Solar powered boat.

General Composites Discussions Showcase
#1

Even before I started my own company I was asked for this project. This is one of the reasons I did.

This is a boat designed to compete(win) in the frisian solar challenge. So it has to be light and efficient. A designer at wich wharf where I did one of my internships designed the hull, a student industrial design made the plans, and he helps me building. I build the boat on-site.

The target weight is 40 kgs, 6 mtr long, 1.70 wide.
Build out of a (poorly) cnc’d mould.

Next few weeks I’ll post progress:D

Start:

Needs some fairing:

Good working positions for good health and good quality:

Top piece

#2

Very cool man! Good luck, you can do it!

#3

Today I visited a interiorshop. They had a cool, big, professional CNC machine. Probably will let them do the deck in polystyrene foam, laminate a layer of glass, and get them faired myself. I’m not happy with the result on the hull mould, but time is running out, and no budget to do it better, so the customer will have to learn to live with it.
I’m not really familiar with this part of the country, so it’s nice to visit some company’s. Amazing what some can do with wood. But they feel the same about us with fibres :slight_smile:
The deck is the most visible part, so I’ll have to do my best on that. My company’s name is going to be on the boat, after all.
Today we finished sanding and fairing on most off the hull, tomorrow hopefully ready to paint. Wednesday outer skin and core…

(sorry for the big pic, will fix it asap)

#4

Beautiful project!

#5

Cool job!!

#6

boat is finished and ready for the race. I still need to get the build pics from my phone, but here are some of the finished products:

short movie:
[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj4oFh_FlB4”]Zonneboot Liandon (Lianzon) - 2e proefvaart - Dong Energy Solar Challenge 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

The hull isn’t that fair, we could only redo the mould to a certain point, because of the coating. I had to make some adjustments to the mould too. The deck is ok, but with little time to finish the paintjob isn’t perfect.
Overall the structure is a little over weight, but noting extreme. Customer was pleased, that’s the important part :slight_smile:

Next sunday the race starts. A podium place must be possible. All the components are the best they could get, the whole boat is light enough. we’ll see.
(I’m a sponsor too, so it would be nice to end up top 3 with my company name on the boat :smiley: )

#7

Beautiful;)

#8

Looks great thanks for the pics and all the best for the race.

#9

That is awesome. Looks pretty fast and whisper quiet !

Is there any info on the drivetrain and power storage ?

#10

Very awesome stuff!

Do you have a website or anything? I’d like to reach out to you for some more information on your boat. I google’d Q Concepts but couldn’t find anything…

#11

Qconcepts if from the hull designer. My website is www.cirruscomposites.nl

engine: 4 kw normal, but they can pump some extra juice in it up to 6.5 kw. power storage is a very expensive battery wich only has about 80 cure cycles (green energy, you know…). Don’t know the precise output from panels and battery. it isn’t completely silence though, at full power there is a humm.

they finished the prologue 3d overall, first in class. yesterday 6th in their class, I hope today they’ll do better

#12

These panels usually give some 200-250 watt at peak. Lying flat you will never reach peak output, by the way.