new
around the world power boat record. It looks like something out of Star Wars
and the guys were all very friendly and answered all of my questions...all
of which they have probably answered hundreds of times before. I use WVO in
both of my MB diesels and they were very interested although they are using
commercial biodiesel for their attempt. Incidentally, this boat is capable
of piercing straight through large waves rather than riding up over them.
Extremely unusual to have water some 6 or 7 meters over the top of the
cockpit. Check it out.

www.earthrace.net

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ws - 22 Sep 2006 09:09 GMT

> Don't know if anyone is interested but saw this biodiesel powered boat in
> Oceanside as the crew was making a tour prior to an attempt to set a new
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> www.earthrace.net

Yes, I wonder how they do the "don't get water in the air-intake" bit,
as the air-intakes look like they would still get submerged.

But those cummins engines are nice, they have both "drive=by-wire" and
manual throttle. They are CDI engines, if I'm not mistaken.

www.cmdmarine.com

Regards,
ws

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greek_philosophizer - 22 Sep 2006 19:34 GMT

> > Don't know if anyone is interested but saw this biodiesel powered boat in
> > Oceanside as the crew was making a tour prior to an attempt to set a new
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Regards,
> ws

Lots of Bio diesel info at http://www.biowillie.com/.

The boat looks like it was inspired by the sub in League of Extrodinary
Gentelemen.

.

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ws - 22 Sep 2006 21:04 GMT

>>>Don't know if anyone is interested but saw this biodiesel powered boat in
>>>Oceanside as the crew was making a tour prior to an attempt to set a new
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> The boat looks like it was inspired by the sub in League of Extrodinary
> Gentelemen.

Unfortunately, there always seems to be a downside.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5369284.stm

It's very nice to be able to use waste oil in this way, but if demands
really grow, and "fresh" bio-fuels are in demand, whither the
environmental consequenses?

Regards.
ws

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Ernesto - 30 Sep 2006 04:40 GMT

>> Don't know if anyone is interested but saw this biodiesel powered boat in
>> Oceanside as the crew was making a tour prior to an attempt to set a new
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Regards,
> ws

In fact the two vertical wings do become submerged when they plow through
very high waves. However, the venturi effect apparently creates enough of a
pocket behind the wings to keep a lot of water from entering. Even at that
some water does enter from time to time but the vents are not connected
directly to the air intake of the engines. Any water that does enter the
rear of the wings collects in an area somewhere down in the bilge where it
is immediately pumped out. The air intakes of the engines can therefore be
located some distance from the point where the wings connect to the hull. I
understand the engine exhausts are also located in the rear of these
vertical wings. All in all IMHO this is one clever design.

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