| Solar power is quickly becoming a suitable renewable | | | | There are a few people that are looking for ways to |
| source of energy which many people are adopting. | | | | power their whole boat by solar power rather than |
| Lots of homes and businesses all over the country | | | | having to use a diesel engine. The arguments for |
| already have solar panels. Many people think that | | | | such a technology are that it's completely |
| solar power is a very new invention, however | | | | environmentally friendly because there is no pollution |
| actually it has been around for over 100 years! It's | | | | caused by using solar panels. Solar powered boats |
| amazing that it's taken so long to catch on. | | | | are also very quiet, almost silent whereas diesel |
| It was developed by a Russian scientist way back in | | | | boats can be extremely noisy. This can create a lot |
| 1838, he used this to create a solar powered boat. | | | | of unwanted noise pollution. |
| Solar engines were developed further, however with | | | | Existing Boats with Solar Power |
| the advent of the internal combustion engine people | | | | You can actually buy some commercial and personal |
| were less impressed with a solar boat. A boat could | | | | boats that do run off solar power. However these |
| get more power from fossil fuel, rather than solar | | | | types of boat are not really suitable for long ocean |
| power. | | | | going travel. These are only suitable for fairly small |
| Solar powered boats didn't really do much until about | | | | trips, mainly in rivers, lakes and canals. Solar powered |
| the 1980's when it gained much more attention. In | | | | boats are generally not strong enough to use on the |
| the 80's solar power was normally only used for | | | | sea, at the moment a sail boat is more powerful than |
| competition and races rather than creating something | | | | a solar boat. This is the main reason why solar |
| everyone could benefit from. There wasn't much | | | | powered boats are not normally used on the sea for |
| research going into creating a large solar powered | | | | long crossings, they are only suitable for small trips. |
| boat capable of carrying lots of people. | | | | This doesn't mean to say that solar powered boats |
| Total Power Versus Partial Power | | | | won't become more powerful in the near future. |
| Few people would be looking at powering their whole | | | | Technology is improving every single day. In perhaps |
| boat on nothing more than solar power, for a start | | | | 20 years we could have viable ocean going solar |
| this would make it difficult to use at night. Many | | | | powered boats which at least get some of their |
| boats are starting to use solar panels to provide | | | | power from solar panels. |
| power to domestic appliances such as the oven, | | | | Solar boats for personal use could soon become |
| refrigerator and lighting. Many boating stores sell kits | | | | suitable for rivers and bay excursions. These boats |
| to add partial solar power to your boat relatively | | | | will almost certainly cost more than diesel boats, |
| easily. Most of these kits contain everything that you | | | | however within a few years it should pay for itself |
| could possibly need, including solar panels, wires and | | | | with no fuel costs, and little maintenance costs. |
| any additional equipment. | | | | |