Research Project

Project Research (ongoing) Solar Power

The Houseboat Centre has previously completed five Solar Power projects and now the sixth has commenced.

The object is to establish what low cost methods are successful for houseboat use.

The conversion object for the sixth is now being considered.

  1. The Houseboat Centre’s second home was a wooden Chalet built beside a lake where research into houseboat style plumbing, rainwater collection and solar power generation was undertaken.
  2. Moving to it’s third home on the shore of Lake Colibita The next project was a Self-driving solar powered boat with remote digital controls. This was successfully completed. The research boat has now been sold and you can buy car-toppable self-driving solar boat kits and parts  resulting from that research at e-marine.uk .
  3. The next project was a small (7 metre = 21′ )all-electric solar powered houseboat for canals lakes and slower rivers. You can see what happened on https://www.facebook.com/marextouringsport/ .

4. the next progression was among other things, to try using a catamaran hull to see how that helped the low powered electric motors. Trials have been concluded . The cathedral hull did help a little and made the boat very stable. Not a major difference though. See the boat here. https://www.facebook.com/RekopR600 

5. The next project boat was a Rocca Panthera 232, 6.48 metres long by 2.27 metres beam

There is  full headroom in the cabin a two burner gas  cooker,(now removed) a sink and a toilet.

Originally had a single 170 hp Mercruiser diesel engine with outdrive leg which were removed

Original Displacement 1600 Kg.

Reduced displacement after removal of engine, drive leg and fuel tank is now 1200 Kg.

https://www.facebook.com/Rocca-Panthera-108380781071165

A trial of poly-carbonate to create a wheelhouse roof to support solar panels has been successful. A curve in the sheet gives it adequate rigidity.
It had two solar panels to charge the four batteries for the motors and a smaller one to charge one battery for 12 volt services.
Following a successful series of trials on Lake Colibita in the Summer of 2021, the boat was established in a bay on Lake Tarnita Cluj. Following trials with two motors, it was found that it is just as efficient to use one.

6. The current project is to convert a Windy 8000 8 metre by 2.83 m. twin out-drive sports boat to a fully equipped houseboat, including a solar hot water system and two electric motors.

We are waiting for temperature outside to reach 15 degrees C. so that then two holes, where the out-drives connected to the

      engines ,can be sealed with GRP.

This project is closer to the kind of boat you can use in the canals in UK.
Full headroom and heavier displacement. at 1200 kg for the basic boat, more with motor, batteries anchor, chain and other items .
It is still shorter than most would choose, but this is to enable us to use a basic car and trailer to get it to the mountain lake.
The weight and utilities are intended to emulate a 30 to 35′ fibreglass 8 or 9′ beam outboard cruiser, which might make a comfortable home for 1 or 2 on a canal in the UK.
Like the one in this photo.