Dear viewers - I´m Michael - founder of Silent Yachts - I want to say thank you for so many really positive comments. It warms my heart indeed! I answered some of the questions below, sorry that I do not have time to answer all of them - but please check our website, many of your questions will be answered there and if not, please contact us directly. Best regards, Michael
Michael, as the owner of a 48-foot timber boat, with 165kW main engine, and an efficient one at that (12-14 l/hr, including a 8.5kVA generator running at the same time), I can see the beauty and efficiency of your designs. They are the future, no doubt. I would like to see a more utilitarian model that is all about function, rather than 'all-the-comforts-of-home'. By function, I mean while I have two air-conditioning units on board, I do not use them, except when connected to shore power, and not often then. A well-insulated boat with all-around ventilation and shading should not need it, I fee, especially at seal. As you note, galley energy consumption is negligible; lighting similarly-I would want to use the solar-generated power to go places. And while my boat is a monohull, as you point out, if you chose 6kn (I use 7.6kn) as your cruise speed, then that 210kW can take you a long way. Brilliant execution.
finally a video on silent yacht that actually gives some insight on the boat operation! thank you! I wish there was a question about the "kite sail" they have in 2 options on all boats.
This is a beautifull example of entrepreneurs that take it upon themselves to create a new generation of boat travelling, and of course supply our luxury toys, it demand a lot of energy, inventivity and engineering. we all need to minimalize our footprint in what we do, and this is the direction to take, i wish you a lot of success, go ahead captain and stay forward.
Now this is an amazing option for people like me. I love sailing as a concept with wind propulsion. However, almost every time I go out on the weekend the wind is coming from the direction I want to go. Lines everywhere and naturally no wind when going back home. “Classic” motorboats are not in my liking due to noise and fumes. This is a combination of the best features I like, with no negatives. I’m absolutely in love with this concept. I read somewhere that with a speed of 5 knots, I can go on nonstop day and night without using the generator. When sailboats are waiting for good weather conditions for a longer passage, I only have to check if it will be sunny😁. Also I guess that maintenance is way cheaper than a sailboat in comparable size (sails, rigging...). Although replacing the battery bank will come with a hefty price I guess.
Solar cells last 50+ years. Modern Lithium ion batteries will last decades when used within good parameters (don't overcharge, don't over discharge). Both are highly durable today.
Maintenance on a bigger sailing yacht is astronomical. Like you this would be my choice for a live aboard. I already have an pure battery electric car and the silence and lack of maintenance is a no brainer. And prices of batteries will go down, so all these arm chair experts claiming huge replacement costs have no good grasp of what is going on.
This is the future of boating. The sun is shining a lot more then waiting for the wind to blow- and without having to tack/ Jibe constantly. Finally someone figured it out!!!
@@maxodgaard1335 The specs which came with my solar panels gives a power rating even when it's covered with a thin layer of snow! At least then you won't need the AC :D
Hi David, I find this kind of video extremely interesting! To hear and see the history and specifics behind the boats/yachts is fantastic and unique. Please keep 'em coming, greetings from Sweden.
Great idea to interview owners and builders because as You Tube numbers grow on a channel it becomes very difficult to answer everyone's questions. Also, I personally get frustrated when I see flaws on a boat and I leave comments and suggestions as to how they might improve things, but I get no response. So this interview format is also a good way for the manufacturer to get feedback and improve their product. For example, I was close to buying an Azimut Atlantis 51, but got really frustrated about simple design 'flaws'. They have a bbq on the aft transom, but don't have a grab rail to hold onto if the boat rocks while you are cooking or if wash is created by another boat and unsteadies your footing while cooking. It's a simple safety measure yet today they have still not rectified it. I also suggested changing the position of the bbq as well. Another one I looked at was the new Princess V55 which is basically a blatant knock off of the Fairline 63 GTO in a smaller version, but they have compromised too much because they didn't want to design a new slightly wider hull, supposedly because they didn't want to 'compromise' speed. The real reason was probably cost, but nevertheless the boat ends up with a highly compromised third cabin with double bunks. Most customers would prefer a better third cabin and compromise some speed if it needed to be compromised at all. The boat does 30 knots which is pretty good, but most people would be happy with say 25 knots and a decent third cabin. Likewise, in the cockpit bbq, they place the bbq closest to the open saloon where smoke can blow from the cockpit into the saloon, followed by the sink which is placed more aft. I would have swapped them around and put the sink closest to the saloon, to minimse smoke from the cockpit bbq going inside the boat and then placed the bbq on the outer side so the smoke blows out the back of the boat. All boats face into the wind at anchor so the wind would also blow the smoke away over the aft of the boat away from the saloon and cockpit. I'm no genius, but these are just basic boating knowledge features and design expectations of customers and it frustrates me no end. Maybe I need a chill pill. Also Princess used shaft drives in the V55 instead of pod drives like Fairline do. Nothing wrong with that if you are selling to experienced skippers, but if you want to attract NEW boaters who are inexperienced their main reasons for NOT purchasing are; 1) Fear of berthing especially in high winds. 2) Navigation. 3) Cost of crew. Pod drives and modern navigation equipment and new berthing technology removes all 3 of those issues, so why opt for shaft drives rather than pod drives. Or, at least give customers the option. Pod drives offer virtual anchors to allow you to keep the boat in one place while you put the fenders out obviating the need for crew and the associated costs. Likewise there is remote docking and new sensor technology where the boat berths itself like autonomous and driverless cars. I don't think manufacturers do enough on communicating these new technologies to attract NEW boaters into the market and to buy their products. (By the way, a video on all the new technology available for berthing and navigating and demonstrating that technology would make a great video ... I'm blown away with some of the fantastic new tech that's coming on the market). Taking the stress out of boating and lowering operating costs will always be big selling points especially if they want to attract a new generation of boaters. This means they are not fighting for a slice of the cake all the time, but baking a bigger cake by getting new boaters into the market. We are also talking about Princess and Azimut here so it's not like they are new start-ups. These are major brands. I sometimes feel these manufacturers don't spend enough time engaging with customers and more importantly POTENTIAL customers. Quite frankly Princess has become boring and lacking in innovation although their quality is good. I wish they would make a luxury catamaran. Anyway, my point is that I think the manufacturers would benefit from this interview format and so would customers looking to buy their products. Keep up the good work.
John Smith its very arrogant to assume your suggestions for improvement should be considered. Its far more likely they know any and all compromises and have a far greater understanding than you. You are less aware of the balance of constraints and design priorities as a whole.
