Dene wrote:
I'm looking into my crystal ball and envisioning being a liveaboard on a 40
foot powerboat, 8 months out of the year, likely stationed in Savannah. We
dream of touring the ICW, Gulf, Caribbean, and the Great Lakes.

Then we calculate today's fuel costs into the picture and gasp! Will
H-boats being standard in 10-15 years? Will fuel costs drop as supply
demands drops? Will a powerboater will be able to cruise all day for $50?

Discussion.

-Greg



Only if he is willing to cruise at about 3 knots, on account of the
hull speed rise in drag. At really low speeds, boats can be very
efficient. At high speed, forget it, you would need a nuclear
reactor if regular fuel won't do.

At economical speed, you may as well calculate on sails, and patience.

Unless....

If you had a huge, low pressure fuel tank, say, sewn into the
inflated sails, that was able to carry the boat so it was mostley
out of the water, an airship with a sail and a low weight
dynamically erect or towed leeboard / centreboard, and solar cells
to make H2 at sea....

One advantage is that to make water, all you have to do is burn H2.
to power or heat the boat. This would save weight, too.

Hmmmmm.

Terry K