The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Boat: The Solar Sal Saga
Ahoy there, mateys and tech enthusiasts! Gather 'round as I spin you a yarn about the Solar Sal 24, a vessel that's more electrifying than my first love’s hair in a thunderstorm. This isn't just any boat, folks - it's a solar-powered, eco-friendly, electric dream that's making waves without the carbon footprint.
Now, before I dive in, let me tip my hat to the good people at Belmont Boatworks in Maine. They've crafted what could be the maritime equivalent of a unicorn - a solar-powered 10-seater that basks in the sun like a lazy cat on a windowsill.
Infinite Range? Solar-Powered Dreams on Water
This craft stretches out to a cozy 24 feet (7.3 meters for my metric mates), and let me tell you, it's got a canopy that could double as a dance floor. With four stout 360W solar panels, it's slurping up the sun's rays for a total of 1,440 watts of pure solar sippin' power.
Beneath its sun-kissed surface, the Solar Sal boasts a quartet of Torqeedo Power 24-3500 lithium batteries, hoarding 14 kWh of juice for those rare sunless moments. If you keep her purring at 5 knots (6 mph or 10 km/h), you won't even dip into that battery bounty, granting this beauty an infinite range under the kiss of the sun.
And for the speed demons, punch it up a notch, and you'll hit a whopping 6 knots (7 mph or 11 km/h) - hold onto your captain's hat!
A Nighttime Affair: Under the Moon's Glow
But what about when the sun clocks out, you ask? At full tilt, you've got 24 miles (39 km) of exploration before you’re paddling back to shore. Ease off the throttle to a cruising speed, and you'll glide up to 45 miles (72 km). Feeling more tortoise than hare? At four knots, she’ll go 100 miles (160 km). By the time you need to recharge, the sun will be peeking out to say, "Good morning!"
Solar Independence: No Dock, No Problem
One of the niftiest perks? You can anchor this solar siren just about anywhere, and she'll be lapping up those rays, staying charged without a care for shore power.
As for the bells and whistles, the Solar Sal 24 is decked out with all the comforts of home - comfy seats, USB chargers (for all your gizmos and gadgets), ambient lights, a table, and let's not forget, 8 cup holders. Because what’s a voyage without a beverage or eight?
For the swashbucklers with deeper pockets, throw in some extra doubloons for goodies like a Chartplotter or perhaps a dry flush toilet, because nature calls even at sea.
Price Tag: No Treasure Map Needed
At $135,000, this isn't a vessel you stumble upon in a fisherman's net, but it's also not priced like a mythical sea monster that's out to devour your life's savings.