@@derboy959 I'm a boat user and naval architect, not that one needs to be either to decide where to put a bbq ... other manufacturers get it right so no, there are no design constraints just poor design. The day you stop listening to your customers is arrogance and grab rails for safety is not an option, it is a must. You NEVER comprise on safety ... NEVER.
@@JohnSmith-zo6ir Hi John David is not listening also - sadly!! Omnipotence is not the purvey of either David or a boat designer. The dichotomy between the opening of the "sell" on "Silent Yachts" (How they listen to customers?) and Davids comment is disturbingly at odds.
Thank you so much David for this awesome Q & A visit with Michael Köhler! Very informative and answered many questions I've had about this style of new yacht and power system. Cheers!
I really love this idea, and with a good speed of around 5 knots you probably never need to run the generator. I do wish they added wind turbines as well. Would make more sense in less sunny but more windy conditions like northern Europe
As a person that works at EVWest in San Marcos which is located in San Diego north county where classic cars are converted to electric along with kits that are shipped globally to the DIYers out there. I find this video to be the most exciting one to date for my heart. It’s about time! Great work Michael and team. I’ll be contacting you soon!
This is the best and most informative marketing for their boat that I've seen (which means nothing, because I'm just someone on the internet :P). However, it's really informative and enlightening, and it makes me want the boat more.
I've been following this company from its beginning. I do appreciate your presenting this video because I fully believe this is going to be the future of the industry.
You know, this video has made Silent Yachts approach to the electric yacht clearer. It is actually quite realistic, they focused on efficiency from the component level. Very well done all this, I am happily subscribed.
Always enjoyable listening to a knowledgeable inventor/engineer talking in-depth about their product. Comparable to hearing Andreas Preuninger giving interviews on one of his Porsche GT range.
The cool thing about a boat like this is the upgrade-ability. As more efficient solar panels come onto the marke, it's easy to swap them out. The same with batteries. The more I think about this boat concept, the more I like it.
Super long awaited video answering so many basic and straightforward questions which have been on many lips for sometime now very well explained right here. It would seem with intelligent use of current and fast improving technologies Silent Yachts their craft and USP which looks to be for now a well thought out Hybrid range and most importantly "no miracles" with better and bigger to come cannot be ignored. Well done David again and congratulations Michael and team.
The backup generator is probably a diesel, but would need almost no use much of the time, due to lots of solar power, good battery storage, and good system efficiency.
8 knots with generator "untill infinito" sounds very good but i was curious about the fuel consumption on the generator at that speed.once again great video :)
i found a general rule for generator fuel consumption: 0,3l/h per KW produced. it means 40kw*0,3= 12l/h at 8knots. with a fuel tank up to 1600L it's about 130h run time and 1000 nautical miles. not considering solar regeneration
It’s an interesting example to compare ‘conventional’ propulsion systems. Pretty much every long distance cruiser (with sails) adds on solar, and lithium batteries (if they have the budget) to reduce power need from running generator. However, scaling this up has a trade off with weight as soon as the batteries weigh more than fuel and engines. The best figures I’ve ever come across was a power Sunreef that had engines remapped, wave piercing hulls and extended sugar scoops (to reduce draft) there’s an article on their site I think, but if memory is right, the fuel consumption was something like 7L per engine per hour. I think for solar to compete, battery technology needs to improve further still/solar panel efficiency needs to improve/propulsion of the boat/energy use of in house systems, i.e. gains from one, two or all of these areas, will result in a solution that can travel at faster speed so as to be more competitive and no fear of running out of juice. Also, foiling technology versus displacement versus planing hulls for greater efficiency. Wind power for onboard turbines for more energy creation or foiling kites to contribute to propulsion using wind energy also. Water jet propulsion versus propeller. Wave power. (Check out foiling surfboards if you haven’t seen before). The future doesn’t have to be solar only.
@@guidoburo87 What's good about electric propulsion is that it's efficiency is rather good across wide range of output, combustion engines have quite small efficient point. As you heard, at displacement speeds boat needs really little power to move, but it can have extra power when needed. Although my favorite points are sound and maintenance. Too bad choices of electric propulsion are still quite limited to highly overpriced ready solutions or do it yourself from scratch which few people can handle due to power in question. I'm not even talking about price of battery bank here. Oh, i would rather go 6-7knots cruising speed at most on such boat. 8 knots already fall into not so efficient speed, just for 1knot from 7 to 8 you need extra 15kw/h.
@@xellzor All good points. The power needed to maintain moderate speed for a boat is surprisingly low. Battery and motor options will continue to improve, and commercial solutions do exist today. Electric propulsion is clearly a very good way forward, and progress will continue to be made, including in commercial products.
@@xellzor so true, I think 5 knots is more than sufficient. And then consumption is less than 10kwh. Which means with the 210kw battery and 100kw per day charging with the panels, you can easily do 24 hours of non-stop sailing and have energy to spare for all the electric appliances.
Post from Canada: i was wondering if ... * the boat can be fitted with a Kite Sail to augment the range? * have you thought of using Thin Film printable solar panels on the sail to generate more power? * Also, usage of H2/Fuel cells to get rid of the diesel generators and make it completely green? * include drum type Wind Turbines to generate from Wind Power without casting shadows on the Solar Panels?
Hi Micheal, your vision has become a reality. You are the ONLY solar powered superyacht builder. The industry are running scared as you have proved that not only can it be done by sailing around the world with your prototype, and the Silent yachts are selling even prior to build which is a milestone that no other builder can match. I am so happy that a normal couple can create and succeed with such a product. Amazing yachts. Thankyou. Chris.
Thanks David...great interview with a very interesting gentlemen. I guess if I had a Silent Yacht then my kids (who are rightfully trying to save the earth!!) would be happier with me.... Worth thinking about. Cheers mate.
Love your coverage of the Silent Yachts and noticed you like to take questions :-) 1) They have the kite setup in the front. Was wondering if they have tested to use the force on the propeller for "regenerative breaking" in the motor and charge the battery packs. If I am not mistaken not all motors can do regenerative breaking though... 2) Besides Silent Yachts. Am endlessly fascinated by foils. And came accross a paper where they tested foils on a catamaran to reduce resistance. The take away is increased resistance at slow speed (foils are in waters way), reduced resistance at higher speeds (boat lifts earlier). As Silent Yachts are all about optimising efficiency. I was wondering if they have toyed with foils. Obviously the break even speed above which resistance becomes less would need to be sufficiently low. Preferably below or at low cruising speed. Not a good idea to make the most efficient speeds less efficient. But if the 40kw for 8knots could be lowered without affecting 6knot 20kw. Might be worth having higher sub 6knot energy consumption. Or slightly higher 6,8knot resistance but 10+knots significantly lowered.... anyway. thanks for all your coverage of these marvels. Looking forward to more. Tours of the 80? 120?
