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News...............(April 2009) Prototype ecat: A solar charged, electric outboard powered tender!

The 'ecat' has been designed by Flight Marine for our own use 
as an economic and practical tender.
This vessel has it's own retractable wheels and the hulls can be used for storage. Although designed for just 2 adults, it is capable of taking 2 additional small people. The ecat is very stable and yet lightwieght, 
due to its catamarn design

We have now tested this tender under 2.5hp petrol outboard, a
standard 20kg thrust electric o/b motor and Toqeedo 401 and 801 electric motors.

Wheels dow 

 

Results (petrol): 

3/4 power 7.5 knots (1 person), 5knots (2 large people).

 

 

Results (20kg Thrust standard electric):

Full power (1 person) 2.75 knots.

 

 No Photo

 

 
Results for Torqeedo 801 (24 volt)
Full power (1 person), 5.5 knots

Torqeedo 401 (12 volt)
Full Power (1 person), 5 knots.

 Torqeedo 801

Here are some movies of the ecat/Torqeedo combination, with solar panel for charging the battery.

To view Torqeedo's website please go here:- Torqeedo

For puchase information of Torqeedo products please go here
As a tender or periodical runabout the solar / lead acid cell setup is working well.  It sits in it's parking slot or on a mooring most of the time, and this more than keeps up with it's current level of use. If the engine was used for a long period... say 30 mins full speed or 2 hours low speed for example, the ecat would need some hours of daylight to replace the energy used in it's battery.
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Prototype 'Stealth X5':  Completion, December 2008........5 metre, low wash hull.

Powered by 30 hp Petrol Outboard motor used for testing.

                                  5knots Stealth

Video coming soon!

If interested in any of these projects or your own, please contact us. Maybe we could be of some help?