Inland Waterway Cruising; Boats, Barges, etc.

That looks like a fake Sub. It seems to be a typical english Narrow Boat converted by somebody with a good sense of humour into something that looks pretty funny.

We had some of those funny chaps in Hamburg too. One morning a big Submarine appeared on the Alster (Lake within the city of Hamburg). As powered boats are not allowed on this lake (except tourist boats), the police showed up and tried to arrest the Submarine Commander. Thats what they found:

A man powered piece of plywood . And totally legal ! Nice joke, I must say.

Hi,

Rt click on the picture or plan and it will give you options as to what to do, they all appear to be images so its easy on that site.

All this talk about SUBS reminded me that I took this picture back in January. The Admiral of the Fleet commented as follows: "Is the basin deep enough for subs?" The Captain of the Fleet had no comment.........All of you sub drivers now know where to get them hauled tho......

Solar-Electric powered leisure boats for canals, inland waterways and slow current rivers are becoming more and more fashionable in Europe too. But the MOG Solar Powered Motor Yacht is a different approach from what we see here on our canals.

A simple boat, no advanced and expensive gimmics, no big emphasis on seaworthiness, a boat for calm and protected waters with no or at least minimal current. The propulsion is simple, inexpensive and easily removable (Outboards, normal batteries and low voltage). The interior ambiance is probably spartanic on purpose, with the charter market and low purchase price in mind. The exterior is not but form follows function. If this boat would meet at least the CE criteria C (protected waters) and sell for a competitive price in Europe, it would have its market share, especially in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The charter boats for inland waterways in these countries are mainly in the size of up to 12 meters and with an airdraft of up to 2,6 meters. The only real difference with the European canal boats is the hull material. Bcause of the hard surface canal and river banks and the many locks and opening bridges with waiting zones, steel and not FRP is the favorite material for those boats.

Due to the still limited capacity of todays batteries for propulsion purposes, SOLAR cells are not sufficient for the sole operation with solar power and battery buffer. One would always need a range extender and / or a propulsion "booster". Taking the speed limits of 6 to 8 Kts of most canals and navigable rivers in account, an electrical propulsion of 10 KW is sufficient to maintain 6 Kts in calm waters with no current with a 12 meter normal shaped boat (not a rectangular house boat ). But this is not enough for going a river with a decent current upbound and even 2 KW (effective not nominasl) of solar power will not be enough for full day of going on pure electric. So, a booster and backup propulsion will be needed. As soon as air conditioning, electric cooking and household AC equipment comes into play, the power balance is beyond any practical calculation.

The above mentioned boat would very usable for enviromental protected areas and lakes and for short time charters. But for traveling over longer distances and time with some onboard comfort, one would need a different approach.

IMHO, a diesel hybrid propulsion would be the solution. One or two modern diesel engines (size depends on the speed wanted in pure diesel mode) with a small electric motor/alternator integrated in the propusion train, a decent LiPo batterie block of higher voltage (at least 48 Volt) and ideal sinus inverter/charger bank converting 48 Volt DC into household AC and vica versa. The Solar cells obiously switched into a 48 Volt array also. Combinded with a shorepower input, this system would be sufficient for longer travel on canals and quiet rivers.

But one of those boats is already avialabe on the European, Down Under and US market as a production boat of pretty good quality and with a comfortable interior and living space for 4 adults.








The Greenline 40 Hybrid. A 11,99 meter (40 ft) semi displacement boat with diesel-hybrid propulsion and Volvo Penta D3 engines from 2 x 110 HP up 2 x 220 HP, 2 x 10 KW electric motors with integrated 7 KW alternators and 420 Ah 48 Volt LiPo Battery for electric propulsion and hotel load, a 1.4 KW 48 Volt Solar array on the coach roof and a beefy inverter/charger bank with shore power connector made by Victron.

It has a 20 NM range at displacement speed on electric propulsion only, recharges the battery either via shorepower, solar cells or via the alternators in the electric motors. With the 2 x 220 HP engines it reaches 20 Kts, when on plane. A pretty versatile vessel.



With the addition of a little 5 KW diesel generator mounted under the aft cockpit floor, it could go a complete day long in an additional diesel-solar-electric mode at about 6 Kts with some 2 to 2,5 Liters per hour. I like that little boat very much

But

This boat with all the above mentioned options would go for more than half a million Euros without VAT.
One could by a LOT of diesel for the additional charge of this hybrid propulsion package . But the boat has its market share and is selling.

So Brians MOG boat might by the better choice, if money is a factor.

Just my 2 (Euro( cents

It reminds me of the " Tiny House" trend.
I think they're neat but I am spoiled now.

Sorry for hijacking this post but I have a question for owners of the 40' Pilgrim. I am currently looking at purchasing one and as they were designed to operate in canals and inland waterways I need to know that they are equally capable of handling the West Coast inside passages (Victoria BC to Prince Rupert) that I will frequent. If anyone has any experience I would love to hear from you, thanks

Rob

http://realmountie.blogspot.com/

Hello Brian! Hoping you and your family are well! Due to the pandemic I did not have a chance to go to my Pilgrim 40. I will go in the spring for shure. I am planning to cruise on the St-Lawrence rive this coming season. Really love that vessel after over 3000 nautical miles and 10 years cruising!