You make a good point that sailboats depend on wind... too much wind or too little wind is a no go... efficiency of hull is key... great insulation reduces energy loads... this is state of art.
Great concept, as he said it is just good implementation of existing tech. I set up a house totally off grid with solar panels and batteries. Though I used second hand lead acid batteries - 4 pallets of them!
Have just seen this video, a fascinating yacht, long may it and the company run. Thank you for bringing it here. Finally David, stay safe during this time.
what a great interview with a lot of solid information on the E-systems. Me being a big skeptic is slowly getting more and more interested in this topic. I love the in-depth interviews with builders, and designers. If possible could you do an in-depth feature with a naval architect? I would love to hear their take on how and why certain designs have come about.
Michael each time I read more about you and your wife I hear only positive about what the two of you have worked so hard for past 30 years to finally achieve 6 models you can produce for sale to the public. You help me to push myself so I don’t give up. Can’t wait to see your next big breakthrough. Keep fighting, Thanks
Hi! Great proposal! Is there any project to add wind generators to activate them when the vessel is moored to take advantage of some night breeze or wind? During navigation those could be folded. I saw also a vessel sun energy propulsive that generates hydrogen. Could it be an option to activate generators by hydrogen instead by dyno-fuel ? Thx for your great cat !
Great video. Very informative. Answered some good questions in detail. Very interesting yacht. Key is to remember to think of it as a trawler, slow speed equals long range.
That yacht is astounding and I congratulate the builders on doing their part to graduate away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Great informative video!! Thank you for sharing your journeys in the world of boating. ✌🏻🇺🇸 Cape Cod
One thing I've not seen displayed is their option of a kite sail, would be amazing to see it deployed and how it is to be used and what impact it has on their facts and figures.
What an awesome boat, and a great idea. Kudos to Michael and all his crew. I think it's great that you guys made it out of recyclable materials whenever you were able. Who else does that? It bugs me a little that they don't answer the question of what makes it silent. I mean sure, you use solar power to charge the batteries, but you're still spinning a propeller. I'd like to see how the propulsion is handled. Had you considered creating a hybrid yacht? Do everything exactly as you have, but add a mast. You would only drain your battery for propulsion when there is no wind.
What I love with this, is that I have all of the advantage from a motorboat and a sailing boat. just turn the key and go, sail for free energy. And don’t get the disadvantage from sailboat (mast, shitloades of lines) and depending of proper wind. Not have to worry to pay the diesel by filling 10.000 litres of diesel in the tank on the motorboat. Just a relaxed lifestyle 😎
I have an idea: They need to install deployable wings (Airplane wings) from each side of the boat. More room for solar panels on top of the wings and the wings will create a small lift while sailing, raising the boat, from the water which will cause less drug and increase efficiency. The wings can be deployed like a living room in RVs, or can be positioned vertically and deploy out. Or just design the entire yacht as an airplane and have static wings.
Fabulous interview & information on this yacht. I love what I'm hearing, but would have loved to see around the boat as well, but this video still gets the thumbs up, thank you David.
"You cant store the wind from one day and use it another day" Yes thats the point with the electrical boat motors. They charge while sailing so you can electric power when there is no wind.
Awesome interview. I’m am always interested in the builders (unbiased?) perspective and technical knowledge. Equally or more important is the practical owner/operator’s experiences and opinions. What they like and what would they change and what will they look for in the next yacht. A captain’s and engineer’s views are unique in the operation of the yacht. There really is endless interview and show options. Brilliant interview thank you.
17:00 I've often wondered why the net thingies at the front aren't trampolines with rust proof springs? Is the market too small for what I imagine is a great fun form of exercise and physical activity, whilst on an ocean holiday? I would love to wake up and have a few gentle bouncies or even learn/practise flipping. OMG, could you imagine bouncing off after a hot workout into the ocean. What about a diving board too, off the top deck?
K otgc They designed are to let the water pass through. The last thing you want is the boat nosediving after clearing a wave and crashing into the water sending everybody flying because of the impact. With the openings the bow can nosedive without crashing into the water.
I have been waiting weeks for this and you didn't do a walk-round.. Doh! I love these and I can't wait to see what they have planned. What I would have liked to know is what kind of speed would they recommend for an ocean crossing? Would they keep it constant over 24 hours or would they up it in the day time and drop it over night? Loving the videos though.
if you want to run sich a yacht absolutely self sufficiently for weeks, the speed is about 4 knots only. BUT - compare it to a sailboat of similar size and comfort in a typical holiday region - and not in the roaring fifties. During Summer in the Med an average speed of 4 knots is impossible for a sailing boat. Again - average - day and night. But a Silent Yacht can do this. If you want to go fast, just start the gen for 1 or 2 hours and you go with 6 or more knots. And most of all - it can stay in a bay with all comfort without need to start the generator at all.
Love the boat, still think adding sails makes sense because you can then regen power while under sail - with that size battery bank, it just makes even more sense. Or, add wind generators, if you can make them quiet enough.
If you add sails, you cannot regenerate the energy because the solar panels are blocked. They talk about it on their website and the loss makes it unfeasible
@@philsexton5761 yes, of course. Basically sailboat solar panels run at 25%-50% of capacity any time the sails are up or shading is bad. But, when the sails are down, correctly placed, you can get most of the capacity out of the panels (only boom/mast shade to deal with), and when the sails are up, you are generating energy out of the drives anyhow. But I get it that this is just not that boat and also there are a lot of people who want to be a bit more sustainable that are not wanting to deal with sails.
Some people like me don't want to learn to sail with ropes and mess. We want it clean and simple. Just drive like a car, stop and chill out. This is a niche perhaps. But I think a growing market.
Interesting interview. It's a very efficient system. So it's not only ecologically friendly but also pocket-friendly (though he didn't give any information about maintenance. One of the things that would make me feel guilty, if I owned a yacht, is polluting ... I'm pretty sure these technologies will improve faster and faster (everything is so accelerated these days: technology is flying and pretty soon it'll literally improve at light speed ... (exciting, right?) They should hire the best designers to make these boats more attractive (aesthetics is, undoubtedly, important, too: a very important ingredient of the experience). Thanks for sharing!
I was glad to see this interview. First time the energy used for propulsion is disclosed with so many data points. 😊 If you talk with him again, please ask him what options are available to regenerate energy.
