Posted on 11/13/2006 1:13:51 PM PST by Red Badger
The first powerboat to run entirely on biodiesel fuel -- a renewable, non-hazardous fuel made from plant and animal products including canola, soy and palm oils -- visited Boston this weekend as part of a worldwide promotional tour designed to raise awareness about alternative fuel sources.
As part of the tour, the Earthrace boat will try to break the current powerboat record of 75 days for equatorial circumnavigation of the globe, aiming to complete its trip in less than 65 days.
New Zealand-native Pete Bethune, who invested his life savings in this project, founded the Earthrace organization. Now the captain of Earthrace, he plans to visit 60 international cities with five crew members on his global tour.
"I really believe in what we're doing," said crewmember Mike Schimann. "Petroleum fuel is a waste. There is no reason to keep digging it out of the ground when there are alternative sources."
The Earthrace boat's tank holds 3,000 gallons of biodiesel, which lasts 2,200 miles at the constant speed of 25 knots, although it can travel up to 40 knots. In its endeavor to break the circumnavigation record, Earthrace will travel 24,000 nautical miles, beginning and ending in Barbados.
According to the race rules, the boat must pass through the Panama and Suez canals and cannot refuel at sea. Earthrace will begin its world record bid March 1, 2007.
With a pricetag of $3 million, the boat features two low-emission engines and non-toxic paint, in addition to its biodegradable fuel. It is called a wavepiercing trimaran because it can travel through waves, rather than over them.
The boat tour began in New Zealand, then crossed the Pacific Ocean, went through the Panama Canal and is now touring the U.S. east coast. The boat's next stop is Newport, R.I.
"I liked seeing whales and 40-foot waves," said crewmember Torsten Sandmark. "Going through the Panama Canal was also pretty cool. So was getting shot at by the Columbian Navy."
In October, the Columbian navy fired two rifle shots at Earthrace, and then proceeded to search the boat. There were no injuries or damage to the boat.
Yet Sandmark said the biggest problem now facing Earthrace is its lack of funding.
"We have no money for maintenance," Sandmark said. "We use this boat every day, and there are always things needed to be fixed."
Rest in Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......
Diesel "Ping" List: If you want on or off the DIESEL "KNOCK" LIST just FReepmail me........
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days......
"We have no money for maintenance," Sandmark said. "We use this boat every day, and there are always things needed to be fixed."
Bummer, maybe you should GET A JOB!
Uh, less than 1 mile per gallon (.73 miles actually)? How is that more efficient than current engines?
They're liberals. Don't question their outcomes, just their motives..........
So, use MORE fuel than current technologies, but its important because its an alternative fuel. Riiiiight.... No wonder I don't get libs.
Huh?
Most diesel engines can use biodiesel just fine. This is the world's first diesel powerboat?
Liberal speak for "It's GREEN, so don't question my numbers!".......
27 gal/hour, not all that bad I think. But not more efficient.
This boat was docked in Wilmington NC. It looks more cool close up.
However, other than having to have slightly larger fuel tanks or less range, and having to carry the extra weight of that fuel comparing the amount of fuel used really isn't that important, because they are different fuels.
What is more important is the cost of the fuel for the distance traveled or work done.
You can also compare the emissions for the amount of work done, or the impact of producing the fuel to do that work.
They don't bother to do those comparisons. I don't know if it's because the answers aren't favorable or if they think their target audience won't understand the comparison, or maybe they don't know enough to make the comparison.
I've heard of lots of studies that claim that biodiesel could be produced cost effectively in mass quantity. However, one of the ingredients in biodiessel is alcohol (usually methanol), which brings us back to the how to produce alcohol cost effectively on such a large scale.
Biodiessel is another alternative fuel that is usable in it's current form, but just doesn't appear to have become a cost effective alternative to petroleum yet. Maybe it will in the future if the proper technologies fall into place, maybe it won't.
Even if it does become a viable alternative, it's likely to supplement oil consumption, not replace it.
I believe the methanol can be recovered. It is used to process the bio-diesel.
The crew on shore leave?
In 2005 after years of fundraising Pete and Sharyn Bethune began construction on the Earthrace Boat – a 78ft Wavepiercer designed to break the world circumnavigation speed record. With the goal of running the boat on Biodiesel and promoting renewable fuels they had no idea the project would run half a million dollars over budget, take years of their lives and cost them everything they owned. This is their story. Earthrace – Riches to Rags follows the entire design and build process of the Earthrace vessel – the worlds first Trihull Wavepiercer and the most advanced endurance powerboat ever built.
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