I understand the physics behind the trampolines in the bow of sailing catamarans ( we want the air pocket to release air pressure so we don't plain) , but on a plaining power boat wouldn't a solid bow aid in lift for plaining? Just wondering why they chose that design. ??
The problem is the HVAC in countries like the US Florida, what solution do you have as we are used to running the AC 24x7, I think it has to do with the high levels of humidity, at very cold settings, 65f or 17c.? It is difficult to understand this habit, but it is what it is...
Thanks great episode, couple this with sails and you get the best of both worlds. Electric power will be the future of boating, hull design becomes increasingly important. More videos like this please
in fact our Sail Versions require more fuel than the solar - it is a mere fact that the shade created by the sails cost us more power than the sails deliver. Only in a few regions of the world you find reliable wind conditions. In most places there is no wind or too much wind or it is from the wrong direction when you want to go for sailing - and then people use the diesel engine. It is a mere fact, that we use the gen to recharge the batteries less than we use the diesel in the sail version as there is no wind.
Very interesting video. I'm intrigued as to why they didn't incorporate some mini wind turbines, especially since when in use it could recapture some energy.
It's not very well discussed in many interviews but the ex sailor did sort of cover it. These boats can be powered along at a speed that they are producing electricity. You can adjust your speed to the power and intensity of the sun, especially in the tropics so that you are zero cruising. Some people might ask, what about the energy required for the house side. This is generated before you get moving in a morning and either when you slow down or stop for the day.
How do these yachts power with the wind. Do they have a sail? Also, the lost real estate taken by solar panels on the rear at 0:43 behind the founder/ceo and at the front at 2:10...could the panels be placed on 'wings', that perhaps fold in and out over the roof, so real estate can be used on the yacht?
Amazing concept! Obviously, how frugally one uses the available solar energy will determine how much generator usage is required. To put this into perspective, I would love to see how a typical cruiser would consume energy on a) an oceanic passage and on b) a day at anchor. Also, since solar generation capability would increase with larger yachts, does the yacht endurance and fuel consumption get better as well? Is there a sweet spot for yacht size that can make an oceanic passage at 10-knots on a single tank of fuel (with 10% reserve)?
are these solar panels specially built for the salt environment ? Can these panels be replaced with higher output panels (there are some 420 w panels with 22 % efficiency and even bifacial panels which will produce more power fper square meter and therefore power a larger motor for faster speeds etc ) )
So he already gave me the name for mine "Until Infinto" ... Anyway, what are the yearly maintenance costs likely to be? It seems that there would be very little in the way of traditional engine maintenance. Given that electric motors usually produce high levels of torque almost immediately, are these direct drive, or are they driven through a gearbox? With the solar panels, I'm guessing that the 100KW solar generation is theoretical maximum (which is unlikely to happen) ... how many controllers are there? One per panel, one per string? If one per string how many panels in a string? I know that if you shade a panel it will drastically reduce it's power output, and if that shaded panel is part of a string it will pull the output of the entire string down. Looking at the panels as they are arranged here it would appear to me that this particular boat is has 20x330w panels and the smaller ones on the fly top could be 12x220w which would give a theoretical max of 92.4KW. This is impressive, but only as long as none of the panels are shaded ... like they are in portions of the video. I'm not sure if it was mentioned in the video, what size fuel tank does the generator have? Last question, if you added a shore power connection and tried to charge batteries how long would it take the fire department to arrive?
The more i have explored & after watching this video, these Yachts are now my favourite way to explore the seas ( GREAT ) interview with Michael, what a great guy...!!! Can you ask Micheal & the team from SILENT-YACHTS when you speak with them next please... Will they look at the new #TESLA batteries & install or are they dedicated to find their own battery power...?? Cheers David, Keep being amazing
I wonder if it is possible to put hydro generators and wind powered generators to help with the battery charging. This would be good to try to use the motion of the water to recharge the batteries along with the solar panels.
I do have a question, if at Dock for a week or a month with the owner away so no one is using any power can the batterys be over charged and damaged? Great work.
Dear viewers - I´m Michael - founder of Silent Yachts - I want to say thank you for so many really positive comments. It warms my heart indeed! I answered some of the questions below, sorry that I do not have time to answer all of them - but please check our website, many of your questions will be answered there and if not, please contact us directly. Best regards, Michael
Going fishing
Don't need fuel
Not coming back
We could include the sails as well!! This is the future
Lovely products and I enjoyed listening to you.
@@MrTopsfield Indeed. So long world! Haha
you should do a Q&A
Michael, as the owner of a 48-foot timber boat, with 165kW main engine, and an efficient one at that (12-14 l/hr, including a 8.5kVA generator running at the same time), I can see the beauty and efficiency of your designs. They are the future, no doubt. I would like to see a more utilitarian model that is all about function, rather than 'all-the-comforts-of-home'. By function, I mean while I have two air-conditioning units on board, I do not use them, except when connected to shore power, and not often then. A well-insulated boat with all-around ventilation and shading should not need it, I fee, especially at seal. As you note, galley energy consumption is negligible; lighting similarly-I would want to use the solar-generated power to go places. And while my boat is a monohull, as you point out, if you chose 6kn (I use 7.6kn) as your cruise speed, then that 210kW can take you a long way. Brilliant execution.
I like the idea that running ac 24 hours a day was a primary consideration
finally a video on silent yacht that actually gives some insight on the boat operation! thank you!
I wish there was a question about the "kite sail" they have in 2 options on all boats.
This is a beautifull example of entrepreneurs that take it upon themselves to create a new generation of boat travelling, and of course supply our luxury toys, it demand a lot of energy, inventivity and engineering. we all need to minimalize our footprint in what we do, and this is the direction to take, i wish you a lot of success, go ahead captain and stay forward.
i hope that this kind of propulsion + energy creation will be soon mainstream. This is totally dream ship of mine :)
yes! it is a dream-cat
Now this is an amazing option for people like me. I love sailing as a concept with wind propulsion. However, almost every time I go out on the weekend the wind is coming from the direction I want to go. Lines everywhere and naturally no wind when going back home.
“Classic” motorboats are not in my liking due to noise and fumes.
This is a combination of the best features I like, with no negatives. I’m absolutely in love with this concept.
I read somewhere that with a speed of 5 knots, I can go on nonstop day and night without using the generator. When sailboats are waiting for good weather conditions for a longer passage, I only have to check if it will be sunny😁.
Also I guess that maintenance is way cheaper than a sailboat in comparable size (sails, rigging...). Although replacing the battery bank will come with a hefty price I guess.
Solar cells last 50+ years. Modern Lithium ion batteries will last decades when used within good parameters (don't overcharge, don't over discharge). Both are highly durable today.
Maintenance on a bigger sailing yacht is astronomical. Like you this would be my choice for a live aboard. I already have an pure battery electric car and the silence and lack of maintenance is a no brainer. And prices of batteries will go down, so all these arm chair experts claiming huge replacement costs have no good grasp of what is going on.
This is the future of boating.
The sun is shining a lot more then waiting for the wind to blow- and without having to tack/ Jibe constantly. Finally someone figured it out!!!
Im afraid that there is nothing new under the sun about this boat project....and as a blue water cruiser you better start praying for blue skies....
@@maxodgaard1335 yes however the sky doesn't need to be clear in order to get charged up. I think they only need about 50% clear skies
@@maxodgaard1335 The specs which came with my solar panels gives a power rating even when it's covered with a thin layer of snow! At least then you won't need the AC :D
Hi David, I find this kind of video extremely interesting! To hear and see the history and specifics behind the boats/yachts is fantastic and unique. Please keep 'em coming, greetings from Sweden.
Great idea to interview owners and builders because as You Tube numbers grow on a channel it becomes very difficult to answer everyone's questions.
Also, I personally get frustrated when I see flaws on a boat and I leave comments and suggestions as to how they might improve things, but I get no response.
So this interview format is also a good way for the manufacturer to get feedback and improve their product.
For example, I was close to buying an Azimut Atlantis 51, but got really frustrated about simple design 'flaws'.
They have a bbq on the aft transom, but don't have a grab rail to hold onto if the boat rocks while you are cooking or if wash is created by another boat and unsteadies your footing while cooking. It's a simple safety measure yet today they have still not rectified it.
I also suggested changing the position of the bbq as well.
Another one I looked at was the new Princess V55 which is basically a blatant knock off of the Fairline 63 GTO in a smaller version, but they have compromised too much because they didn't want to design a new slightly wider hull, supposedly because they didn't want to 'compromise' speed.
The real reason was probably cost, but nevertheless the boat ends up with a highly compromised third cabin with double bunks.
Most customers would prefer a better third cabin and compromise some speed if it needed to be compromised at all.
The boat does 30 knots which is pretty good, but most people would be happy with say 25 knots and a decent third cabin.
Likewise, in the cockpit bbq, they place the bbq closest to the open saloon where smoke can blow from the cockpit into the saloon, followed by the sink which is placed more aft.
I would have swapped them around and put the sink closest to the saloon, to minimse smoke from the cockpit bbq going inside the boat and then placed the bbq on the outer side so the smoke blows out the back of the boat.
All boats face into the wind at anchor so the wind would also blow the smoke away over the aft of the boat away from the saloon and cockpit.
I'm no genius, but these are just basic boating knowledge features and design expectations of customers and it frustrates me no end. Maybe I need a chill pill.
Also Princess used shaft drives in the V55 instead of pod drives like Fairline do. Nothing wrong with that if you are selling to experienced skippers, but if you want to attract NEW boaters who are inexperienced their main reasons for NOT purchasing are;
1) Fear of berthing especially in high winds.
2) Navigation.
3) Cost of crew.
Pod drives and modern navigation equipment and new berthing technology removes all 3 of those issues, so why opt for shaft drives rather than pod drives. Or, at least give customers the option.
Pod drives offer virtual anchors to allow you to keep the boat in one place while you put the fenders out obviating the need for crew and the associated costs.
Likewise there is remote docking and new sensor technology where the boat berths itself like autonomous and driverless cars.
I don't think manufacturers do enough on communicating these new technologies to attract NEW boaters into the market and to buy their products.
(By the way, a video on all the new technology available for berthing and navigating and demonstrating that technology would make a great video ... I'm blown away with some of the fantastic new tech that's coming on the market).
Taking the stress out of boating and lowering operating costs will always be big selling points especially if they want to attract a new generation of boaters.
This means they are not fighting for a slice of the cake all the time, but baking a bigger cake by getting new boaters into the market.
We are also talking about Princess and Azimut here so it's not like they are new start-ups. These are major brands.
I sometimes feel these manufacturers don't spend enough time engaging with customers and more importantly POTENTIAL customers. Quite frankly Princess has become boring and lacking in innovation although their quality is good.
I wish they would make a luxury catamaran.
Anyway, my point is that I think the manufacturers would benefit from this interview format and so would customers looking to buy their products.
Keep up the good work.
John Smith its very arrogant to assume your suggestions for improvement should be considered. Its far more likely they know any and all compromises and have a far greater understanding than you. You are less aware of the balance of constraints and design priorities as a whole.
@@derboy959 I'm a boat user and naval architect, not that one needs to be either to decide where to put a bbq ... other manufacturers get it right so no, there are no design constraints just poor design.
The day you stop listening to your customers is arrogance and grab rails for safety is not an option, it is a must. You NEVER comprise on safety ... NEVER.
@@JohnSmith-zo6ir Hi John David is not listening also - sadly!! Omnipotence is not the purvey of either David or a boat designer. The dichotomy between the opening of the "sell" on "Silent Yachts" (How they listen to customers?) and Davids comment is disturbingly at odds.
Thank you so much David for this awesome Q & A visit with Michael Köhler! Very informative and answered many questions I've had about this style of new yacht and power system. Cheers!
I really love this idea, and with a good speed of around 5 knots you probably never need to run the generator.
I do wish they added wind turbines as well. Would make more sense in less sunny but more windy conditions like northern Europe
As a person that works at EVWest in San Marcos which is located in San Diego north county where classic cars are converted to electric along with kits that are shipped globally to the DIYers out there. I find this video to be the most exciting one to date for my heart.
It’s about time! Great work Michael and team.
I’ll be contacting you soon!
thanks for your kind words Jan!!! Looking forward to hearing from you - please write to our office@silent-yachts.com address
This is the best and most informative marketing for their boat that I've seen (which means nothing, because I'm just someone on the internet :P). However, it's really informative and enlightening, and it makes me want the boat more.
I've been following this company from its beginning. I do appreciate your presenting this video because I fully believe this is going to be the future of the industry.
Fantastic. Just amazing, Michael answered all my questions and concerns. On my bucket list for sure, c'mon lotto! I need to win once.
the future is coming.....great interview
The future is now.
You know, this video has made Silent Yachts approach to the electric yacht clearer. It is actually quite realistic, they focused on efficiency from the component level. Very well done all this, I am happily subscribed.
Always enjoyable listening to a knowledgeable inventor/engineer talking in-depth about their product. Comparable to hearing Andreas Preuninger giving interviews on one of his Porsche GT range.
Thank you for answering question. That was awesome.
I love it. This is version 1, imagine in a few short years what the future versions will be like.
The cool thing about a boat like this is the upgrade-ability. As more efficient solar panels come onto the marke, it's easy to swap them out. The same with batteries. The more I think about this boat concept, the more I like it.
@@machinesandthings7121 my goal is to buy this
Great video David, amazing yacht and could be the future of yachts.
Super long awaited video answering so many basic and straightforward questions which have been on many lips for sometime now very well explained right here. It would seem with intelligent use of current and fast improving technologies Silent Yachts their craft and USP which looks to be for now a well thought out Hybrid range and most importantly "no miracles" with better and bigger to come cannot be ignored. Well done David again and congratulations Michael and team.
Love the yacht and the technology embraced in it. Gets rid of diesel which is always good.
The backup generator is probably a diesel, but would need almost no use much of the time, due to lots of solar power, good battery storage, and good system efficiency.
8 knots with generator "untill infinito" sounds very good but i was curious about the fuel consumption on the generator at that speed.once again great video :)
i found a general rule for generator fuel consumption: 0,3l/h per KW produced. it means 40kw*0,3= 12l/h at 8knots. with a fuel tank up to 1600L it's about 130h run time and 1000 nautical miles. not considering solar regeneration
It’s an interesting example to compare ‘conventional’ propulsion systems. Pretty much every long distance cruiser (with sails) adds on solar, and lithium batteries (if they have the budget) to reduce power need from running generator. However, scaling this up has a trade off with weight as soon as the batteries weigh more than fuel and engines.
The best figures I’ve ever come across was a power Sunreef that had engines remapped, wave piercing hulls and extended sugar scoops (to reduce draft) there’s an article on their site I think, but if memory is right, the fuel consumption was something like 7L per engine per hour.
I think for solar to compete, battery technology needs to improve further still/solar panel efficiency needs to improve/propulsion of the boat/energy use of in house systems, i.e. gains from one, two or all of these areas, will result in a solution that can travel at faster speed so as to be more competitive and no fear of running out of juice.
Also, foiling technology versus displacement versus planing hulls for greater efficiency. Wind power for onboard turbines for more energy creation or foiling kites to contribute to propulsion using wind energy also. Water jet propulsion versus propeller. Wave power. (Check out foiling surfboards if you haven’t seen before). The future doesn’t have to be solar only.
@@guidoburo87 What's good about electric propulsion is that it's efficiency is rather good across wide range of output, combustion engines have quite small efficient point. As you heard, at displacement speeds boat needs really little power to move, but it can have extra power when needed. Although my favorite points are sound and maintenance. Too bad choices of electric propulsion are still quite limited to highly overpriced ready solutions or do it yourself from scratch which few people can handle due to power in question. I'm not even talking about price of battery bank here.
Oh, i would rather go 6-7knots cruising speed at most on such boat. 8 knots already fall into not so efficient speed, just for 1knot from 7 to 8 you need extra 15kw/h.
@@xellzor All good points. The power needed to maintain moderate speed for a boat is surprisingly low. Battery and motor options will continue to improve, and commercial solutions do exist today. Electric propulsion is clearly a very good way forward, and progress will continue to be made, including in commercial products.
@@xellzor so true, I think 5 knots is more than sufficient. And then consumption is less than 10kwh. Which means with the 210kw battery and 100kw per day charging with the panels, you can easily do 24 hours of non-stop sailing and have energy to spare for all the electric appliances.
I really like this yacht, great idea, it takes the Wider concept a bit further...
Herr Köhler makes a compelling case for his yachts. Good video.
I love this guy. Smart and well spoken. This company is going to do great behind guys like this.
Post from Canada:
i was wondering if ...
* the boat can be fitted with a Kite Sail to augment the range?
* have you thought of using Thin Film printable solar panels on the sail to generate more power?
* Also, usage of H2/Fuel cells to get rid of the diesel generators and make it completely green?
* include drum type Wind Turbines to generate from Wind Power without casting shadows on the Solar Panels?
I really like the look of these boats and love the concept.
Thanks for the video.
Hi David. Wider and others have used a hybrid system. Silent has improved it and im looking forward to the Silent 80. Great video.
Silent Yachts is building boats sind 2009 - tenthousands of miles purely solar powered already! In 2018 a Silent 64 crossed the Atlantic Ocean
Hi Micheal, your vision has become a reality. You are the ONLY solar powered superyacht builder. The industry are running scared as you have proved that not only can it be done by sailing around the world with your prototype, and the Silent yachts are selling even prior to build which is a milestone that no other builder can match. I am so happy that a normal couple can create and succeed with such a product. Amazing yachts. Thankyou. Chris.
Thanks David...great interview with a very interesting gentlemen.
I guess if I had a Silent Yacht then my kids (who are rightfully trying to save the earth!!) would be happier with me....
Worth thinking about.
Cheers mate.
Love your coverage of the Silent Yachts and noticed you like to take questions :-)
1) They have the kite setup in the front. Was wondering if they have tested to use the force on the propeller for "regenerative breaking" in the motor and charge the battery packs. If I am not mistaken not all motors can do regenerative breaking though...
2) Besides Silent Yachts. Am endlessly fascinated by foils. And came accross a paper where they tested foils on a catamaran to reduce resistance. The take away is increased resistance at slow speed (foils are in waters way), reduced resistance at higher speeds (boat lifts earlier). As Silent Yachts are all about optimising efficiency. I was wondering if they have toyed with foils. Obviously the break even speed above which resistance becomes less would need to be sufficiently low. Preferably below or at low cruising speed. Not a good idea to make the most efficient speeds less efficient. But if the 40kw for 8knots could be lowered without affecting 6knot 20kw. Might be worth having higher sub 6knot energy consumption. Or slightly higher 6,8knot resistance but 10+knots significantly lowered....
anyway. thanks for all your coverage of these marvels. Looking forward to more. Tours of the 80? 120?
You make a good point that sailboats depend on wind... too much wind or too little wind is a no go... efficiency of hull is key... great insulation reduces energy loads... this is state of art.
Would they consider adding another source of energy... say wind energy for those cloudy and windy days ?
A windgenerator is likey to noisy for this application. Sailing Yachts are still the benchmark for sustainable Yachting.
Probably use a kite
Great concept, as he said it is just good implementation of existing tech. I set up a house totally off grid with solar panels and batteries. Though I used second hand lead acid batteries - 4 pallets of them!
Amazing boat great interview also imagine winning a luxury yacht dream and a half
Have just seen this video, a fascinating yacht, long may it and the company run. Thank you for bringing it here. Finally David, stay safe during this time.
what a great interview with a lot of solid information on the E-systems. Me being a big skeptic is slowly getting more and more interested in this topic.
I love the in-depth interviews with builders, and designers. If possible could you do an in-depth feature with a naval architect? I would love to hear their take on how and why certain designs have come about.
Michael each time I read more about you and your wife I hear only positive about what the two of you have worked so hard for past 30 years to finally achieve 6 models you can produce for sale to the public. You help me to push myself so I don’t give up. Can’t wait to see your next big breakthrough. Keep fighting, Thanks
Not that I will ever be able to afford one, but I am very excited to see the future of boating, with this one leading the way.
Hi! Great proposal! Is there any project to add wind generators to activate them when the vessel is moored to take advantage of some night breeze or wind? During navigation those could be folded. I saw also a vessel sun energy propulsive that generates hydrogen. Could it be an option to activate generators by hydrogen instead by dyno-fuel ? Thx for your great cat !
Great video. Very informative. Answered some good questions in detail. Very interesting yacht. Key is to remember to think of it as a trawler, slow speed equals long range.
TESLA OF YACHTS!! I need one for Off Grid Caribbean cruising..
Is it a miracle? No, but it is a exceptional effort if you understand it's limitations. Very interested to see what they do with the 80
That yacht is astounding and I congratulate the builders on doing their part to graduate away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Great informative video!! Thank you for sharing your journeys in the world of boating.
✌🏻🇺🇸
Cape Cod
One thing I've not seen displayed is their option of a kite sail, would be amazing to see it deployed and how it is to be used and what impact it has on their facts and figures.
What an awesome boat, and a great idea. Kudos to Michael and all his crew.
I think it's great that you guys made it out of recyclable materials whenever you were able. Who else does that?
It bugs me a little that they don't answer the question of what makes it silent. I mean sure, you use solar power to charge the batteries, but you're still spinning a propeller. I'd like to see how the propulsion is handled.
Had you considered creating a hybrid yacht? Do everything exactly as you have, but add a mast. You would only drain your battery for propulsion when there is no wind.
What I love with this, is that I have all of the advantage from a motorboat and a sailing boat. just turn the key and go, sail for free energy.
And don’t get the disadvantage from sailboat (mast, shitloades of lines) and depending of proper wind.
Not have to worry to pay the diesel by filling 10.000 litres of diesel in the tank on the motorboat.
Just a relaxed lifestyle 😎
I have an idea: They need to install deployable wings (Airplane wings) from each side of the boat. More room for solar panels on top of the wings and the wings will create a small lift while sailing, raising the boat, from the water which will cause less drug and increase efficiency. The wings can be deployed like a living room in RVs, or can be positioned vertically and deploy out. Or just design the entire yacht as an airplane and have static wings.
Wow can't wait to see the silent80. great video David love the information you bring us.
no doubt the future of boating. cheers for promoting this technology.
Love this Cat, video is good too. I did want to see, hear more on Sky sail option. this channel is great
Thanks for such an informative video, especially the technical content. keep up the good work David.
Very informative. I had no idea about this yacht. Great job David.
Amazing video loved the questions and the answers. Really pumped up for the future of electric boats.
Excellent video, especially because that’s the yacht I’m most interested in. Keep it up David, thank you.
Fabulous interview & information on this yacht.
I love what I'm hearing, but would have loved to see around the boat as well, but this video still gets the thumbs up, thank you David.
"You cant store the wind from one day and use it another day" Yes thats the point with the electrical boat motors. They charge while sailing so you can electric power when there is no wind.
Awesome interview. I’m am always interested in the builders (unbiased?) perspective and technical knowledge. Equally or more important is the practical owner/operator’s experiences and opinions. What they like and what would they change and what will they look for in the next yacht. A captain’s and engineer’s views are unique in the operation of the yacht. There really is endless interview and show options. Brilliant interview thank you.
That man knows how to talk properly.
17:00 I've often wondered why the net thingies at the front aren't trampolines with rust proof springs? Is the market too small for what I imagine is a great fun form of exercise and physical activity, whilst on an ocean holiday? I would love to wake up and have a few gentle bouncies or even learn/practise flipping. OMG, could you imagine bouncing off after a hot workout into the ocean.
What about a diving board too, off the top deck?
K otgc They designed are to let the water pass through. The last thing you want is the boat nosediving after clearing a wave and crashing into the water sending everybody flying because of the impact. With the openings the bow can nosedive without crashing into the water.
I have been waiting weeks for this and you didn't do a walk-round.. Doh! I love these and I can't wait to see what they have planned. What I would have liked to know is what kind of speed would they recommend for an ocean crossing? Would they keep it constant over 24 hours or would they up it in the day time and drop it over night?
Loving the videos though.
they will not give all the secrets...damn that kitty
if you want to run sich a yacht absolutely self sufficiently for weeks, the speed is about 4 knots only. BUT - compare it to a sailboat of similar size and comfort in a typical holiday region - and not in the roaring fifties. During Summer in the Med an average speed of 4 knots is impossible for a sailing boat. Again - average - day and night. But a Silent Yacht can do this. If you want to go fast, just start the gen for 1 or 2 hours and you go with 6 or more knots. And most of all - it can stay in a bay with all comfort without need to start the generator at all.
Michael Koehler thanks Michael
Curious about the cockpit, where is it and how is it setup?? Great video and an exciting subject. First saw this in practice on "Sailing Uma."
So proud that Silent Yachts is an Austrian manufacturer.
Love the boat, still think adding sails makes sense because you can then regen power while under sail - with that size battery bank, it just makes even more sense. Or, add wind generators, if you can make them quiet enough.
If you add sails, you cannot regenerate the energy because the solar panels are blocked. They talk about it on their website and the loss makes it unfeasible
@@philsexton5761 yes, of course. Basically sailboat solar panels run at 25%-50% of capacity any time the sails are up or shading is bad. But, when the sails are down, correctly placed, you can get most of the capacity out of the panels (only boom/mast shade to deal with), and when the sails are up, you are generating energy out of the drives anyhow. But I get it that this is just not that boat and also there are a lot of people who want to be a bit more sustainable that are not wanting to deal with sails.
@@philsexton5761 , available forward kite sails would not block the solar. So one could get energy from TWO sources (regen and solar)
Douglas Montgomery Correct, which is why they offer a Kite option. I was not talking about that. Cheers
Some people like me don't want to learn to sail with ropes and mess. We want it clean and simple. Just drive like a car, stop and chill out. This is a niche perhaps. But I think a growing market.
Outstanding‼ A dream come true ☺
Often wondered, since I saw the first prototype, why no wind turbine generators?
Interesting interview. It's a very efficient system. So it's not only ecologically friendly but also pocket-friendly (though he didn't give any information about maintenance. One of the things that would make me feel guilty, if I owned a yacht, is polluting ... I'm pretty sure these technologies will improve faster and faster (everything is so accelerated these days: technology is flying and pretty soon it'll literally improve at light speed ... (exciting, right?) They should hire the best designers to make these boats more attractive (aesthetics is, undoubtedly, important, too: a very important ingredient of the experience). Thanks for sharing!
@gasarse My pocket just smiled : )
Wow that is my favorite boat thank you look forward to more videos about this boat and others like it
When resting in the main sleep cabin can you see the water line? I don't like the apartment box windows on the 55
Great Interview! Best of luck to Michael and silent yachts.
Brilliant video. Reading some of the comments below people seem to want to be completely off grid. As the man said. That’s not the point of the vessel
I was glad to see this interview.
First time the energy used for propulsion is disclosed with so many data points. 😊
If you talk with him again, please ask him what options are available to regenerate energy.
wow amazing concept.. i hope this will become wieder spread in the future
great selection of questions, great answers and great video
i would like to see/know more about the kite sail option
Great idea and good Video! But why didnt they put some pinwheel on the Top for more Energy?
Interesting boat. I would be interested in reviewing it and taking it out for a "Test Sail", Well, I guess it would be a Battery Motoring Test.
I understand the physics behind the trampolines in the bow of sailing catamarans ( we want the air pocket to release air pressure so we don't plain) , but on a plaining power boat wouldn't a solid bow aid in lift for plaining? Just wondering why they chose that design. ??
Hi, I remember seeing something about the possibility to shoot a kite and use wind aswell, do you have any information about this ? Thx
The problem is the HVAC in countries like the US Florida, what solution do you have as we are used to running the AC 24x7, I think it has to do with the high levels of humidity, at very cold settings, 65f or 17c.? It is difficult to understand this habit, but it is what it is...
Thanks great episode, couple this with sails and you get the best of both worlds. Electric power will be the future of boating, hull design becomes increasingly important.
More videos like this please
in fact our Sail Versions require more fuel than the solar - it is a mere fact that the shade created by the sails cost us more power than the sails deliver. Only in a few regions of the world you find reliable wind conditions. In most places there is no wind or too much wind or it is from the wrong direction when you want to go for sailing - and then people use the diesel engine. It is a mere fact, that we use the gen to recharge the batteries less than we use the diesel in the sail version as there is no wind.
@@michaelkoehler5845 and what about integrating flexible solar panals in the sails?
Love that back track music.....reminds me of very first videos....
It would be great to design a positioning system for the panels. A 2 stage switch to go from flat/under voyage and sun tracking positions.
Very interesting video. I'm intrigued as to why they didn't incorporate some mini wind turbines, especially since when in use it could recapture some energy.
It's not very well discussed in many interviews but the ex sailor did sort of cover it. These boats can be powered along at a speed that they are producing electricity. You can adjust your speed to the power and intensity of the sun, especially in the tropics so that you are zero cruising. Some people might ask, what about the energy required for the house side. This is generated before you get moving in a morning and either when you slow down or stop for the day.
Just wondering ... has the builder considered fold-out solar panels ... example double or triple the solar panel?
Good interview with good, honest and intelligent answers.
Silent Yacht 80!!!! YES PLEASE!
Brilliant video, as battery technology is improving all the time this is definitely a good idea
Awesome video... Please do an in depth video on the boats systems.
How do these yachts power with the wind. Do they have a sail?
Also, the lost real estate taken by solar panels on the rear at 0:43 behind the founder/ceo and at the front at 2:10...could the panels be placed on 'wings', that perhaps fold in and out over the roof, so real estate can be used on the yacht?
用风筝就可以巡航。In fact, it is possible to cruise and add a kite.
Amazing concept! Obviously, how frugally one uses the available solar energy will determine how much generator usage is required. To put this into perspective, I would love to see how a typical cruiser would consume energy on a) an oceanic passage and on b) a day at anchor. Also, since solar generation capability would increase with larger yachts, does the yacht endurance and fuel consumption get better as well? Is there a sweet spot for yacht size that can make an oceanic passage at 10-knots on a single tank of fuel (with 10% reserve)?
are these solar panels specially built for the salt environment ? Can these panels be replaced with higher output panels (there are some 420 w panels with 22 % efficiency and even bifacial panels which will produce more power fper square meter and therefore power a larger motor for faster speeds etc ) )
So he already gave me the name for mine "Until Infinto" ... Anyway, what are the yearly maintenance costs likely to be? It seems that there would be very little in the way of traditional engine maintenance. Given that electric motors usually produce high levels of torque almost immediately, are these direct drive, or are they driven through a gearbox?
With the solar panels, I'm guessing that the 100KW solar generation is theoretical maximum (which is unlikely to happen) ... how many controllers are there? One per panel, one per string? If one per string how many panels in a string? I know that if you shade a panel it will drastically reduce it's power output, and if that shaded panel is part of a string it will pull the output of the entire string down. Looking at the panels as they are arranged here it would appear to me that this particular boat is has 20x330w panels and the smaller ones on the fly top could be 12x220w which would give a theoretical max of 92.4KW. This is impressive, but only as long as none of the panels are shaded ... like they are in portions of the video.
I'm not sure if it was mentioned in the video, what size fuel tank does the generator have?
Last question, if you added a shore power connection and tried to charge batteries how long would it take the fire department to arrive?
The more i have explored & after watching this video, these Yachts are now my favourite way to explore the seas ( GREAT ) interview with Michael, what a great guy...!!!
Can you ask Micheal & the team from SILENT-YACHTS when you speak with them next please... Will they look at the new #TESLA batteries & install or are they dedicated to find their own battery power...??
Cheers David, Keep being amazing
I wonder if it is possible to put hydro generators and wind powered generators to help with the battery charging. This would be good to try to use the motion of the water to recharge the batteries along with the solar panels.
I do have a question, if at Dock for a week or a month with the owner away so no one is using any power can the batterys be over charged and damaged? Great work.